APPLES 



97 



Mosier Hills. Rolling Country Like This Is Excellent for Orchards. 



is 1,000 feet above the sea, and just above 

 that is a level 100 feet higher, the 1,100 

 foot elevation would be a situation that 

 would furnish air drainage, because of 

 the lower levels that surround it, and into 

 which the cold air tends to settle. How- 

 ever, if a certain portion of the same 

 country rose to an altitude of 1,200 feet 

 and stretched out as a broad plateau in 

 which there was a basin 100 feet deep, 

 the land in the basin, though on the same 

 level as the land at 1,100 foot elevation 

 and 100 feet higher than the general 

 level adjacent to it, would be in danger 

 of frost because it was surrounded by 

 higher lands which prevented air drain- 

 age. 



Valleys 



Valleys are not objectionable if they are 

 so situated that the air currents are not 

 obstructed. However, if there are sud- 

 den changes of direction so that the drift 

 of the current would strike a hillside in- 

 stead of continuing its course down the 

 valley, the land in the valley would be 

 considered to be located in a basin. 



Water 



It must always be borne in mind that 



the temperature in cold weather, unless 

 modified by breezes from large bodies of 

 water, is cooler on the lower elevation 

 than on the higher and therefore more 

 likely to freeze. If a site is chosen with 

 a view to protection from frost by the 

 warmer temperature from large bodies 

 of water, the direction of the prevailing 

 winds should be considered, so that the 

 warmer atmosphere will be carried across 

 the site of the orchard. If the winds are 

 strong, windbreaks may be necessary. 



Slope 



The question of a north or south slope 

 is often discussed. This, like many other 

 questions, must be determined by local 

 conditions. If there is no danger of frost 

 on either slope from that viewpoint the 

 south slope is preferable because it gets 

 more of the direct rays of the sun, the 

 soil is warmer, the trees bloom and fruit 

 a little earlier, and the fruit is more 

 highly colored. In some sections, how- 

 ever, the early fruiting and the warm 

 sunshine are objectionable. If there is 

 danger of frost then the north slope is 

 preferable, from that viewpoint, because 

 the orchard will be a few days later In 



