2.6 KEP0RT8. 



SITUATION AND SOIL, MOST SUITABLE FOE AN ORCIIAKD. 



A side hill, or a gentle slope, facing the South or Southwest, 

 and sheltered in the back-ground by a higher eminence, is a good 

 situation for an orchard. 



Avoid low, flat, or over-moist grounds with clayey subsoil, also 

 Bandy plain lands. 



Orchards will not flourish in such situations, nor on such soils. 

 Dark, rich loam, intermingled with gravel, with subsoil of yellow 

 loam, intermingled with gravel, is the most proper soil for an or- 

 chard. A soil that naturally produces the oak and sugar maple, 

 will produce a thrifty orchard. Avoid lands and locations that 

 bear the pine or hemlock, — they v/ill not grow an orchard. 



HOW, AND WHEN TO PLANT AN ORCHARD. 



The best time to set out an orchard of young trees, is in tho 

 Spring. Let it be done early — as soon as the frosts are well out 

 of the ground. Go to the nursery and select your trees. Be 

 careful to get thrifty, well formed ones of such varieties as you 

 desire. Those of a larger size are the best. Never select any 

 less than six, or eight feet high. They are more apt to live, and 

 you will get an orchard sooner by so doing. Secure as many 

 roots on the young trees as possible, and be careful not to wound 

 or , bruise them in taking them from the ground. The holes 

 should be dug in well marked rows at intervals, of thirty or 

 thirty-two feet apart. This is quite near enough for the good of 

 both trees and land. Spade out a hole twelve inches deep), and 

 five feet or more in diameter. Cover the bottom of the hole with 

 some well-made, rich compost, to the depth of three or four 

 inches. Now set the tree carefully in, straightening out all tho 

 small roots and fibers, and draw in the fine dirt upon them. — 

 After all the dirt is drawn in, place over the whole the grftssy 



