16 FRUIT-GROWING 



est difference between the time the trees bloom 

 on the north and south slopes. 



A friend of mine, in order to prove this 

 theory, cut a hole in the side of his house and 

 brought in a branch of a rose-bush, the roots of 

 which remained outside in the frozen ground. 

 In due time the bush bloomed inside the house 

 although it remained zero weather outside. 

 While the direction of the slope exerts no in- 

 fluence on the time of blooming, it frequently 

 represents a decided difference in the depth 

 and quality of the soil. 



In all forested districts we may make it a 

 definite rule that the best soil lies on the slopes 

 that face away from the prevailing winds. The 

 reason for this is that through the ages the 

 prevailing winds have carried the annual crop 

 of leaves over the crests of the ridges and de- 

 posited them on the comparative quiet, pro- 

 tected slopes. Even as I write, the southwest 

 wind is hurrying a procession of fallen leaves 

 past my window to deposit them on the 

 northeast slope. By spring our southwest 

 slopes will be swept bare of leaves, while every 

 nook and corner on the north and east sides of 

 our hills will be packed deep with fallen leaves. 

 This process, going on through the past cen- 

 turies, has materially changed the character of 

 the slopes in our section. 



In any hill section, too, the south and west 



