LOCATING THE ORCHARD 11 



soils are suitable for apples but apparently not 

 all clay soils are so congenial. The interme- 

 diary loams are often not suitable at all. 



In all the older sections of the country we 

 can usually take the old orchards or the old 

 individual trees as a guide as to what that par- 

 ticular soil will do in the way of producing ap- 

 ples. If we find old trees around every farm- 

 house we can generally depend upon it that 

 young trees can be grown in that neighborhood. 

 If there are bearing orchards in the locality, 

 their record can be consulted as a guide to 

 future plantings. 



In any event we do not want a soil that is 

 rich. Neither should it be poverty-stricken. 

 One that we might describe as being in just 

 1 'moderate circumstances" will come nearer 

 providing the foundation for a successful 

 orchard. 



Trees on rich land will grow beautifully but 

 unfortunately they won't bear that way. The 

 apple tree is a curious creature in some re- 

 spects, but when we come to understand it we 

 realize that it is only living up to certain nat- 

 ural laws that were laid down at the beginning 

 of creation. 



One of these laws is to the effect that any or- 

 ganism that is threatened with destruction tends 

 to reproduce itself. How I wish that every 

 fruit-grower could have that law pounded into 



