NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



715 



The usual standard varieties when planted in a soil of good body and 

 suitable fertility do not begin to yield net results until about eight or 

 ten years old. As the preparation, planting, and care of the orchard for 

 this period involve considerable expenditure, it is of great importance 

 to choose a suitable site for the orchard. Hence select as low-priced 

 land as is compatible with a deep, well-drained, moderately heavy, friable, 

 fertile soil in a locality where climatic conditions and transportation 

 facilities are favourable to the development of the crop. 



The fruit of the Apple is largest in the humid valleys, but best 

 flavoured on the hills and dry tablelands. The excess of humidity and 

 the need of free air induce canker and favour the aphis. The Apple is 

 not very particular as to the nature of the soil ; it neither dislikes very 

 clayey, very limy, nor very sandy soils, but tho best flavoured and 

 longest keeping fruits come from trees grown on clay-loam. 



Apples grown on sandy soil are said to weigh less per bushel than 

 those grown on clay or clayey soils, other conditions being equal. 



In planting on higher land it is necessary to avoid too shallow soil 

 for the successful growth of long-lived and fruitful trees. While the 

 Apple very much dislikes a wet boggy soil, it equally dislikes a site upon 

 which cold air may stagnate. Every hollow, especially if it be one with- 

 out a pronounced outlet to lower levels, fills up with cold air, and as one 

 passes frcm the crest to the bottom and up the opposite side one feels the 

 change in temperature. 



Though the soils in such places may be good and deep, and water 

 drainage of the best, yet in such hollows cold air may settle and remain 

 with little or no motion and be death-traps, not alone for the Apple, but 

 for fruit trees in general ; it being as imperative to keep still cold air 

 away from the tree's head as it is to keep stagnant water away from its 

 feet. 



If it is necessary to drain, the pipes should be from 4 to feet deep, 

 and 20 to 40 feet apart, corresponding with the distance between tho 

 trees. 



The question of site and aspect is treated at some length, quoting 

 authorities, including Professor Bailey, Downing, and others. 



Selection of trees and planting, age of trees to plant. — One-year-old trees 

 are judged old enough for Oregon. The distance between trees for plant- 

 ing at present is 20 to 24 feet apart, though some plant 30 to 40 feet 

 apart. Karl Stackland, a most successful Apple-grower, says : " An area 

 will yield about so much good fruit, and it matters little whether the 

 trees are 20 or 40 feet apart, so far as the ultimate yield is concerned." 



Trees of the same variety will often make twice the growth in some 

 localities that they do in others, though the size and appearance of the 

 fruit may be identical, with this difference, that the fruit on the dwarfer 

 trees is earlier and consequently higher coloured. Other conditions being 

 equal, dwarf-growing trees, shortage in water supply, lightness of soil, and 

 closeness of trees tend to induce early fruitfulness and maturity. 



Double planting is sometimes practised, say with standard Apples 

 40 feet apart, with early-bearing varieties, as Plums, Cherries, summer 

 and autumn Apples, and early Pears, planted between. As soon as the 

 standard trees begin to bear these "fillers" may be removed. By this 



