220 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



they give plain indications that the surroundings are 

 not congenial. 



Apples grow best on rather heavy soils, those of 

 limestone origin being particularly adapted to them. 

 They are sometimes budded in the same manner as 

 peaches, but it is more usual to propagate them by 

 root grafting. Apple seedlings are taken up when 

 one year old, the roots cut into from one to three 

 pieces, and the scion of the desired variety is whip- 

 grafted into this piece of root. These grafts are 

 planted rather deeply in nursery rows, so that the 

 point of union is well covered with earth. They are 

 usually allowed to grow two years in the nursery, but 

 some orchardists prefer planting one-year-old trees. 



The cultivation and care of an apple orchard is 

 much the same as with the peach, except that less 

 pruning is required and that on strong, moist lands 

 it is permissible, after three or four years, to seed the 

 land down to grass or clover. 



Several hundred varieties of apples have been listed 

 in catalogues, and more or less cultivated, but compar- 

 atively few of these have any commercial impor- 

 tance. Many of the best-known Northern varieties 

 do not thrive well at the South. • Of the better- 

 known kinds, Red Astrakhan and Red June for early, 

 and Winesap and Ben Davis for late, kinds may be 

 safely planted. 



Apples are subject to the attacks of a long list of 

 diseases and of insect troubles. There are borers 

 which attack the roots and trunks, and cankerworms 

 to destroy the leaves. The woolly aphis causes dis- 

 tortions and gall-like swellings on the roots. This 



