398 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



the Adams County Soil Survey, especially in the northern part of 

 the county, the heavier parts of the Porters loam and the Porters 

 stony loam, the Mont Alto loam and stony loam are very desirable, 

 and the heavier members of the Leesburg, the Duffield, the Hagers- 

 towu and the Penn soils where the elevation is sufficient are also 

 good, ranking in the order named. The Mont Alto, Leesburg and 

 Duffield soils were not mapped in Adams county, but they occur 

 not far north and west of South Mountain, and have been mapped 

 this season on the Reconnoissance Soil Survey of South Central 

 Pennsylvania. 



The Stayman is so near the crest of popularity at the present 

 time that it is being planted extensively in many parts of this state 

 regardless of conditions, either of climate or of soil. It is un- 

 doubtedly a very desirable acquisition to the list of varieties suited 

 to this immediate vicinity and in general to southeastern and cen- 

 tral Pennsylvania, but I doubt whether it is any more cosmopolitan 

 as to soil and climatic conditions than several other well established 

 sorts, such as the York and Baldwin. 



The Stayman has given its best results, as observed up to this 

 time, on soils of medium texture that are not above the average in 

 productivity, and on medium to heavy sandy loams. The tree is 

 naturally strong in growth hence its vegetative habit should not be 

 intensified by an excessively rich and productive soil. The color 

 of the fruit is very liable to be deficient, hence moist rich loams and 

 clay loams should be carefully avoided. The variety has shown a 

 tendency this year to crack open just ahead of picking season, and 

 while the damage has not been heavy, neither is the indication re- 

 assuring. Very likely this tendency is due in part to weather con- 

 ditions of the present season, but I want again to call your attention 

 to the climatic conditions maintained by the soil and subsoil, es- 

 pecially the latter, and that the roots of a tree are in a very definite 

 climatic environment which is locally controlled largely by the water- 

 holding capacity of the subsoil. The latter in turn depends princi- 

 pally upon the texture and structure. The bursting of apples on 

 the tree is generally attributed to a too rapid growth except as 

 it may be a varietial tendency. Early seasonal growth is obtained 

 on sandy soils, but the strongest vegetative growth the season through 

 is obtained from rich moist loams. From such soils large apples 

 may be obtained but the color is inferior. For these reasons, then, 

 would I select soils for the Stayman as previously described. In 

 the Porters soils the lightest areas that are also the most thor- 

 oughly drained are to be preferred. The highest elevations in the 

 Penn loam and Penn shale loam should also give very fair results. 

 Where Mont Alto soils are to be used the lightest of this series 

 available, or the heavier areas where well drained, will undoubted- 

 ly, give a well-balanced growth of tree and fruit. On the other 

 hand, the Mont Alto soils of medium texture that are more highly 

 productive seem especially well adapted to Grimes, a variety that 

 needs encouragement in tree growth. The Porters and other soils 

 a little heavier are also adapted to this variety. Grimes seems not 

 sufficiently vigorous to overcome a stifi:" subsoil, although the sub- 

 soil must be clayey enough to maintain a steady supply of moisture. 

 A mellow or plastic clay loam best supplies this condition, and the 



