CHAPTER XXIII 



THE ORCHARD CROP 



An orchard soil should possess opposite qualities in proper proportions. 

 It should be free and firm ; dry and moist ; light and heavy, and the bottom 

 should be of the same nature as the top. THEOPHRASTUS 



337. Origin of the apple. The apple is our most important 

 fruit. Native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, 

 it has now spread by domestication to practically all the tem- 

 perate regions of the civilized world. From a sour, wild fruit, 

 scarcely better than the wild crabs of the United States, it has 

 been improved by man until we now possess several thousand 

 varieties, ripening at different seasons, suited to various soils 

 and climates, and satisfying our many tastes and purposes. 



338. The tree fruits. The United States is the leading apple- 

 producing country of the world. In a favorable year our apple 

 crop has a value of approximately $100,000,000. New varieties 

 are constantly being originated, and some of these are better 

 suited to special purposes or better adapted to new localities. 



The peach ranks next to the apple in importance, having a 

 value of from one fourth to one third that of the apple. It prob- 

 ably originated in China. It was early introduced into Europe 

 by way of Persia. The peaches of the United States were first 

 brought from the orchards of Europe, but in recent years new 

 types have been introduced from China. 



The orange ranks third in importance among our tree fruits. 

 It was probably native to Indo-China, but is now grown in many 



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