50 
THE APPLE. 
and nnsnitable soils fit for apple culture. Some contend that the nearer 
the surface the root can be kept the better for the health and the fer¬ 
tility of the trees. There is, no doubt, much truth in the statement, but 
it is not the whole truth. It is quite possible to have roots too shallow 
for the welfare of the trees. The character of the roots, much more 
than their place in the ground, determines their measure of useful work. 
During long spells of drought it is well to have roots so far removed 
from the surface as to run little or no risk of exhausting the supplies of 
food or moisture. It takes much of both to support an apple tree fully 
furnished with leaves and growing boughs, and heavily laden with fruit. 
It is at such times that deep, large, rich root runs reveal their im¬ 
portance. A deep soil is seldom injurious if it rests on a dry bottom. It 
is not depth but wet that causes late growths of wood and fruit in 
the autumn, and the maximum depth here recommended will not be 
found excessive to the successful cultivation of the apple for a series of 
years. 
III. — Site. 
The site is also important. Planters, however, have seldom a very 
extensive choice of sites. But natural sites may be improved as well as 
natural soils. Shelter alone will change a bad site into a good one. 
Neither is it needful to crowd the shelter right up against the apples. 
This is often done, to the robbery of their roots and the weakening of 
their tops. A shelter is often more efficient at the distance of 50 or 
100 yards than close at hand. Apples like a warm, cosy spot, but hate 
to be overshadowed or overhung. Again, apples delight in a gentle 
slope, if it can be provided for them. This insures more thorough 
drainage and a warmer, more genial atmosphere. Apples should never, 
if it can be avoided, be planted in the bottom of a valley. That is 
the coldest place in the locality, and the spot where the spring and 
autumn frosts work most mischief among the apples. Gentle declivities 
to the east, south-east, south, south-west, west, are the sites best adapted 
for apple growing. On the whole, as the frosts now mostly run the 
severities of winter almost right through our fruit blooming season, a 
south-west or w'estern aspect would be likely to insure more crops than 
any other. A site or aspect with any point of north in it is too cold 
for superior apples in all but the extreme southern counties. Some of 
the most successful orchards, it must also be admitted, have sloped to the 
east and caught the morning sun. Of course, too, thousands of tons of 
good apples are grown on the level, and have been planted and culti¬ 
vated with little or no regard to site. Still, site is a point worthy of 
