ion of
its slope, provided it has one. From past experience it is believed that
an orchard situated on a north slope is ideally located for Minnesota
conditions, as its blossoming period is retarded and consequently the
liability of injury from late frosts decreased. But all people who want
orchards do not possess such a slope, so they set out their orchards on
the most convenient location. A few growers have orchards sloping in all
directions, and their opinion on the influence of slope on hardiness and
retardation of the blooming period should be valuable. It is of interest
to note that, out of 108 reporting on the levelness of the orchard
ground, only twelve had level ground, two level to nearly level, one
level to decidedly rolling, twenty-nine nearly level, seven nearly level
to slightly rolling, three nearly level to medium rolling, twenty-nine
slightly rolling, four slightly rolling to medium rolling, eighteen
rolling and three decidedly rolling. A glance at the figures shows that
the majority of orchards are on nearly level to slightly rolling land.
In addition to the numbers given thirteen reported a slight slope, one a
slight slope to a medium slope, two a slight to a steep slope, sixteen a
medium slope, one a medium to a steep slope, and five a steep slope--the
emphasis being laid on the moderate rising ground. No grower reported an
orchard location entirely at the base of a slope, but six reported
orchards extending from the base to the top of the slope, two from the
base to midway of the slope, twenty-five at midway of the slope, seven
from midway to the top and twenty-two at the top of a slope--the high
ground evidently being preferred for orchard sites. As a general rule,
as would naturally be expected, those who reported their orchards on the
top of the slope usually reported their ground as either high or medium.
Of ninety-six reports on the elevation of the orchards only four
reported low land, and two of these were on top of a slope, two low and
medium, one low and high, forty-six medium, fourteen medium and high,
and twenty-seven high--the medium taking the lead. These figures have
been given of the state as a whole, but when the sections are considered
the southeastern and the west central take the lead in the highest
percentage of high ground in comparison with the lower ground; the
southeastern and east central, for the greatest amount of rolling land;
and the southwestern, for the most level or nea