76 



WHERE SHALL I PLANT MY ORCHARD ? 



The Hindoos, by availing themselves of the power 

 of radiation, are able to collect flakes of ice in 

 their tropical climate, when the temperature, as shown 

 by a thermometer suspended but a few feet above the 

 shallow ponds, has been all night long 4 ° above the 

 freesMDg point. But as facts are of more avail than 

 many words, we give the results of experience and 

 observation, showing that low grounds and valleys 

 are not the places where one should plant his orchard. 

 An intelligent Scotchman, residing in this city, who 

 has travelled much in Europe, informed the writer 

 that he noticed that the best orchards, and those that 

 seemed the most productive, were located on side 

 hills, inclining towards the south and east. The sun 

 has much more power in our climate during the sum- 

 mer, than in fruit raising countries of Europe, and 

 indeed, in the southern parts of the Union it is ne- 

 cessary to protect the stems of our fruit trees from 

 the sun. Many cultivators of the peach tree have 

 found that if planted on a site fully exposed to the 

 sun, it blossoms before the spring frosts are over, 

 and endangers the crop. All are famiUar with the 

 fact, that a late and cool spring is generally followed 

 by an abundant crops of fruit; and on the contrary, 

 that warm dry weather in April, continued for any 

 length of time, is pretty sure to force the buds into 

 too active growth, and the crop is generally a failure. 

 Again it has been noticed that late blooming apple 

 trees have set their fruit, when the blossom of earlier 

 trees wholly failed of setting a single blossom. It 

 aeems then most advisable to plant an orchard, not in 

 the warmest and earliest soils, but in those locahties 

 where, if possible, the period of blooming will be 

 somewhat retarded ; side hills to be preferred, but 

 on no account if any other location can be had to set 

 them on low grounds. If compelled so to do, let the 

 soil be thoroughly underdrained, and well manured 

 with ashes and muck compost ; for cold wet soils al- 

 most invariably induce canker and disease, from 

 which a dry soil, and one properly supplied with the 

 elements of a healthy growth, are almost wholly 

 exempt 



Since the above was written we have met with the 

 following, in the address of J. A. Matson, Esq., be- 

 fore the Greencastle Horticultural Society, Indiana, 

 which we append : 



" Another subject on fruit culture, which has al- 

 ways been of great interest, and has become much 

 more so within the last two years, is the destruction 

 of fruits by hard freezing in winter, and by the late 

 frosts of spring. Nearly all the orchards planted by 

 the early settlers of the west, were located in the 

 valleys, and wherever practicable near the margin of 



some river or stream of water. This was done under 

 the impression that the effects of the frosts would 

 be neutralized by the fogs arising from the water, and 

 resting over the valleys during the morning ; and by 

 the protection afforded by surrounding hills, from the 

 cold winds. 



" Fruit growers in the west, after witnessing the re- 

 peated destruction of their crops, in the valleys, while 

 the trees located on the bleak tops of the surround- 

 ing hills, were bending down with their luscious bur- 

 dens, have now discarded the theory with which they 

 set out. 



"During the last fall, I witnessed a more striking 

 illustration of the comparative effects of frost, on low 

 and high lands, than has ever before met my obser- 

 vation. On the morning of the 6th of September, 

 the temperature became lower in this region than is 

 usual at that season of the year. A few days after- 

 wards, in passing down the Bloominton road, I cross- 

 ed a long and beautiful intervale, between the Na- 

 tional road and Cloverdale. The fields along the 

 road, were planted in corn ; and in the lowest part ol 

 the valley, the frost had killed the blades, the top oJ 

 the stocks, and the husks of the corn, which were di 

 and rattling in the breeze, while upon the clevai 

 land, on either side, the corn was green and growini 

 the effect of the frost becoming less and less appi 

 rent, as you ascended on either side. Believing tbi 

 some of the high grounds around this valley, m 

 be very secure from the effects of late spring frosi 

 I have made intpiiries from some of the earliest re: 

 dents of the county, and find that there are tw 

 orchards in the neighborhood, where the peach tree; 

 have borne fruit, nearly every year, since the settle 

 ment of the county. I understand there were twi 

 other locations in the county, where the frost ha 

 been nearly as scarce, one in the neighborhood ol 

 New Maysville, and the other near Pleasant Garden 

 It is my purpose during the coming summer, to ex 

 amine these locations particularly, as well as another 

 still more elevated, in the adjoining county of Hen 

 dricks- 



" Dr. KiRTLAND, of Ohio, a gentleman distinguish 

 ed alike as a physician and as a horticulturist, somi 

 time since applied the test of science to the subject 

 Supposing that the severity of the frosts in the valleys 

 compared with its effects on the high lands adjacent 

 was caused by a current of warm air, rushing up Iron 

 the low, to the high grounds, as the temperature de 

 creased ; stationed himself with a iherniometer, Ian 

 tern and watch, on a night, when a severe frost wa: 

 expected, on a hill near Lake Erie, where the peacl 

 crop had never been killed ; while his brother, wa* 

 stationed with a thermometer, lantern and watch, ii, 

 the valley below. Each made and recorded observi 

 tions, evei7 half hour during the night, and the resuji 

 was as follows : From sun down, until nine o'clocf 

 each thermometer indicated the same degree of te; 

 perature. At nine o'clock the mercury in the valli 

 thermometer commenced sinking, while th.at on iH? 

 hill, at the same time, began to rise ; and the Dr. ob 

 served a perceptible current of warm air, flowing uj 

 from the valley. At twelve o'clock, the themiomete 

 in the valley indicated 12 degrees lower temjieratun 

 than that on the hill, and about the same differenei 

 was observed until daylight in the mornlDg." 



