FRUITS. 515 



that will produce good crops of wheat and corn, and that nat- 

 urally drains itself. A sandy loam, rich in vegetable matter, 

 containing, also, a large quantity of lime, is most excellent for 

 this purpose. The subsoil should be somewhat of the same 

 nature, so that no artificial drainage is needed. There are also 

 a variety of soils, running from the light blow sand of the plains 

 to the heavy, undrainecl clay bottoms, much of which may be 

 made to produce good apples by making such places conform, 

 as nearly as possible, to our ideal. The orchard should have 

 perfect drainage and sunlight. Trees will not thrive in shaded 

 places, or in soils containing an excess of water. With our best 

 soils and locations, and good varieties, it is hardly possible not 

 to grow an abundance of choice fruit in favorable years. Such 

 soils contain a large amount of plant food at present, but the 

 process of exhaustion is going on, and many of our best apple 

 crops are obtained without seeming effort on the part of the 

 grower. 



Varieties. In selecting varieties one should be governed 

 greatly by a knowledge of good varieties that are vigorous grow- 

 ers, and bear well in his own locality. Many sad failures could 

 be cited where persons setting new orchards ignored this prin- 

 ciple. A few thoughts about some of the leading established 

 varieties may prove acceptable. That the Baldwin heads the 

 list of commercial apples there is little doubt. Indeed, it is 

 really a good family apple, and combines more good qualities, 

 taking tree and apple together, than any other apple I know of. 

 The Greening is another widely known and popular apple, and 

 notwithstanding its antics in bearing, no one seems willing to 

 ostracize it. The Northern Spy completes the trio .of popular 

 winter apples. A very good reason for setting largely of these 

 varieties is that, while all of them are really good, consumers 

 have learned their names and ask for them, often because they 

 do not know the names of other varieties. The Pippin family 

 contains some excellent fall varieties ; chief among them is 

 Hubbardston's Nonesuch. They are all good family apples, and 

 the trees are vigorous growers and good bearers. The Che- 

 nango Strawberry is a most excellent late harvest apple. For an 

 early harvest, it is rather unfortunate that we have nothing bet- 

 ter to offer than the Red Astrachan. Like most of its Russian 



