302 



THE ORCHARD 



late frosts. The greater cold of a northern exposure may 

 retard blossoming until the danger of spring frost is 

 past. 



Elevated sites, too, are desirable, in order to secure 

 cold-air drainage. Cold air is heavier than warm air, and 

 so drains down into the valleys, forcing the warmer air up 

 the slopes. There is often sufficient difference in temper- 

 ature between the air in 

 a valley and that on a 

 neighboring hill to ac- 

 count for the loss of an 

 entire fruit crop. In 

 the valley, the blossoms 

 may be ruined by a late 

 frost that does not reach 

 those on the hill. 



Elevated sites provide 

 also for water drainage. 

 Water drainage is desir- 

 able, especially for stone 

 fruits, like plums and 

 peaches, which require 

 a well drained and light 

 sand} r , or even a stony, 

 loam. Apples and pears 

 thrive best on moist clay 

 loam, but even these fruits respond favorably to the 

 benefits of water drainage. 



221. How to Secure Stock. Chapter XII has described 

 the art and principles of propagation. Some fruit-growers 

 propagate their own stock in the manner indicated in that 

 chapter. A larger number, however, buy their stock 

 outright from reliable nurserymen, because they find the 

 latter method more satisfactory and economical for their 



GRAPE TWIGS. 



