CHAPTER V 
THE FARM ORCHARD 
Why We Need More Fruit.—Food experts recom¬ 
mend that a large amount of the human diet be com¬ 
posed of fruits. Very few people fail to enjoy eating 
a ripe peach or a dish of strawberries with cream. The 
best way for farmers to obtain these luxuries is to plant 
orchards that will grow them. If the fruit is to be pur¬ 
chased, there is seldom a sufficient supply for the family. 
It is indeed a pleasure to pluck ripe peaches or plums 
from the tree. These forms of “preserved sunshine” 
not only supply the needs of the summer time, but they 
are a source of well preserved jams and jellies for the 
winter. “It never rains roses, if we want more roses, 
we must plant more bushes,” a famous writer has re¬ 
marked. The same is true of fruit production. These 
and bushes must be planted and cultivated to obtain 
luscious harvest. After we have planted the trees, there 
is a long period of care and cultivation before the or¬ 
chard bears fruit. While there may be a great many 
things to require the attention of farmers, the orchard, 
has a very important place. The time and energy con¬ 
sumed will be well rewarded in later years. 
Location of the Home Orchard.—We usually want 
the orchard as near the home as possible. It is desirable 
to have a gentle slope, well drained, but not so abrupt 
as to allow washing. The south slope is more desirable, 
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