1910.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 181 



from Mr. Newman, avLlo brought tlicm from Kentucky before 

 1820. Here is explained bow the variety obtained the names 

 Funkhouser and Newman. A nursery was established in this 

 neighborliood in 1830, and was instrumental in disseminating 

 the variety far and wide. 



With the rise of commercial orcharding in this region, after 

 the civil war, the variety attained widespread favor, and it may 

 justly claim the first place among commercial varieties, taking 

 the country as a whole. No other commercial variety is so 

 widely planted, and none succeeds so well under such widely 

 varying conditions. It is a sure, abundant bearer, the tree is 

 vigorous, reasonably healthy, a good grower in the nursery, and 

 comes into bearing early, and the fine appearance and excellent 

 shipping and keeping qualities of the fruit are well known. 

 That it is of excellent quality as a dessert fruit no one will 

 contend, but much of its evil reputation in this way comes 

 through its being grown in localities where it should never have 

 been planted. When well grown, near the region of its origin, it 

 is not of poor quality; when grown in the colder north, it does 

 not have time to fully develop, and is most decidedly an in- 

 ferior apple. 



An attempt was made by means of library research and by 

 correspondence to learn something of the limits of culture of 

 the Ben Davis. The map shown herewith shows approximately 

 the northern limit of the variety, and also what may be spoken 

 of as the Ben Davis belt, where this is easily the leading com- 

 mercial sort. It will be noted that the limit of hardiness is a 

 little north of the isotherm of an absolute minimum temperature 

 of — 30° F., indicating that a temperature of between 30° and 

 35° below zero is likely to kill the trees. In the Eocky Moun- 

 tains the limit of hardiness is indicated only in a general way, 

 as it here depends largely on altitude, and would be difficult to 

 accurately define. 



It is interesting to note the coincidence of the limits of 

 the Ben Davis belt with the normal surface temperature for 

 July of 75° on the north, and, more especially, for 80° on the 

 south. In as much as the line showing the limits of the belt is 

 intended to show where it is actually grown, and not where it is 

 possible to grow it well, it is probable that it would succeed 



