11 



EXPOSURE 



is an important consideration in growing fruit trees for 

 profit. Orchards are frequently planted in the low .ihekered 

 nooks, or in rich meadow lands. Few thin^j.s ht.ve been 

 more detrimental to the fruit interests. The hilKide and 

 exposed plateau are less subject to frosts than the sheltered 

 bottom and lower lands. By al] means let the orchard be 

 planted on the hillside. Some claim that a southern 

 exposure is best ; but a week of warm weather early in 

 the season will cause the buds to start, only to ^e killed 

 by the succeeding frosts. My own'experience goes to show 

 that a north-west exposure is better than a southern. On 

 a north-west exposure the flowering does not develop so 

 early, and is more likely to take place in genial weather. 

 Should a frost occur at time of flowering:, those having a 

 slope towards the west will not receive the sun's rays for 

 some time after sunrise, thus giving them time to thaw out 

 gradually and escape the injurious effects of the frost. 

 Next in importance to exposjre comes 



SHELTER. 



All oi-chards should be sheltered. If naturally sheltered 

 so much the better ; if not, windbreaks should IJe planted 

 as early as possible. They save the fruit from being 

 shaken, and frequently prevent immense loss in the shape 

 of bruised and fallen fruit. No better tree can be found 

 for the purpose than our common spruce. Deciduous trees, y 

 such as beach, maple, etc , outside the spruce, makel^ the •/ 

 shelter more complete and effectual, as well as more 

 ornamental. 



Having selected the situation, the next thing to be 

 considered is the preparation of the soil. In a climate 

 moist like that of Nova Scotia, 



DRAINAGE 



is of course all important, for manure is nearly all lost in 

 land soaked with water. In portions of our province the 

 rainfall is very great ; in sucti circumstances the greater 

 the need of drainage. Whenever the top roots reach the 

 cold sub-soil, the size and quality of the fruit begin to 

 deteriorate, and the tree itself loses its vigor. Grumblers, 

 in reference to their poor crops of fruits, are little aware 

 that they have themselves to blame for these results. 



A judicious course of draining always improves the 

 character of the fruit. Even old trees have been bene- 

 fited by laying tiles two and a half or three feet below the 



Earrr 



