396 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Ofif. Doc. 



ture of the subsoil, as well as that of the surface soil is at once 

 apparent. 



1 have indicated some of the main factors considered in the study 

 and classification of soils. When studying soils in the field we 

 follow out the crop results as related to and depending upon the 

 soil conditions. Thus we are enabled to compare crop results as 

 influenced by a large number of soil variations and to draw some 

 conclusions in regard to the adaptation of certain soils to certain 

 crops and to difl'erent varieties of the same crop. 



Having dwelt at some length upon the importance of soil se- 

 lection, 1 want to call your attention at this point to the fact that 

 the character of the soil upon which a crop is grown is only one 

 of several factors necessary for successful crojj production. Climatic 

 conditions embracing not only absolute temperatures, but also the 

 rainfall, air drainage, soil drainage as influenced by topography — 

 the only kind considered until recently — elevation both above sea 

 level and with reference to local topography, fertilization, and care 

 of orchards are all important. No one of these factors may be 

 studied effectively unless the other factors influencing production 

 can be balanced. So soil comparisons can only be of value when 

 the other conditions are equalized, and to do this a large number 

 of field comparisons is essential. The adaptation of varieties of 

 apples to types of soil can be studied with hope of arriving at definite 

 results only by considering first the behavior of specific varieties 

 upon specific well-defined types of soil. 



In the South Mountain region you are somewhat restricted in 

 the number of commercial varieties of apples that have proved to 

 be both hardy and profitable, and that possess at the same time as 

 good quality as a group of growers of your standing wishes. There 

 is nothing strange in this for until recently we have always been 

 satisfied with whatever varieties we might have, hence little effort 

 has been made to test other varieties under local conditions. Bar- 

 ring a few sections in the eastern United States which seem to 

 have been blessed with varieties to fit their conditions without much 

 efllort on their part, growers are seeking to-daj^ additional varieties 

 that will yield well and also be of high quality. York Imperial lias 

 been the money-maker in your district, and until you have more 

 profitable sorts of better quality than you now have, it must con- 

 tinue to occupy an important place in your commercial plantings. 

 The York apple has been severely arraigned because of poor qual- 

 ity, and as sometimes grown the reputation is in some degree mer- 

 ited ; but on the other hand, it is a very good apple when grown at 

 its best, and at least has nothing to fear from such as the Ben 

 Davis group. 



If the tendency of the York to be coarse in texture could be 

 in some degree overcome an important advance would be made. As 

 grown in some parts of central Pennsylvania where the climate is 

 a little colder than in the southern part of the state its texture is 

 much finer, and in following this variety to its northern limits 

 where superseded by the New York varieties, the flesh is much 

 closer, more solid and compact than with you, but the apple is not 

 so large. There are several good sorts moreover, to take its place 

 there and so it is not planted to any great extent. You cannot 



