2 CHOOSING THE LAND 
part of an acre, may consist of an accumulation of rock 
fragments; or it may be hardpan—that is, indurated 
and impervious semi-cemented clay—in which no living 
plant of any kind can exist; or, again, it may be a 
bed of dry shingle or arid sand, equally alike useless for 
fruit-growing. Fruit land in any part of the world 
should be selected only after a personal inspection, or 
obtaining disinterested expert advice, and in British 
Columbia this is especially imperative. 
Amr DratnaGE.—It is imperative, not only because of 
the varying character of the soil at short distances apart, 
but also because of other reasons arising out of the geo- 
graphical configuration of the surface. Orchard trees 
will not thrive unless the air is able to circulate freely 
amongst them. This is a condition which, in a moun- 
tainous country like British Columbia, where the valleys 
are frequently narrow and often long, is a matter of the 
very utmost importance. Trees planted in such a position 
will not grow and thrive anything like so well as trees 
planted in a more open situation, where the breezes 
of heaven have free, unhampered access to them. But 
the chief danger to fruit-trees planted in such “‘ wind- 
still” localities becomes specially active on the frosty 
mornings of spring. In such unduly sheltered spots 
the frost is apt to hang about the trees and cling to 
the tender, newly opened foliage, or even to the blossoms, 
until the sun’s rays smite upon it and burn the young 
leaves or the blossoms irreparably. These ‘frost 
pockets,” as they are called, must by all means be 
avoided. And the best way to avoid them is to select 
a situation for your orchard in which, owing to the con- 
