642 FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION 



is due probably to the stronger radiation of heat from the ground on the 

 uphill side against the trunk. 



Specific Influence on Fruit Growing. — These data indicate that south- 

 ern and eastern slopes are preferable for the production of fruits for the 

 early markets or for any fruit or variety with which hastened maturity 

 is an important consideration. Thus in New England there are many 

 locations where certain varieties of grapes can be ripened properly only 

 when grown in sheltered spots with a southern exposure. Often there 

 is a difference of a week or more in the maturing seasons of the same 

 variety on the northern and southern sides of the same hill, equivalent 

 to a location many miles southward or northward. On the other hand 

 northern and western slopes are preferable when delayed maturity is the 

 object. Fruits of certain species like the apple and peach are likely to 

 be somewhat higher colored on southern than on northern slopes. It 

 should be noted that late spring and early fall frosts are no more likely 

 to occur on one slope than on another and that consequently more 

 trouble from spring frosts at least will be encountered on southern than 

 on northern slopes because vegetation starts earlier on the former. It is 

 probably on this account mainly that, for general fruit growing, a northern 

 exposure is preferred by most growers. Areas with eastern and western 

 exposures are intermediate in the qualities mentioned between those with 

 northern and southern exposures. Western and southwestern slopes 

 are perhaps least desirable under average conditions and with most fruits 

 because of the action of the sun and of temperature in causing sunscald 

 on the west and southwest sides of the trunk. 



Without doubt too much importance is attached by many to the 

 advantages or disadvantages offered by particular exposures — at least as 

 these exposures have a direct bearing on tree and fruit through a 

 modification of temperature and light conditions. In the great majority 

 of cases the grower can raise fruit successfully on any and all slopes, pro- 

 vided they are not unreasonably steep and have suitable soils. It may be, 

 and often is, desirable to plant certain slopes with fruits of one kind or one 

 variety and other slopes with other kinds or other varieties, so that the ad- 

 vantages offered by the different exposures may be fully utilized. Thus 

 early strawberries might be grown on the south and east sides of a hill 

 and midseason and late varieties on its west and north sides and the har- 

 vesting season thereby lengthened a week at each end. The idea that 

 one slope is always best for a certain fruit or a certain variety is erroneous. 

 Much depends on where and for what special purpose that variety is 

 grown. 



Indirect Effects. — There are certain indirect influences of slope or 

 exposure on the growth of trees and their maturing of a crop that are of 

 importance equal to, or greater than, that of the more direct influences. 

 Southern and western slopes dry out more rapidly and are more subject 



