486 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



from inclemencies of climate are afforded it by natural means — by the 

 configuration of the surrounding country and by timber — and if the 

 natural protection be inadequate, it must be decided whether, by artificial 

 means (the planting of wind-breaks), the site may be protected and 

 made snu^-. There may be so many other points in favour of a given 

 site that it is not to be passed over merely because some artificial pro- 

 tection is called for. We shall refer to this matter of wind-breaks again. 



A gentle slope ; why a slope ? The advantages are : a better 

 exposure of the plants and soil to the sun's action, better drainage 

 (both surface and, as a rule, sub-drainage), and the facilitating of 

 artificial drainage where that is necessary, and better atmospheric 

 drainage. The slope, however, should be gradual and not excessive. 

 On steep slopes the processes of cultivation are compromised, and 

 denudation may occur with heavy rains. Then we com© to the matter 

 of elevation — the elevation of the site itself in relation to its local sur- 

 roundings. Land may be at several hundred feet above sea-level and 

 yet too low to be a good site for a fruit-farm or somewhere very 

 near sea-level, and yet high enough. 



The desideratum is that there be land yet lower than that on which 

 fruit is to be planted, and that there be no " bottom " lands included 

 in the site. Those bottom lands have their uses, but they are not for 

 the fruit- faiTuer, and it is just as well for him that they be owned and 

 used by some other sort of farmer. Into these low areas the cold air 

 will be drawn oS from the fruit plantations. They will afford the 

 atmospheric drainage which is so essential. Were this more generally 

 recognized than it is, we should hear much less than we do of crop 

 prospects ruined by frosts, and of the necessity for the much talked of 

 * ' orchard heaters. ' ' 



Wind-breaks have already been alluded to. In selecting a site 

 it must be carefully noted whether or not it is sufficiently protected 

 by natural means — the configuration of the surrounding country, 

 timber belts, its own hedge-rows, and so forth — from undue exposure 

 to winds. Should it appear to be too exposed, the planter must make 

 up his mind that one of his first operations will be to plant wind- 

 screens. The direction and number of these screens will be decided 

 by local circumstances and the configuration of the land to be planted. 

 Some quick-growing shelter belts must be planted at least as soon 

 as the fruit is planted, preferably before. While an airy position is 

 highly desirable, a wind-swept site is impossible. The planted wind- 

 break is in my opinion to be preferred to the "hedge" — generally 

 the all-prevalent mixed hedge — for many reasons. 



The wind-break can be raised in exactly the correct position to 

 be most effective and it can be cultivated and controlled; whereas the 

 hedge is a harbourage for weed and insect pests of all descriptions. 



The best species of trees for wind-break purposes is a matter on 

 which opinion is very varied. Many advise the use of fruit-bearing 

 trees of the hardier sorts, holding that the crops they produce are 

 a set-off to the expense of their institution and maintenance. Others 



