APPLE ORCHARDS. 115 



and serves to take the same place in the apple department as 

 the Madeleine in the catalogue of pears, very good when others 

 are not to be had. 



Soil and Location. — Fruit trees, as far north as Worcester 

 county, should have a southern aspect ; if an orchard he trans- 

 planted upon the summit or north side of a hill, the l)leak 

 winds from the north and north-west cause the trees to have 

 a bend in the opposite direction, so tliat it is impossible to train 

 an orchard into a beautiful appearance ; aside from this it is 

 noticed that orchards in such locations are by no means prolific, 

 and the fruit is of poor quality, not unlike the form of the tree, 

 rudely shaped and ill-balanced. 



Sandy soils have sometimes been looked upon as favorable 

 for the growth of fruit trees. The easy manner in which these 

 soils are cultivated, and the rapidity with which some of the 

 earlier crops come to maturity, have induced people to look 

 upon these soils with favor ; but reason as well as observation 

 should teach every practical farmer that such soils are among 

 the very worst for this purpose ; for under the hot sun of July 

 and August, the moisture is absorbed and the roots robbed of 

 one of the elements necessary for growth and sustenance ; 

 hence, the tree soon begins to assume a sickly appearance, 

 withers, droops, and finally dies, producing but little fruit while 

 it lived, and that of poor quality. No experienced farmer would 

 expect to see a fine grass field on soil of this class. Hence, a 

 sufficient reason why they should not be chosen for the cultiva- 

 tion of orchards. A gravelly loam is much better, especially so 

 if the loam has the preponderance ; if the gravel is in excess, 

 and this is a matter for the cultivator himself to decide, it will 

 be for his interest to set this aside with the other. 



In alluvial soils, or soils composed of vegetable matter, found 

 upon the banks of rivers, washed down from the hills, trees 

 make a rapid growth, but the fruit is said not to mature as well 

 or to be so highly flavored as in soils more calcareous. 



It may also l)e objectionable to put out orchards in such soils 

 where the valleys are deep, as the late frosts of spring might 

 destroy the fruit-buds, or the early frosts of autumn injure the 

 fruit. 



Soil of argillaceous formation and black surface soil arc prob- 

 ably among the best for apples and pears ; although the trees 



