Litchfield Enquirer

Planting Fruit Trees on the side of Hills.

Dodart first observed that trees pushed their branches parallel to the surface of the earth. If a tree stands on a steep, it pushes its roots towards the declivity; but on both sides it still preserves its branches, parallel to the surface. As there is an attraction between the upper surface of the leaves, and light, I am persuaded (though not equally certain from experiment) that there is an attraction of the same nature between the under surface of the leaves and the surface of the earth. This I consider as the cause of the phenomenon.

I had long observed that the most fruitful orchards, and the most fertile trees, are those planted on a declivity, and the steeper it is, though not quite a precipice, the more fertile will they prove.

It is well known that the spreading of trees always renders them fruitful. On a plain, however, they incline to shoot upwards: and, therefore, art is called in by skilful gardeners, and applied in various ways to check their perpendicular, and to promote their lateral growth. But this point, which can be only on a plain by art, is obtained on a declivity by nature. There a tree loses its tendency to shoot upwards, and in order to preserve its branches parallel with the surface, is constrained to put them in a lateral direction.

Hence an important rule in the choice of orchards and gardens.