60 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 
The aspect.—The aspect or exposure of a fruit 
plantation is determined by the direction and extent 
of the slope of the land. The exposure exents 
great influence upon the temperature of the soil and 
upon the force of the winds, and it therefore be- 
comes an emphatic problem in the location of a 
fruit plantation, especially when the tender and early- 
blooming fruits are under consideration. There is 
the greatest diversity of opinion respecting the 
proper exposure for fruits, some growers contending 
that the northward slope is always the best, and 
others preferring a southward exposure. The truth 
is that no one exposure is best in all cases. Much 
depends upon the location and the particular en- 
vironment of the plantation, and upon the kind of 
fruit which it is proposed to grow. The subject 
may be elucidated by discussing it under three 
generalizations: 
1. In locations adjoining bodies of water, the 
best slope is towards the water. The very reason 
for the location of fruit farms in such places is 
that the ameliorating effects of the water may be 
secured, and these effects are most marked when 
the fruit land slopes directly towards the river or 
the lake. In all these cases, therefore, the par- 
ticular direction of the slope in respect to the 
points of the compass is of a very secondary im- 
portance. There is often great choice between the 
two sides of a river or small lake, particularly 
when the slopes are sharp and high. That side 
which faces away from strong prevailing winds is 
