APPLES 



103 



sideiable importance in the commercial 

 part of the crop. For early or mid-season 

 varieties, however, and particularly those 

 for home use, where one attaches more 

 importance to fine specimens with clear 

 skins, mellow flesh, and juiciness, and 

 where several days or a week's time in 

 the date of ripening does not detract from 

 the value of the product, a northern, west- 

 ern or sheltered aspect may be of first 

 choice. 



While high color is usually a feature of 

 much commercial value in the apple, those 

 who have formed a discriminating taste 

 and grow fruit for their own use, give it 

 but passing notice. Thus it is that the 

 aspect most desirable for the commercial 

 orchard may be of but secondary impor- 

 tance to the home orchardist. 



As much of the autumn weather in 

 Western Oregon is of low. light value, 

 owing to the humidity, it is necessary to 

 use considerable discretion when selecting 

 a site for the growing of a commercial 

 apple crop of the late keeping varieties, if 

 one would have a high colored product 

 one year with another. .Judicious wood 

 pruning and thinning of fruit will mate- 

 rially aid in enabling the fruit to get the 

 most advantage from the light available. 



E. R. Lake. 

 Oregon State Biiard Horticulture. ISIll. 



Practically all orchardists recommend 

 selecting a sloping site because of the 

 advantage of good air drainage. Air 

 drainage, while not generally considered 

 an important factor in apple growing by 

 the amateur orchardist, is nevertheless 

 one which plays an important part in the 

 success of profitable fruit growing. In 

 the large irrigated valleys in New Mexico 

 it is frequently impossible to consider 

 very strongly the factor of site for the 

 reason that apple orchards are planted as 

 a rule on level ground. In sections, es- 

 pecially in the mountain districts, where 

 a site having good air drainage can be 

 selected this possibility should not be 

 overlooked, since much loss due to frost 

 injury may in this way be avoided. Cold 

 air is heavier than warm air and for this 

 reason it will settle in the low places 



which are thus most likely to be the 

 frosty ones. „ _ 



Santa Fe. N. .M. 

 The best orchard sites are usually 

 found on rolling lands or hillsides. In 

 such places better soil drainage is afforded 

 and the likelihood of frosts in the early 

 fall or late spring is lessened. The or- 

 chard site should be located far enough 

 above adjacent lands so that the cold air 

 at night can settle below the orchard 

 tract. A few feet in elevation often 

 results in the prevention of frosts in the 

 late spring. Fruit trees should not, under 

 ordinary conditions, be planted on flat 

 bottom land or in low pockets where 

 cold air settles, as such locations are very 

 likely to be frosty. 



R. W. Fisher. 

 Bozeman. Mont. 



Elevation 



Have the orchard site elevated above 

 the surrounding country. This does not 

 mean that it must be the highest piece 

 of land in the vicinity, but that it should 

 have lower levels in proximity to it. Ele- 

 vation is an important factor in fruit 

 growing in Wisconsin. There is always 

 a possibility of damage from late spring 

 frosts during the flowering period and 

 orchards on low or level land suffer 

 first. A rolling site which provides good 

 air drainage and which is somewhat ele- 

 vated is most likely to escai)e injury from 

 frosts. 



Avoid Pockets 



Avoid "pockets." It is not only neces- 

 sary to select elevated sites, but when 

 these sites are in small valleys it is im- 

 portant that the valley be open at its 

 lower end. If it is not, such a valley 

 becomes a "pocket," and because of lack 

 of air drainage is very susceptible to 

 frosts, and unsuitable for apple growing. 

 "Pot-holes," especially if of considerable 

 extent, are best left unplanted as the 

 trees seldom give good results. 



.1. G. Moore. 



Mailison, Wis. 



aiississiiipi Valley t'ouditions 



In locating an orchard a suitable site 

 rather than a convenient one should be 

 the first consideration. Whenever pos- 



