39 



occur there. In fact, its southern boundary may be rough- 

 ly estimated as 1-4 degree north of the 41st parallel. South 

 of that it becomes a fall apple and keeps very poorly. 



HUBBARDSTON SOILS 



Compared with the Baldwin soil requirements, the heav- 

 iest soils desirable for the Hubbardston lap over for a little 

 upon the lightest soils desirable for the Baldwin, while at 

 the other extreme the Hubbardston will utilize to advantage 

 a more sandy soil than most other varieties of New Eng- 

 land. This does not mean that it will succeed on poor light 

 sands, for on such soils the apple will not attain sufficient 

 size to be of value, nor is the tree vigorous enough, but the 

 soil should always be very mellow. A rich fine sandy loam 

 to a depth of at least a foot is preferable, and the subsoil 

 may well be of the same texture. The Hubbardston does 

 remarkably well on a rich fine sandy loam in the Connecti- 

 cut Valley fertilized highly enough for tobacco, onions, or 

 garden crops. The fruit is of good size, well colored and 

 inferior in both flavor and keeping quality. This is un- 

 doubtedly due to the high humus content and richness of 

 the soil, as the same soil in much poorer condition brings a 

 better Baldwin. A subsoil containing enough clay to make 

 the fine sandy material somewhat coherent, or sticky, is not 

 objectionable, but there should never be enough clay pres- 

 ent to render the subsoil heavy. If the soil is too heavy or 

 too clayey the fruit is liable to have greasy skins and a de- 

 ficient color, while the flavor is insufficiently developed. 



NORTHERN SPY SOILS 



This variety is one of the most exacting in soil require- 

 ments. To obtain good quality of fruit, i. e., fine texture, 

 juiciness, and high flavor the soil must be moderately heavy, 

 and for the first two qualities alone the Rhode Island Green- 

 ing soil would be admirable. The fact that the Northern 

 Spy is a red apple, however, makes it imperative that the 

 color be well developed, and the skin free from the greasy 

 tendency. This necessitates a fine adjustment of soil con- 

 ditions, for the heaviest of the soils adapted to the Rhode 

 Island Greening produce Northern Spies with greasy skins 

 and usually of inferior color. The habit of tree growth of 

 this variety, moreover, is such as to require careful atten- 

 tion. Its tendency to grow upright seems to be accentuat- 

 ed by too clayey soils, if well enriched, and such soils tend 



