VAELETIES SUITED TO THE SECTION 33 



a place in the experimental end of the orchard just alluded to, 

 but they certainly do not have a place in the commercial orchard 

 and many of them probably never will. And the western and 

 southern vai'ieties ought not to be grown in the North, neither 

 ought the northern varieties to be grown in the South. 



This question of what varieties of apples are adapted to each 

 section has been carefully studied by Dr. J. K. Shaw, of the 

 IMassachusetts Experiment Station, who has reached very in- 

 teresting conclusions on the subject that are quoted here. After 

 discussing the influence of soil, culture and climate on the apples, 

 Dr. Shaw says: 



" It is evident from tlie foregoing discussion that the development of 

 the highest perfection in any given variety is closely related to most favor- 

 able mean summer temperatures. In Table I is given a list of varieties, with 

 an estimate of the optimum temperature for each sort, and in some cases 

 of their possible range and hardiness with respect to the cold of winter. 

 The list of varieties includes all those that are given the double star, in- 

 dicating highly successful varieties, in the list of the American Pomological 

 Society, with a number of additions of varieties that, for various reasons, 

 seemed worthy of consideration. Inasmuch as we consider keeping quality 

 of considerable account with most sorts, the policy has been to prescribe 

 about as low a temperature as will suffice to thoroughly mature a variety, 

 leaving a margin of about 2° for seasonal fluctuations; that is, we believe 

 that any variety may be matured when the summer mean is 2° lower than 

 the one given. This applies more particularly to the fall and winter 

 varieties. 



" We believe, on the other hand, that any increase in the summer mean 

 for any variety, unless it be the earliest ones, will be a disadvantage, though 

 a very slight one, if the rise is not more than 1° or 2°. Up to a certain 

 degree the over-maturity of the fruit in a too warm climate may be over- 

 come if the grower will pick at the time of full maturity and put the fruit 

 at once in cold storage. If the heat is too great, however, even with this 

 method the fruit will be inferior in flavor and color, and, in very extreme 

 cases, in size. We believe that a departure of more than 2° in either direc- 

 tion from the temperatures given will be a noticeable disadvantage with any 

 of the winter varieties. This remark will apply less to the fall sorts and 

 still less to the summer varieties; or, to put it in other words, the earlier 

 the variety the greater may be its range of temperature without marked 

 deterioration of the fruit. 



" There are doubtless errors in the case of some varieties, concerning 

 which we have limited information. It is hoped that these may, in time, 

 3 



