52 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



THE SITE FOR THE FRUIT-PLANTATION 



The grower is confined to his general region, but he 

 may have much choice in the lay of the land, or the par- 

 ticular site of his plantation. The preceding discussions 

 will enable the reader to approach this subject reasonably. 



As a rule, especially in northern countries, the ideal 

 site for a fruit-plantation is somewhat elevated above 

 adjoining lands. Such a site presents the two advan- 

 tages of atmospheric and soil-drainage. Of these advan- 

 tages, the atmospheric drainage is the greater, inasmuch 

 as soil-drainage can be secured by artificial means. In 

 speaking of elevated lands, it is not necessarily meant 

 that they be rolling. Some entire farms that are almost 

 level may be sufficiently elevated above the local streams 

 or the general contour of a flat country to answer all 

 purposes of an ideal fruit site. 



The pronounced minor elevations often present other 

 advantages of temperature than those incident to atmos- 

 pheric drainage. They offer various exposures, and they 

 may be utilized as windbreaks by placing the plantations 

 on the slopes opposite the severest winds. If they are 

 near large bodies of water, they are usually more pro- 

 foundly influenced by such bodies than flatter lands, 

 because more open to the movements of air from them. 



Despite all these remarks, there are certain cases in 

 which comparatively low lands are preferable for fruit- 

 raising, but this is because such lands are moister, richer, 

 leveler, or more sheltered, rather than because they are 

 lower than surrounding areas; for all these advantages 

 may sometimes be secured on comparatively elevated 

 lands, and atmospheric drainage be secured in addition. 

 Strawberries are grown on lower lands largely because 



