INDIANA HOKTICULTUBAL SOCIETY 237 



THE APPLE— BEST LOCATION, EXPOSURE AND SOIL. 



BY C. M. HOBBS, BRIDGEPORT. 



It is important that tlie commercial orcliard be located near a good 

 market, or in an apple-growing section with good shipping facilities. Ex- 

 perience has shown us that where large quantities of fruits are grown, 

 better transportation and better rates are secured. Buyers visit such lo- 

 calities, competition is secured, and the best prices obtained. In the large 

 fruit-growing districts, co-operation may obtain to advantage in selling, 

 grading, packing, shipping and in cold storage. 



In our State the matter of exposure is not a very important one. 

 When the exposure is very steep, the southern will be the warmer, and 

 the tree will start earlier in the spring, fruit ripens earlier, and is more 

 highly colored. 



Any of the clay soils of our State that are sufficiently fertile, holding 

 sufficient moisture, but not in excess, will grow, profitably, many varieties 

 of apples, provided other conditions of success be observed. Light, dry, 

 sandy, gravelly or black soils are not desirable for apples; in fact, for any 

 of the fruits. 



I am inclined to the opinion that the yellow and red clay soils of In- 

 diana are unexcelled in the production of certain varieties of apples, 

 notably "Winesap, Rome Beauty and Grimes Golden. I have frequently 

 seen representative collections of apples from all parts of the United 

 States, and have never seen these varieties from Indiana excelled. 



That Southern Indiana Winesaps took the world's premium at Paris 

 is evidence of this fact The statement was recently made that Southern 

 Missouri and Northern Arkansas were the finest apple-growing sections 

 in the world, and one of the principal reasons for this was that the soils 

 are rich in iron. We have these conditions in the red clay soils of In- 

 diana. 



With clay soils containing ample but not excessive moisture, plenty 

 of readily available fertility, planting of the right varieties, thorough 

 cultivation and care. I believe we can grow apples here in Indiana to as 

 great perfection as they are grown anywhere in the world. 



President Stevens: We will next hear Mr. Campbell. 



