10 



2. Water Drainage. 

 The second general item in the above score card is water 

 drainage, which is certainly extremely important. It is de- 

 sirable to have sufficient surface drainage to carry off the sur- 

 face water, since it is a well-recognized fact that trees will 

 not do well in a wet soil. On the other hand, if the slope is 

 too abrupt we may get washing of the soil, especially in the 

 spring, and loss of water during summer rains when there 

 may be a scarcity of water in the soil. For this reason very 

 abrupt slopes are less desirable, at least in this respect. Un- 

 der subdrainage would be considered the question of whether 

 there was sufficient drainage or whether the water was held in 

 the soil; and, on the other hand, whether there was too much 

 drainage making the subsoil too dry. 



3. Atmospheric Drainage. 



The third question to be considered is the matter of at- 

 mospheric drainage, and the importance of this varies a good 

 deal with different fruits in different sections. In those sec- 

 tions where frosts are likely to occur in the spring after the 

 trees are in bloom, and with early blossoming classes or vari- 

 eties of fruits, the question of atmospheric drainage may be 

 very important. If one is considering this question there are 

 several points which ought to be looked into. First, is there 

 sufficient slope to carry off the cold air? This does not re- 

 quire much slope, and one which will move the water over 

 the surface will be ample to carry off the cold air also. 



One ought also to consider whether there is any obstruction 

 at the bottom of the orchard against which the cold air will 

 bank up and so cause a frost to occur in- the orchard. This 

 obstruction might be a very thick block of timber or a rise 

 in the land. 



4. Aspect or Slope. 



The fourth item is the aspect or slope of the land, whether 

 to the north, south, east or west, and the score card con- 

 siders this first with reference to the sun, second with refer- 

 ence to the wind. In the former point, slope with reference 

 to the sun, we have the advantage of southern aspect in the 



