9S 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



blooming, and therefore less likely to be 

 injured by frost. In regions where there 

 is much freezing and thawing in winter, 

 the soil of the southern slope is not gen- 

 erally so deep, because the melting snows 

 of winter have washed much of it away, 

 whereas on the northern slope the snows 

 have not melted until the spring time and 

 the soil is not disturbed. This process 

 in one year may seem to be of little con- 

 sequence, may not even be visible in any 

 considerable degree: but in a thousand 

 years it makes a good deal of difference, 

 even in some cases the difference of bare 

 hillsides on the south and a deep soil on 

 the north. However, it must be observed, 

 that, other things being equal— that is, 

 provided there is sufficient depth of soli 

 on the south side— the farmers univers- 

 ally grow larger crops on that side of 

 the hill than on the north. 



Varieties .Vdapted 



The larger varieties of apples may be 

 grown on the higher levels as they tend 

 to grow smaller in the rarer, cooler air. 

 Those that tend to be rather too small 

 for the best market conditions may be 

 grown on the lower levels, as they will 

 grow to be larger in the valleys. 



Apples that ripen too early for the 

 best markets would better be grown on 

 a clay soil on the north slope of the 

 higher elevations. Apples that do not 

 ripen early enough may be grown in the 

 warmer sandy soils or on the south slope 

 of the lower levels. 



GR,\Nvn,i.K LowriiEH 



Exposures 

 Exposure of Orchard 



This much discussed question is not 

 worthy the importance given it in many 

 horticultural writings, as questions of 

 soil drainage, irrigation facilities, tillage, 

 spraying, pruning and fertilizing are 

 much more potent factors in successful 

 fruit growing. 



North or \ortlnvesterii Slope 



All other things being equal, a northein 

 or northwestern slope may prove the best 

 for commercial orchards. However, this 

 is a question influenced largely by local 

 conditions. The earliest fruits and veg- 



etables are likely to be secured on a 

 southern exposure because the rays of 

 the sun strike such an exposure more 

 directl.v. During very warm weather 

 there is more danger on such slopes of 

 injury from sun-scald. There is less dan- 

 ger on a northern exposure from frosts 

 because on such slopes growth is often 

 retarded a week or ten days in the 

 spring until the frost period has passed. 

 Sweet cherries and other fruit crops that 

 are subject to injury from spring frosts 

 are likely to produce the best results on 

 a northern slope. 



R. W. Fisher. 

 Bozeman. Monr. 



The most intelligent and experienced 

 orchardists differ as to the best location 

 and exposure of an orchard, some prefer- 

 ring a northern slope, others an eastern, 

 and yet others recommend a southern or 

 even a western slope as best. It is be- 

 lived that the advantages preponderate in 

 favor of a gentle eastern or northeastern 

 slope, as orchards located on such sites 

 suffer less in both soil and tree from the 

 effects of heat and drought. An orchard 

 with such an exposure will maintain its 

 vigor and longevity better than if inclined 

 to the west or southwest. This is espec- 

 ially true in states south of the New 

 England group, where the summers are 

 long, hot, and dry, and where it is prob- 

 able that the greatest injury to trees 

 results from these causes. But, as before 

 stated, all farms do not afford these fa- 

 vorable sites, especially near the home, 

 which is the most desirable location for 

 the family orchard. Thus the planter 

 will often be forced to forego such a 

 location and take his chances where the 

 natural conditions are not so favorable. 

 If possible, the site should be elevated 

 above its immediate surroundings, thus 

 giving a free circulation of air, while such 

 an elevation will also be of great aid in 

 guarding against late spring frosts, so 

 fatal to young fruit at the blooming sea- 

 son. 



G. B. Brac'kett. 



W.ishinsrtnn. r>. ("'. 



Xew Eniiiaiid 



A northeastern or eastern exposure, 

 which is commonly suggested, is less es- 



