STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 73 



sides, the same variety usually blossoms two or three days 

 earlier on the lower side than it does on the upper side. There 

 is also a corresponding difference in the ripening of the fruit 

 in some seasons. 



If you will note the fact, the differences in the behavior of 

 the varieties just named are very definitely associated with the 

 differences in the elevations at which they are grown. This 

 incidentally emphasizes the importance or at least the influence 

 of elevation in the behavior of varieties. But it should be 

 noted that dift'erences in elevation are primarily differences in 

 climate, especially differences in temperature, so far as they 

 aft'ect fruit growing. 



However, not all local differences in the behavior of a vari- 

 ety are directly traceable to marked differences in elevation. 

 The Yellow Newtown apple, or the Albemarle Pippin as it is 

 called in some regions, appears to be unusually susceptible to 

 soil conditions, or what for lack of more definite information 

 is attributed to soil conditions, very marked variations being 

 readily apparent when it is grown on certain soil types ; but 

 the relative locations of these soil types with reference to at- 

 mospheric drainage, etc., may possibly have as much influence 

 on this variety as have the differences in the types themselves. 



You would, perhaps, like to have illustrations which are 

 nearer home. I have no doubt that there is an abundance of 

 them, but I do not happen to know about them. The ones I 

 have mentioned are used merely as types to call attention to the 

 fact that there may be marked local variations within the 

 variety. If there are any principles involved in these variations, 

 as there surely must be, they are operative everywhere and the 

 evidence of their application is only a matter of observation. 

 In Maine, there are plenty of differences based on relative ele- 

 vation, soil types, latitude, etc., and if these factors are of im- 

 portance in any region in accordance with fixed laws, they are 

 likewise of importance here. And I venture the suggestion 

 that, with your attention called to the matter, many of you can 

 bring to mind particular orchards, or sections in particular 

 orchards, in which som.e variety habitually does remarkably 

 well, or it may be it is noticeably poor. No generalization can 

 be made on such a speculative basis as this, yet where there are 



