Is the term "Orchards" or "orchard" more approprate for a single plot of different fruit trees?

Hello,

I have something of a  nonsensical (maybe) question.   I would like to make an orchard advertising sign for a relative, and would like to use a name that was used in the past as opposed to the current, yet very similar, name now.

I think that the old name is better, but I won't disclose which is which for fear of biasing any replies.  I'd like to suggest that the old name should be used but I wanted to see what others thought before putting this out to my relatives.

My question is this:  Should one single orchard containing more that one type of fruit be named in the plural sense?  For example, can a single orchard with peaches, plums, apples and cherries be named "Smith" (not the real name) Orchards?.
I probably will bias any replies by saying saying this - I feel that one name is more personable and would attract more local attention while the other seems more corporate, official and distant.

Would anyone care to say which of the two names sound better or more appropriate?

1.) Smith's Orchard.
2.) Smith Orchards.

Thanks for any replies.  I really would like to know if anyone has a preference or thinks that there would be no difference.

Regards,
Tim

My totally unprofessional view is that Orchard should be for a smaller place and Orchards for a larger. So the name would depend on what you are trying to convey, small family farm local food etc etc would in my mind be orchard. large farm with several different fields of trees would be orchards.

Woo, terminology and preciseness of language use, I love it.

Orchards refers to more than one piece of land developed into fruit bearing land, however, since today we might alternate the types of trees like apples, pears, plums, etc. all within the same plot of land, I don't think the old rules really apply today.

On my land I have all my fruit trees located in the same plot so I refer to it as "the Orchard" because I am using the reference of "single plot" for the basis of my terminology. I also have two "vineyards" one is muscadine and the other is grapes, they are not in close proximity to each other either.

In the long run, Unless you happen to be in a country that has Ap. Control regulations, I don't really think it matters if you use the singular or plural since there would not be any governmental agency concerned with what you are doing or calling the farm.

Redhawk

"Orchards" sounds more friendly and personal. You could also call it a fruit 'Grove', or if you live in a small valley, "Glen".
"Antique Apple Grove"

I would speculate that "Orchards" isn't a plural form of "Orchard", but rather the same word just having morphed over time, similar to "woods" vs "wood". Don't take my word on that, though! =P

I'll check my Oxford Dictionary about that Jamin.

It seems like it's just a personal preference.
With mine, I used the plural option (Mimosa Grove Small Farms & Gardens. I went with plural due to having several components for different purposes
Farms- show rabbitry, mest rabbitry, poultry, cattery, pigeon loft, dovecot, etc.
Gardens- annual veg, forest garden, bonsai projects, rose breeding, cottage garden, market ornamentals, etc.
Everything is located on the same property, but each has its designated area; so I decided to word it plurally.

I think of orchard like the word forest.  If it's a mixed forest, it's still a forest.  But if there are two, distinctly different forests divided by a significant space of no trees, then it's "forests" or forest A and forest B.

An orchard with a mixture of different kinds of fruit is traditionally technically an orchard.  The idea of having one kind of fruit tree in an orchard used to be impractical before machine harvesting as it depended on a great deal of labour available at once.  Instead, they used to plant the fruit so as one variety was finishing, the next row along came ready. That way it didn't have to be picked all at once.  So a mixed orchard was an orchard.  But we are in the 21st century now, so it could be orchards if you felt like it.  

As for sound, both sound fine.  So long as it's not Smith Orchard's we're okay.

Wow. Thank you all for your excellent opinions. You are all awesome.
I guess that I can now disclose my opinion (if I already haven't).  I think that the name should be "Smith's" (again, not the real name) orchard.  My reasoning is that my relative (who is my father-in-law) is well respected and well known in our small community.  Everyone that we know still calls his orchard by its original name.  The new name seems to remove him from the orchard and seems much more impersonal to me.  The advertising was also going to be on the sideboards of his old and original 1976 Chevy truck which he had given to us and which was used in the orchard for its whole life.  I totally appreciate and respect everyone's opinions and thank you for them.  If you still have ideas I'm always open to them. :)

I think that since it is a singular patch of land I would use the singular usage.

Eric

Let us know how it goes and feel free to share photos.  You can also promote it in your regional forum on permies.