98 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
blooming, and therefore less likely to be 
injured by frost. In regions where there 
is much freezing and thawing in winter, 
the soil of the southern slope is not gen- 
erally so deep, because the melting snows 
of winter have washed much of it away, 
whereas on the northern slope the snows 
have not melted until the spring time and 
the soil is not disturbed. . This process 
in one year may seem to be of little con- 
sequence, may not even be visible in any 
considerable degree; but in a thousand 
years it makes a good deal of difference, 
even in some cases the difference of bare 
hillsides on the south and a deep soil on 
the north. However, it must be observed, 
that, other things being equal—that is, 
provided there is sufficient depth of soil 
on the south side—the farmers univers- 
ally grow larger crops on that side of 
the hill than on the north. 
Varieties Adapted 
The larger varieties of apples may be 
grown on the higher levels as they tend 
to grow smaller in the rarer, cooler air. 
Those that tend to be rather too small 
for the best market conditions may be 
grown on the lower levels, as they will 
erow to be larger in the valleys. 
Apples that ripen too early for the 
best markets would better be grown on 
a clay soil on the north slope of the 
higher elevations. Apples that do not 
ripen early enough may be grown in the 
warmer sandy soils or on the south slope 
of the lower levels. 
GRANVILLE LOWTHER 
Exposures 
Exposure of Orchard 
This much discussed question is not 
worthy the importance given it in many 
horticultural writings, as questions of 
soil drainage, irrigation facilities, tillage, 
spraying, pruning and fertilizing are 
much more potent factors in successful 
fruit growing. 
North or Northwestern Slope 
All other things being equal, a northern 
or northwestern slope may prove the best 
for commercial orchards. However, this 
is a question influenced largely by local 
conditions. The earliest fruits and veg- 
etables are likely to be secured on a 
southern exposure because the iays of 
the sun strike such an exposure more 
directly. During very warm weather 
there is more danger on such slopes of 
injury from sun-scald. There is less dan- 
ger on a northern exposure from frosts 
because on such slopes growth is often 
retarded a week or ten days in the 
spring until the frost period has passed. 
Sweet cherries and other fruit crops that 
are subject to injury from spring frosts 
are likely to produce the best results on 
a northern slope. 
R. W. FYIsiinr, 
Bozeman, Mont 
The most intelligent and experienced 
orchardists differ as to the best location 
and exposure of an orchard, some prefer- 
ring a northern slope, others an eastern, 
and yet others recommend a southern or 
even a western slope as best. It is be- 
lived that the advantages preponderate in 
favor of a gentle eastern or northeastern 
slope, aS orchards located on such sites 
suffer less in both soil and tree from the 
effects of heat and drought. An orchard 
with such an exposure will maintain its 
vigor and longevity better than if inclined 
to the west or southwest. This is espec- 
ially true in states south of the New 
England group, where the summers are 
long, hot, and dry, and where it is prob- 
able that the greatest injury to trees 
results from these causes. But, as before 
stated, all farms do not afford these fa- 
vorable sites, especially near the home, 
which is the most desirable location for 
the family orchard. Thus the planter 
will often be forced to forego such a 
location and vake his chances where the 
natural conditions are not so favorable. 
If possible, the site should be elevated 
above its immediate surroundings, thus 
giving a free circulation of air, while such 
an elevation will also be of great aid in 
guarding against late spring frosts, so 
fatal to young fruit at the blooming sea- 
son. 
G. B. Brackert, 
Washington, D. C. 
New England 
A northeastern or eastern exposure, 
which is commonly suggested, is less es- 
