Location

Having decided that under certain conditions the planting

of an apple orchard will prove a profitable venture, and having

ascertained that those conditions prevail on your farm, the next step

will be to determine the best location on the farm for the orchard. In

choosing this location it will be well to keep in mind the relative

importance of the orchard in the scheme of farm management. If the

orchard is merely a source of home supply, naturally it will not

require as important a position on the farm as will be the case if it

is expected to yield a larger share of the farm income. If the

relatively large net income per acre which it is possible to obtain

from an apple orchard is to be secured, the best possible location is

demanded.



Contrary to the common ideas and practice of the past, the orchard

should not be put upon the poorest soil on the farm. The best

orchards occupy the best soils, although fairly good results are often

obtained on poor or medium soils. The relative importance which is

attached to the orchard enterprise must also govern the choice of

soil. If apples are to be a prominent crop they should be given the

preference as to soil; if not, they may be given a place in accordance

with what is expected of them.