38 THE PEACH 



several years, amply made up for losses that were 

 sustained in the cultivation of peaches in Maryland. 



LOCATION AND SOIL. 



In treating upon the subject of a location for a 

 peach orchard, as the recommendations are for 

 practical and intelligent farmers, it may be as- 

 sumed that no one of ordinary intelligence would 

 be likely to select low springy or marshy grounds, 

 as a suitable location for his orchard of peach trees, 

 or for fruit of any kind without thorough ditching 

 and draining. With this hint, the selection ought 

 to be left entirely as an open question, to be de- 

 cided by the taste and convenience of the planter, 

 as there is little left to choice within the limits of 

 a farm, either of exposure, quality or character of 

 soil as to give any anxiety in a selection. If the 

 proposed orchard should cover the entire farm the 

 question is at once settled. If a field of a few 

 acres only, select high ground and easy of access, 

 and as near to the buildings as may be convenient. 

 As to exposure, North, South, East or West, taking 

 a consecutive number of years, there would be but 

 little difference, if any, as to the protection of the 

 fruit from spring frosts. But I may say, in plant- 

 ing on a small scale, and where a choice of ex- 

 posures offered, I would unhesitatingly, all other 

 things being equal, select a high, dry northern ex- 

 posure: for occasionally a season of early bloom- 



