20 



to some depth. This is mentioned to em- 

 phasise the importance of the subsoil. If 

 it is waterlogged, trouble with canker and 

 other diseases must be expected. Drain- 

 ing improves matters, of course, but it is 

 a poor substitute for a naturally drained 

 subsoil. 



Selection of Site. — Unfortunately land 

 that is of a suitable character for fruit 

 culture must often be ruled out of court 

 because it is badly situated. Rich, alluvial 

 soils, for instance, are often to be found 

 in low-lying valleys. Planting cannot be 

 recommended in such situations, because 

 they are especially liable to late spring 

 frosts, an enemy against which the grower 

 is practically powerless. Bleak hills are 

 obviously to be avoided, as the planta- 

 tions would be exposed to strong and cold 

 winds. Moderate altitudes are best, for, 

 whilst not being too much exposed, they 

 generally enjoy a free circulation of air, 

 and consequently are less likely to be 

 visited by late spring frosts, since cold 

 air gravitates to lower levels. A gentle 

 slope towards S. or S.E. is usually con- 

 sidered best. A S.W. aspect is also good,' 

 provided that it is not too much exposed 

 to the gales which come from that quarter. 

 Indeed, some prefer S.W. to S.E., because 

 the sun does not strike on the trees so 

 early in the morning, and cause a too- 

 rapid thaw when there has been a night 

 frost: and it has been noticed that the 

 bloom sometimes escapes damage in con- 

 sequence. Slopes to the E. and N. are 

 naturally undesirable, since they are ex- 

 posed to the coldest winds ; yet there are 

 instances of successful plantations with 

 such aspects. Much depends, of course, 

 on the existence of natural shelter from 

 hills, though these must be very near to 

 do much good. There is nothing to be said 

 against a level piece of land, except that 

 it is difficult to drain, for it is easily shel- 

 tered from cold quarters by means of trees 

 planted for the purpose. 



Shelter Trees. — Most fruit plantations 

 need shelter from the N. and E., whence 

 come the coldest winds, and from the 

 S.W., from which quarter we get most of 

 the gales which are the cause of much 

 windfall fruit. If thei-e are already hedges 

 around the plantations, these should be 

 allowed to grow from 10ft. to 20ft. high, 

 being faced up annually to keep them well 

 furnished. In some few cases this may 



suffice for shelter, particularly if helped 

 by the planting of strong-growing varie- 

 ties as the outside trees of the plantation. 

 In some districts damsons are used for 

 this purpose, but in most places they do 

 not fruit well enough to pay. In Kent 

 the Bush plum is often employed; and 

 other strong-growing varieties, such as 

 Monarch and Rivers' Early Prolific, are 

 also suitable for the purpose. The Chalk 

 pear, which makes a big tree, is planted 

 for shelter in some orchards. 



The reason for using fruit trees in this 

 manner is, of course, that they produce 

 crops as well as providing shelter. The 

 plan is good enough if the plantation con- 

 sists of dwarf trees, and if the site is not 

 very much exposed; but in most cases 

 something more substantial in the way of 

 shelter trees is required. If fruit trees 

 are to crop well, they must not be too 

 close together, and they must have their 

 branches thinned to some extent, and then 

 they cannot afford much shelter. Another 

 objection is that they do not grow much 

 faster than the trees they are required to 

 screen. Having tried both plans, the 

 writer very much prefers to plant forest 

 trees for shelter if the situation is at all 

 exposed. What is wanted is something 

 that grows faster than the fruit trees to 

 be sheltered and makes a much taller 

 tree, whilst it should be evergreen for pre- 

 ference. Cupressus macrocarpa fulfils 

 these requirements, and it is doubtful if 

 there is anything better for the purpose. 

 It thrives on both light and heavy land, 

 stands trimming, and makes an enormous 

 tree in a very short time. Its only fault is 

 that it is rather liable to blow down unless 

 supported for a few years until it had 

 time to get a firm hold of the ground. In 

 the colder parts of the country, it is said 

 not to be hardy enough to stand severe 

 winters. For such districts the arbor vitse 

 may be recommended as a substitute. This 

 is quite hardy and less liable to blow 

 down, whilst it is nearly as quick growing. 

 One or other of these conifers should be 

 planted 10ft. apart close to the hedge, and 

 so separated by the w^idth of the headland 

 from the fruit trees. If still more shelter 

 is required, an outer row of Canadian 

 poplars, planted the same distance apart, 

 but opposite the spaces in the conifer row, 

 may be advised with confidence. ' This 

 combination makes the ideal shelter, in the 



