No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 399 



fruit from such soils is slightly better in keeping qualities than 

 that from lighter mellow soils. The soil requirements of the Grimes 

 differ markedly from those of the York which will thrive on a much 

 stiffer subsoil than the Grimes. 



Jonathan holds a good deal of promise for this section. Its high 

 quality and the strong demand for it when well grown make it 

 a very desirable sort. As grown in the north, that is, in New York 

 and in northern Pennsylvania, at least, its size is somewhat dis- 

 appointing. In the southern Ozark country it is a magnificent ap- 

 ple. It is the one commericial sort which has been fully tested 

 there that can compete in quality with Pennsylvania apples. In 

 West Virginia it varies greatly in size depending on conditions. 

 The tree has not a strong growing habit, and the further north it is 

 grown the smaller the fruit, when grown under comparable condi- 

 tions. A deep mellow warm soil such as the so-called Pine Lands 

 the other side of South Mountain — named the Leesburg series dur- 

 ing this season's work — is well adapted to the Jonathan. Care- 

 fully grown on a soil of that kind I believe a satisfactory growth 

 of tree may be secured, and that the fruit will meet requirements 

 both for size and for color. 



Smokehouse is another sort of high quality that grows well on 

 light to medium soils. The soil must be well drained, and if also 

 somewhat porous fruit of better color is secured. Such a soil may 

 be put in a productive condition, but care should be exercised in 

 applying nitrogen as an excess of this element makes it difficult to 

 secure good color. 



I will mention three other varieties that seem well worth con- 

 sidering, though I have relatively little data concerning them. One 

 of these is the Arkansas Black which is doing very well in some 

 cases. It is dull in color but is fairly good in quality and has been 

 profitable in some cases in southeast Pennsylvania. For it I would 

 suggest medium to light soils in an experimental way; and similar 

 soils will give very good results with the Stark. W. S. Adams, of 

 this county, has had experience in growing the Stark on the Porters 

 soils, and finds the color rather dull, but when grown at its best the 

 Stark is dull in color, and it is not improbable that it may be grown 

 fairly well in this section, especially on the Pine Lands. It has 

 the advantage of keeping later than most other varieties except the 

 York. 



A third variety which has given fairly good results under con- 

 ditions similar to yours is the Langford Seedling. The fruit is of 

 medium size, red in color though a little dull, and it is fairly good 

 in quality. If one cares for an apple of this type it is worth trying, 

 especially on your medium soils at the lower altitudes, such as the 

 Penn loam, Penn gravelly loam and Penn shale loam. 



Good Baldwins are only grown where climatic conditions some- 

 what colder than yours obtain. These are found this far south only 

 where higher altitudes compensate for the distance south of normal 

 Baldwin conditions. This makes it possible to grow Baldwins at 

 altitudes higher than yours along the Blue Eidge in northern Vir- 

 ginia. In both places it becomes a fall apple and as such is not as 

 desirable as where it remains a true winter sort. In northern Penn- 

 sylvania, New York and New England where it is at home, this 



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