20 The Fruit-Growers Guide-Book 



air prevents frostiness. Soils on the northern and eastern 

 slopes are generally deeper and richer than those found 

 on southern or western slopes, possibly because the sun 

 cioes not strike such slopes so directly and does not burn 

 out the humus so quickly. 



Southern slopes are earlier and permit of a longer 

 growing season. Trees which are situated on southern 

 exposures receive more sunshine, and usually develop 

 fruits of higher color than on the north and east. In 

 regions where the growing season is short, it is always 

 best to select a strong southern exposure for the orchard. 

 In high altitudes this fact is often of great importance, as 

 any element which will prolong the season for late apples 

 and induce them to take on their full color should be fav- 

 ored. Early varieties in high altitudes will usually mature 

 on northern or eastern slopes. 



The soil on southern and western slopes is usually 

 drier than on the opposite sides, and for this reason it 

 frequently happens that fruits from orchards having strong 

 southern or western slopes is smaller than from orchards 

 on the other sides. The dryness of soils on southern ex- 

 posures may be easily controlled by the use of manures 

 and cover crops, together with intelligent cultivation and 

 handling of the soil. 



Large bodies of water, either a lake or river, has an 

 ameliorating influence upon the climate in their immediate 

 vicinity. Orchards on lands which slope towards large 

 bodies of water are more immune from radical atmos- 

 pheric changes. The slope on the side of such body of 

 water towards which the prevailing winds blow is prefer- 

 able, because the air in passing over the water becomes 

 modified in temperature and its moisture content is in- 

 creased. 



Location for a Commercial Orchard 



The location of a commercial orchard is a matter that 

 varies widely with the local conditions, and is dependent 

 largely on the part of the country, nearness to transpor- 



