-4- 



Thu I^'^^xt Orchiird — Vi/hero ? 



Speaking at a recont meeting of fruit grov/ers in Worcbstar, A. 

 J. Huinickd mudu thuso suggostions ^bout locating the orchard; Avoid fr^st 

 puckiits L.nd lixtrurae exposure to pruvailing winds. Choose un elevj.ticn 

 abwVti the surrounding country, and if possiblu,^a s^sction v/hcre huilstorms 

 uro n^t prevalunt. Suil must bt; wall drc.irfod if v/e cxp«ct to gat good dd 

 yields. Vkith the samo euro in fertilization, cultiVw^tion and spr^-^ying, 

 thu yield in u given locality may be increased frum 35 to 100/i by locating 

 tiio . rch^rd on -. goud soil. The soil is relutad to gonoral vegetative vi- 

 gor, to the life of tho true, t^ the set of fruit, and to its size, color, 

 und quality. It is rel--ted to tho absenco of Baldwin Spot and to rocovury 

 from winter injury. Vi/e should learn definitely vifhat constitutes a g-od or- 

 chard Soil end recognize the marginal type. Soil Conditions that effoct 

 the fruit business ^.re not fixed. They vary from yeur to year and depend 

 l-.rgely on weather conditions, especially rainfall. 



First, the Soil must serve as ^ resorvoir for \v:.tor, enough to 

 make the orchard more or less independent of the rainfall which falls dur- 

 ing the groV/ing season. Our annual rainfall would be adequt^te if that which 

 falls during the v^inter could be stored in the soil. We have fuw ideal 

 Soils. Second, the soil must serve as a source of nutriments, including 

 borjn, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, sulfur, etc., and wo must expect to 

 supplement what is foUnd in the soil by applying nitrogen, and under cer- 

 tain conditions, other elements. The soil must also serve as a good me- 

 dium for root grovrth. The tree must fix itself rather firmly to resist 

 ordinary winds. A good orchard soil, then, must permit the infiltration 

 of a considerable part of the rainfall, to be utilized as required. In- 

 filtration is tied up with slope and the presence of organic m^.tter. It 

 is not always desirable, especially on the more level areas, to have too 

 much of the water getting into the s-il, particularly if it ccuinot filter 

 down to lowar depths. If water gets into the surface 6" to 2' but cannot 

 move dovmward, serious difficulties result. Some of the v/orst New York 

 Soils ^re those vi^itn the surface foot or tv/o rather sandy, and a hardpan 

 benoo^th. Natural fertility of a Soil depends upon the rock fr^ra which 

 it was formed. Most of our s^ils in the iiast ^re fairly well supplied v/ith 

 the essential minor elements. 



Third, the soil must permit tne roots to penetrate and branch 

 rather freely to a depth ^f four feet or more, and these roots must remain 

 activo.for a l^^rge share of the growing season. Reots never penetrate to a 

 depth below the surface unless at the time they are growing. Conditions are 

 favorable, particularly the supply of oxyge-n. Roots c.t lovi/ar depths are 

 of service to the tree from a nutrition standpoint only if they can pick up 

 water and mineral elements ut that level. Water in the soil is of no value 

 whatever to the tree unless roots i..re preoent whoro the soil is moist. The 

 roots must go down to where the water is, and if the roots :iro to function, 

 the Soil must be aer^-.ted. Marginal s-.ils ..re often water-logged during l-Iay 

 and early June, when there is a heavy demand for water. 



Leaves grovtr largely as a result of ra..terials stored in the tissues 

 the previous season. But the size the leaves will attain early in spring 

 depends on the moisture supply. Tho only vi^ay the leaf expands is to have 

 more moisture. The plc^nt automically adjusts itself as regards size of 

 leaves. Nothing causes dropping of flowers more quickly fe.ii competition 

 for v/uter between flowers and leaves. If a deficiency occurs, the leaves get 



