25 
Heavy voleanic soils, whether red, black, or chocolate, though of extreme 
fertility, are not as a rule good fruit soils, as in the first place they are often 
too retentive of moisture—cost too much to cultivate, and if not cultivated, dry 
out and crack badly during dry weather. Where the climate is suitable, pears, 
apricots, plums, and prunes are the best fruits to grow on such soils; and when 
they occur in the tropical parts, bananas will probably do best. In a colony 
like this, where there are millions of acres of land suitable for growing the 
various kinds of fruit, I strongly advise that the cultivation of fruit for 
commercial purposes should be confined to such soils as I have described, for 
the only case in which it is permissible to use unsuitable soil is where the 
grower has only a small area of land, and has therefore no choice; and then it 
is not advisable to grow more fruit than is required for home consumption, as 
it cannot be grown at a price that will enable it to compete with fruit grown 
elsewhere under more favourable conditions. 
When it is desirable to grow fruit in such soils, then it will always pay 
to give the land extra preparation either by trenching or sub-soiling combined 
with sub-draining ; and by this means even poor clayey, shaley, or gravelly 
soils can be made to grow good fruit. The question of the best methods of 
treating such soils will be dealt with further on, and in the meantime we will 
take up the question of orchard sites. 
ORCHARD SITES. 
In dealing with the question of orchard sites, one important consideration 
is that of locality, as the most suitable site in one district is not always the 
most suitable site in another, so that, as we have to take locality into considera- 
tion, it may be as well to point out what constitutes the most suitable locality 
before dealing with the question of site. In the first place it is useless to 
grow fresh fruits commercially in districts that are difficult of access and are 
far removed from rail or water carriage, as the expense of getting the fruits 
to market and the knocking about that they receive in transit, prevents any 
_ chance of profitable culture. Therefore no matter how suitable the soil or 
climate of such a district, it should be let alone till there are better means of 
communication. The most favourable localities are those that have good roads 
within easy reach of rail or water carriage, and which, when soft fruits are to 
be grown, should be within easy reach of a populous centre. Firmer fruits, 
such as apples, pears, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, and bananas, which may 
be kept for some time after they are gathered, may be carried much longer 
distances, but even these fruits will not pay if grown too far from a shipping 
point. Fruits that are grown for drying, however, will pay to grow even at 
considerable distances from a shipping point, as the bulk to be handled bears 
_ the proportion of about one-fifth to one-sixth on an average, to the weight of 
fresh fruit, and it is notinjured by delay in marketing or by rough cartage. In 
growing drying fruits, the main considerations are suitable soil and suitable 
climate. The influence of locality on site may be best exemplified as follows:— 
On the coast it is advisable to protect orchards from south-easterly gales, and 
on the Downs to protect them from strong westerly winds, hence the lay of 
the land and the natural shelter should be chosen so as to form the best 
protection in each case. In selecting the site for an orchard the first considera- 
tion is, that the soil be suitable for the fruits that it is desired to grow, as no 
matter how suitable it may be in other respects, if the soil is bad the orchardist 
is heavily handicapped from the start. ‘The second consideration is that of 
aspect or exposure, which should be towards and not from the sun, a north- — 
easterly aspect being the best. The third consideration is that of shelter, as a 
good shelter on the side from which the prevailing winds come, or from which 
heavy storms may be expected, is of very great help to the orchard. The land 
should not have too steep a slope, as if so it is apt to wash badly during heavy 
rains ; a gentle slope is, however, considered an advantage, though if the soil is 
