76 The Principles of Fruit -growing. 



* It has already been remarked that on the immediate 

 coast the successful growth of fruit will sometimes be wholly 

 dependent upon proper shelter from prevailing winds, and in 

 regions farther from the ocean the topography may induce strong 

 currants of air, which will ill affect trees and vines. In all such 

 places the fruit-grower should plant wind-breaks, and will find 

 himself well repaid for the ground they occupy, by the success- 

 ful production on the protected area. In the interior valleys 

 there is also need of shelter from occasional high winds, which 

 may visit the orchards either in summer or winter, and prove 

 very destructive both to trees and fruit. Wickson, California 

 Fruits, 557. 



At Rivers [California] our orange groves are subject from Oc- 

 tober to March to so-called "northers," a wind blowing from due 

 north, and usually for three days and nights continuously. When 

 orchards are not protected from these winds, the injury some 

 seasons amounts to fully 75 per cent of the whole crop. Have 

 also found that when the shelter belt was planted on all sides, 

 and that on the east side was tall enough to shelter the orchard 

 from the first rays of the morning sun, the injury from frost was 

 only perceptible in the branches first exposed, while in orchards 

 without the shelter on the east side, the damage was quite marked 

 throughout the orchard. The diagram (Fig. 3, page 75) illustrates 

 my meaning and experience. The top of the tree at the right 

 was nipped by frost, whilst those at the left escaped. The Eu- 

 calyptus globulus (Blue gum), Schinus molle (so-called Pepper- 

 tree ) , and the Monterey cypress are all used for shelter belts ; the 

 last named is the best.* H. J. Budisill, in American Garden, 

 XI., 563. 



Do not locate where your orchard will be exposed to severe 

 winds. Quite a large proportion of fruit is lost every year by 

 being whipped against thorns and branches, and the trees them- 

 selves are sometimes half stripped of leaves. If you have reason 



*The reason for the escape of the trees is, no doubt, the fact that the 

 high shelter shaded the grove in the morning, preventing the sun from 

 Striking directly upon the frosted trees. L. H. B. 



