44 



perial or AVinesap will grow good trees and fruit of both 

 Ben Davis and Gano. Hence there are extensive soil 

 areas, particularly in Pennsylvania, Maryland, the moun- 

 tainous areas of Virginia and AVest Virginia that are well 

 adapted to these varieties and they are also profitable var- 

 ieties in western New York and in the Hudson Valley. But 

 many orchards have been planted, especially in West Vir- 

 ginia, on thin shale hills where the soils are so poorly ad- 

 apted to apple growing that not even the cosmopolite Ben 

 Davis can bring satisfactory resu,lts. This is not the fault 

 of the variety, and in fact the Ben Davis Avill probably 

 bring better returns from such soils than any other var- 

 iety. In the southern Piedmont region the Ben Davis 

 drops so early in the season that it is not of commercial 

 importance. In the southernmost Appalachian districts 

 it may be gro^vn, but only for the late fall trade in the ex- 

 treme southern markets, as there is no call for it farther 

 north. 



From carefid observation it is believed that the Ozark 

 Ben Davis is a little larger than the Appalachian grown 

 fruit, and that under the same conditions the Ozark fruit is 

 sufficiently superior to the latter to bring a slightly higher 

 price in the market. As a commercial proposition, howev- 

 er, the greatest number of crops secured in the Appalach- 

 ian region in any considerable period, such as a decade, en- 

 ables that section to compete successfully in the production 

 of these varieties. A potent point to be considered, never- 

 theless, by the eastern growers is the outlook for future 

 markets. 



While the Appalachian region is admirably adapted 

 to the production of varieties which yield well and are far 

 superior to the Ben Davis and Gano in quality, the Ozarks 

 have yet to find an apple of high quality which approaches 

 the Ben Davis in prolificacy. And although varieties may, 

 and probably will be developed which will replace the Ben 

 Davis even there to some extent, except possibly for exact- 

 ing shipment, it is certain to be grown 1here in enormous 

 quantities for a long time. Hence there is and will be. so 

 far as competition Avith that region is concerned, excellent 

 opportunity for the Appalachian districts to grow varie- 

 ties that do not have to compete with the Ben Davis, provid- 

 ed such varieties are grown, packed and marketed in ac- 

 cord with the most advanced methods. But this extra 

 ]irofi* Avhich may be olilained from such fruit will never be 



