Practical Orcharding on Rough Lands (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911. Excerpt: ... ORCHARDING WHERE CHOICE OF SLOPES MAY BE HAD Courtesy R. L. Hutchinson CHAPTER V. THE ASPECT. "Under the cloudless blue they lie, Golden hills in the golden sun; Rising up to the mountains high, Reaching down where the rivers run. Up to the springs of youth they lead, Under the edge of the purple pines; Ways untainted by toil or greed, Paths where peace in its fulness shines."--Mabel Earle. The aspect of the orchard is a subject upon which there has been a great deal both said and written. A very great difference of opinion exists as to the advantage and disadvantage of the aspect or slope of the land upon which the orchard is planted. Some prefer a Northern, others a Southern, many choose the Eastern and quite frequently we find paying orchards which have a decided Western exposure. So it becomes a question as to whether there is any real difference, and if so what should govern us in our choice. We have found in our experience and observation that no one slope or exposure proves the best under all circumstances. The surroundings of the particular location, together with the varieties of fruits to be grown, with special reference to the demands of the markets for which it is to be produced, should largely govern us. Whether it be a demand for early, high-colored fruit, or a late maturing variety. For example, in our orchard, the highest colored (and it naturally follows, the best quality) dessert apples have been grown on a Southern or a Southeastern slope, while the most bushels per tree during single seasons have perhaps been gathered from the more Northern exposures. However, these trees did not come into bearing as early in life as those on the Southern and Eastern slopes, and had consequently grown much larger. That exposure counts for much, especia...