HORTICULTURE 19 



content. It is also apparent that neither hardpan nor underlying 

 rock should exist at shallow depths to prevent free root development 

 and proper drainage. It is also evident that different varieties of 

 apples, of peaches, or of other tree fruits are adapted to somewhat dif- 

 ferent types and classes of soils, and particularly that with variations 

 in climate, topography, and other features of environment the type 

 of soil suited to a particular variety of a particular fruit may, in fact 

 must, vary between different regions. Generalizations from limited 

 areas can not be safely extended to other regions where the soils are 

 not only derived from different parent materials but have been 

 formed by different processes and lie under different conditions of 

 climate, exposure, topography, and drainage. There should also be 

 observed the fact that in a single class of fruit, and strawberries form 

 a notable example, proper selection of varieties will insure the secur- 

 ing of at least one or more varieties adapted to the soil existing on a 

 given farm under ascertained climatic conditions. It is thus not a 

 question of strawberry soils but one of a soil suited to produce a 

 definite variety under fixed surrounding conditions. (U. S. E. S. 

 B. 178.) 



Modification of Soil. Since one does not choose the site of his 

 residence on account of the character of the soil of the locality, but 

 because of other natural advantages of the place, it is obvious that the 

 soil at the disposal of the grower will frequently be ill-suited to the 

 purposes of a home fruit garden. For a commercial place on an 

 extensive scale it would be out of the question to attempt to alter the 

 character of the soil to suit the needs of the plant, but with a small 

 area the case is quite different. If the soil is heavy it can be lightened 

 with sand if it is not desirable to increase the proportion of humus 

 which it contains ; if it is lacking in organic matter the addition of 

 leaf mold and well-rotted manure or the turning under of some 

 leguminous crop, such as cow-peas or Canada field peas, will accom- 

 plish the desired result ; if the soil is loose and sandy, losing its store 

 of plant food readily, this fault can be remedied by the addition of 

 retentive material, such as clay ; the amount of clay to be added must 

 be governed by the degree of stiffness desired in the soil. If, on the 

 other hand, the class of plants to be generally grown is suited to a 

 loose, sandy soil, and it seems desirable to add to the collection a 

 plant, such as plum, which naturally requires a heavy, retentive soil, 

 it would undoubtedly be better to change the character of the plant 

 by grafting it upon a stock adapted to sandy soil conditions than to 

 attempt to modify the soil to suit the plant. This change can be 

 effected by using a peach stock for the plum. There are therefore 

 two alternatives either the soil may be modified to suit the plant or 

 the plant may be adapted, by working it upon a suitable stock, to the 

 soil. Such modifications in plants are not always easily accomplished, 

 and with many plants there is no alternative but to use them on their 

 own roots. In this latter case the soil itself must be made to conform 

 to the demands of the plants. The soil, in addition to being heavy 

 and retentive, may also be cold and wet. In such case the addition of 

 sand will not entirely overcome the difficulty. 



