FRUIT GROWING 289 



conveniently secured, packed in moist moss and straw 

 and shipped to the person who wishes to plant it. 



219. The Location of the Orchard. — The location of a 

 young orchard should not be chosen hastily or without 

 careful consideration. In the selection of an orchard 

 site, these factors should be kept in mind : 



(1) Convenience to the home and to a desirable market 

 if fruit is to be raised to sell. 



(2) Soil. — Each fruit has a particular type of soil upon 

 which it succeeds best. This can usually be determined 

 by studying different orchards in your own locahty. 



(3) Water Drainage. — There is an old saying that 

 fruit trees do not like wet feet. The gravity water 

 (Section 12) in any orchard site must be removed by 

 drainage before the plants will thrive. 



(4) Air Drainage. — It must be remembered that air 

 drains Uke water. The cold air is the heavier and settles 

 into the " pockets," or low places ; and if trees or vines 

 are planted there, they are very liable to be injured by 

 the frost. 



220. The Distances between the Trees. — If the 

 location and soil preparation are satisfactory, we must 

 next determine the distances at which the various plants 

 make their best growth. 



The following table of distances between the plants is 

 recommended, though it may be varied sUghtly on 

 different soils and with different varieties. 



Apples 36 feet each way 



P^<irs 20 to 25 feet each way 



Peaches and nectarines . . .20 feet each way 



Plums 20 feet each way 



Apricots 20 feet each way 



V 



