ORCHARD SOILS 133 



greatl.y extended. In a very general way the following are 

 usually requisites: 



(1) The soil should be sufficiently retentive of moisture 

 so that the trees and crop will not suffer from lack of water 

 throughout the growing season, or else irrigation should be 

 available. 



(2) Fruit soils should usually be of a rather open nature 

 so that ample drainage is provided; the texture being porous 

 and friable. 



(3) The soil should not be low in organic matter. 



(4) Extremes of acidity and alkalinity should be avoided. 



(5) A depth of not less than six feet is highly desirable. 

 The apple in general thrives on an open gravelly or light 



clay loam, although it succeeds on both heavy and quite 

 light soils. Varieties differ in their requirements. 



Pears as a class prefer a heavier type of soil than the apple, 

 but the "adobe" soils of southern Oregon represent an ex- 

 treme rather than the usual type. On a heavy silt or clay 

 loam they are at their best. 



The peach and cherry prefer a gravelly or heavy sandy 

 loam, but in some sections the soil runs to a heavier type, 

 even approaching a clay. The one requisite in all cases is 

 good drainage. 



The domestica plums should be grown on a moderately 

 rich loamy soil, and the salicina varieties on a somewhat 

 lighter type. 



Much has been said in literature regarding the value of 

 stony land for orchard purposes. This idea doubtless has 

 its origin in the fact that well-drained soils are preferable 

 and also that orchards are frequently successful on stony 

 or rocky hillsides. There can be no virtue in such land 

 other than the fact that an abundance of stones may give 

 ample drainage and produce a loose type of soil and per- 

 haps that a quantity of stones may serve as a mulch 



