ORCHARD LOCATIONS AND SITES 655 



independent of direct influence of the environment on the plant, may 

 set definite Hmits to the profitable culture of certain fruit varieties. 



There may be also minor local variations in their life histories which 

 modify the effectiveness of spraying treatments. The best time for a 

 certain spray in one neighborhood may differ several days from that for 

 another neighborhood not far away. 



Summary. — The selection of a location for fruit production, or of 

 kinds and varieties of fruit to be grown in a particular location, involves 

 a consideration and application of the same general principles. The 

 more important economic considerations are the cost of land and the 

 nearness and character of transportation facilities. The overhead charge 

 due to cost of land should never exceed 10 per cent, of the value of the 

 product at the orchard and should not amount to more than half that 

 figure. The cost of hauling to the local market or to a shipping station 

 should levy no greater tax against the total income. Other factors, 

 such as fruit product establishments and cooperative shipping organiza- 

 tions affecting the ability to dispose of products quickly and advantage- 

 ously are important in commercial production. 



Different slopes offer quite distinct environmental conditions for 

 the growth of the plant and certain slopes may be much preferred to 

 others for certain fruits when grown in some sections, though the reverse 

 condition may hold for the same varieties in another section. These 

 environmental differences can be profitably capitalized in many cases 

 if kinds and varieties are selected so as to obtain the closest adaptation 

 to the particular farm or parts of the farm. The same may be said of 

 minor inequalities in temperature, rainfall and evaporation between 

 near by points that possess nearly the same elevation and exposure. 



Factors of great importance in determining danger from late spring 

 and early fall frosts are the air drainage incident to unequal eleva- 

 tion and the proximity to bodies of water. Often comparatively small 

 disparities in elevation (25 to 50 feet) make a considerable difference in 

 danger from frost injury. This influence is important also in determining 

 the amount of damage from midwinter freezing. Proximity to large 

 bodies of water, particularly on their windward side, affords considerable 

 protection from extremes of climate. The range of influence of such 

 bodies of water varies with their size and depth and with the topography 

 of the adjoining slopes. 



