45 



realized by the slack average grower. For these two rea- 

 sons, then, the Ben Davis and Gano are bound to remain 

 as they are now, strong commercial varieties over a large 

 area but New England can just as well grow varieties of 

 much better quality that will also bring good yields. 

 Hence, it would seem ill-advised to make further plantings 

 of these sorts within her boundaries. 



GRAVENSTEIN SOILS 



This variety has given growers much trouble, but its 

 general excellence, the high price the fruit brings and the 

 strong demand for it in some markets makes the Graven- 

 stein a tempting sort to plant. Its susceptibility to winter 

 injury, however, is often a serious matter. There is good 

 evidence to shoAV that Gravenstein should not be forced in 

 growth at least until it is 15 years old or older. On rich 

 moist ground or with heavy fertilization with nitrogenous 

 manures its growth is rarely matured early enough in the 

 season to avoid more or less winter injury. It continues to 

 grow until freezing weather and thus is very susceptible to 

 injury. On a medium soil neither too moist nor too rich. 

 its growth may the better be held in control, early annual 

 maturity may be forced and the color of the fruit is sat- 

 isfactory. The sub-soil should never be so clayey as to pre- 

 vent ready downward percolation of any excess or free soil 

 water. Annual applications of the mineral fertilizers such 

 as basic slag and potash seem desirable on such soils, and 

 a moderate aount of humus should be furnished but nitro- 

 genous fertilizers should be used sparingly. 



Fruit of good color is especially desirable with this 

 variety, the color adding materially to the selling price. 

 This has led to its being planted on thin or light sandy soils 

 in some cases, but on such land, the Gravenstein is on the 

 whole unsatisfactory. 



Gravenstein is a variety for the specialist and for such 

 is a very profitable sort \vhen grown near a market — espec- 

 ially if within driving distance. In the eastern part of the 

 state where the early "drops" can be marketed to advan- 

 age — early dropping being a tendency of the Gravenstein — 

 this variety is highly profitable. 



ROXBURY RUSSETT SOIL 



This variety is now seldom planted but there are some 

 commercial orchards of it in Massachusetts; and many of 



