408 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
situation is also subject to late spring frosts, the extremes of 
heat and cold and to rapid transitions from one extreme to 
the other; which is most disastrous to tender trees, producing 
bark-bursting with its attending evils. The great humidity of the 
atmosphere is also favorable to the growth of fungi, or those 
dark mossy spots which characterize the fruit of alluvial val¬ 
leys. The south or east side hill, though it is without most of 
the objections urged against the valley, yet is subject to one 
of the most serious effects, of the almost summer heat of the 
mid-day winter sun, without the equalizing influence of the 
north-western breeze, which always prevals in excessive cold 
weather; said effect being bark-bursting, the first of a long 
train of disasters. It is moreover, like all hill-sides, sub¬ 
ject to washing by heavy rains. The Summit of the Hill , all 
things considered, is the place for the orchard; especially if it 
have a northern or western aspect, as such a location usually 
has a natural, or is favorable to an artificial, drainage, is not 
subject to washing; has a free circulation of air at all times, 
exemption from the late spring frosts, extremes of temperature, 
and sudden transitions of the valley. The dryness, equal tem¬ 
perature and general circulation of the atmosphere, are favorable 
to the moderate, healthy, hardy growth of the tree, and pro¬ 
duction of smooth, bright, high colored fruit, of fine texture,, 
rich in quality, and keeping longer than that produced in the 
valleys. The western or northern slope has all the advantages 
of the crown of the hill excepting in their liability to wash, and 
to deep freezing when bare of snow, as was the case in the 
winter of 1855 and J 56, in the southern half of the State; bu^ 
these difficulties may be remedied by a proper system of plow¬ 
ing and mulching. 
We have mentioned the subject of free circulation. It is one 
which has been lightly passed over generally, but demands 
more than a passing notice; for in the vegetable as well as in 
the animal world, stagnation is death! action is life ! and these 
constant winds which people so much dread, are among our 
best friends; equalizing the temperature; driving away the 
humid air; rendering the trees hardy and self-sustaining, and 
