SPECIAL SOILS 15 



to live in a district infested by the brown-tail and gypsy moths 

 both of these are also partial to oaks. On the other hand, it 

 seems to be the common opinion that pines and spruces among 

 evergreens, and maples among deciduous trees, are particularly 

 suitable for this purpose. 



Distance Away. No windbreak, either natural timber or trees 

 planted especially for the purpose, ought to be very close to the 

 orchard. Fifty feet is near enough, and even a greater distance 

 is better. Where the trees for the break are planted at about the 

 same time as the orchard and come along with it there is less 

 danger from their encroachment than where a new orchard is set 

 out beside an old established row of trees, because in the latter 

 case, as will be readily seen, the tree roots are already established 

 and the fruit trees do not get a fair chance. If it is on the 

 lower side of the orchard, the windbreak ought to be open at the 

 bottom to allow for atmospheric drainage, otherwise there will 

 be a frosty area next to the windbreak. Lastly, it is decidedly 

 unwise to plant an orchard and rely for a windbreak on a block 

 of. timber owned by a neighbor. One never knows when the 

 neighbor will decide to cut off the timber. 



SPECIAL SOILS FOR DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF APPLES 



Allusion has been made to the fact that the soil requirements 

 of apple varieties have been more fully worked out than those of 

 any other fruits. The writer wishes to close this discussion of 

 orchard lands by quoting from a special article prepared by his 

 friend, Mr. H. J. Wilder, of the United States Bureau of Soils, 

 for the Tribune Farmer. Mr. Wilder probably knows more than 

 any other man in the United States about apple soils, which makes 

 his conclusions of special value. 



" From agricultural experience already established, it is apparent that 

 many of the leading special crop areas have a very definite relation to the 

 character of the soils, and that all crops do not give equally good results 

 on the same kind of soil. Carrying this principle further, it is purposed 

 to point out that even the different varieties of the same crop may differ 

 greatly in soil requirements. This is illustrated by a considerable number 

 of varieties of apples, which have been under study for several years. 



" The opinion has been frequently expressed in the past, not only in 

 the agricultural press, but also in many horticultural books, that almost 



