20 ORCHARD LANDS 



drainage, for a poorly drained soil should in no case be used. It is 

 surely best not to plant Northern (Spy on a soil lighter than a very hea\7', 

 fine, sandy loam, underlain by a light clay loam, or possibly a heavy loam. 

 Good air drainage is also very essential with this variety. 



" Soils for Wagener. — The Wagener is weak in growth, and hence a 

 soil that is deep, strong, mellow, and loamy should be selected. Stiff sub- 

 soils are especially objectionable with this variety, and thin soils, also 

 light sandy soils, should be avoided. The Wagener thus fits in nicely with 

 Northern Spy in soil requirements, and its habit of early bearing makes an 

 effective offset in this respect to the tardiness of the Northern Spy. In 

 Massachusetts, in parts of Connecticut and New York, and in north- 

 eastern Pennsylvania, Wagener is one of the most profitable sorts for filler 

 purposes. 



" Mcintosh Soils. — The Mcintosh is a variety of high quality that is 

 now very popular in the northeastern States. Trees of sufficient age for 

 safe comparisons are rarely available, however, over any considerable range 

 of soil conditions, hence no positive statement is made concerning the soil 

 preferences of this variety. Tlie indications are, nevertheless, that the 

 heavier of the Baldwin soils as described are desirable for the Mcintosh. 



" Tompkins King Soils. — The Tompkins King is fully as exacting in 

 soil adaptation as Northern Spy. The tree with straggling tendency of 

 growth does not develop satisfactorily on sandy soils, but succeeds best 

 on a moist, yet well drained soil, i.e., the lightest of the ' green ' Rhode 

 Island Greening soils — a soil capable of maintaining such a supply of 

 moisture that the tree receives no check at the approach of drouth. But 

 the fruit grown on soils so heavy lacks clearness of skin, and the appear- 

 ance is marred by the greenish look extending far up the sides from the 

 blossom end and by the lack of well-developed color which makes this fruit, 

 at its best, very attractive. Hence the problem is to balance these two 

 opposite tendencies as well as possible, and soil of the following description 

 seems best adapted to this: Light, mellow loam, the sand content thereof 

 being medium rather than fine, thus constituting an open-textured loam 

 rather than a fine loam. The subsoil should be of the same texture or only 

 slightly heavier, in no case being heavier than a very light, plastic clay 

 loam. The soil must be brought to a productive condition. Subsoils in- 

 clining toward stiffness in texture should be carefully avoided. 



" Fall Pippin.— Soils adapted to the Fall Pippin are somewhat wider 

 in range than those described for Northern Spy and Tompkins King. In 

 fact, this variety may be very successfully grown on the soils described 

 for the Tompkins King and Northern Spy. It is preferable, however, that 

 the surface soil be a fine loam rather than the open-textured loam de- 

 scribed for the Tompkins King. 



"Grimes Golden Soils.— The Grimes Golden is not well adapted, it 

 Is believed, to New England and most of New York, and it is only men- 



