APPLES 
siderable importance in the commercial 
part of the crop. For early or mid-season 
varieties, however, and particularly those 
for home use, where one attaches more 
importance to fine specimens with clear 
skins, mellow flesh, and juiciness, and 
where several days or a week’s time in 
the date of ripening does not detract from 
the value ot the product, a northern, west- 
ern or sheltered aspect may be of first 
choice. 
While high color 1s usually a feature of 
much commercial value in the apple, those 
who have formed a discriminating taste 
and grow fruit for their own use, give it 
but passing notice. Thus it is that the 
aspect most desirable for the commercial 
orchard may be of but secondary impor- 
tance to the home orchardist. 
As much of the autumn weather in 
Western Oregon is of low, light value, 
owing to the humidity, it is necessary to 
use considerable discretion when selecting 
a site for the growing of a commercial 
apple crop of the late keeping varieties, if 
one would have a high colored product 
one year with another. Judicious wood 
pruning and thinning of fruit will mate- 
rially aid in enabling the fruit to get the 
most advantage from the light available. 
BE. R. Lake, 
Oregon State Board Houticulture, 1911. 
Practically all orchardists recommend 
selecting a sloping site because of the 
advantage of good air drainage. Air 
drainage, while not generally considered 
an important factor in apple growing by 
the amateur orchardist, is nevertheless 
one which plays an important part in the 
success of profitable fruit growing. In 
the large irrigated valleys in New Mexico 
it is frequently impossible to consider 
very strongly the factor of site for the 
reason that apple orchards are planted as 
a rule on level ground. In sections, es- 
pecially in the mountain districts, where 
a site having good air drainage can be 
selected this possibility should not be 
overlooked, since much loss due to frost 
injury may in this way be avoided. Cold 
air is heavier than warm air and for this 
reason it will settle in the low places 
103 
which aie thus 
frosty ones 
most likely to be the 
FABIAN GARCIA, 
Santa Fe, N. M. 
The best orchard sites are usually 
found on rolling lands or hillsides. In 
such places better soul drainage is afforded 
and the likelihood of frosts in the early 
fall or late spring is lessened. The or- 
chard site should be located far enough 
above adjacent lands so that the cold air 
at night can settle below the orchard 
tract. A few feet in elevation often 
results in the prevention of frosts in the 
late spring. Fruit trees should not, under 
ordinary conditions, be planted on flat 
bottom land or in low pockets where 
cold air settles, as such locations are very 
likely to be frosty. 
R. W, FISHER, 
Bozeman, Mont. 
Elevation 
Have the orchard site elevated above 
the surrounding country. This does not 
mean that it must be the highest piece 
of land in the vicinity, but that it should 
have lower levels in proximity to it. Ele- 
vation is an important factor in fruit 
growing in Wisconsin. There is always 
a possibility of damage from late spring 
frosts during the flowering period and 
orchards on low or lIevel land suffer 
first. A rolling site which provides good 
air drainage and which is somewhat ele- 
vated is most likely to escape injury from 
frosts. 
Avoid Pockets 
Avoid “pockets” It is not only neces- 
sary to select elevated sites, but when 
these sites are in small valleys it is im- 
portant that the valley be open at its 
lower end. If it is not, such a valley 
becomes a “pocket,” and because of Jack 
of air drainage is very susceptible to 
frosts, and unsuitable for apple growing. 
“Pot-holes,” especially if of considerable 
extent, are best left unplanted as the 
trees seldom give good results. 
J. G. Moors, 
Madison, Wis. 
Mississippi Valley Conditions 
In locating an orchard a suitable site 
rather than a convenient one should be 
the first consideration. Whenever pos- 
