670 FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION 



that is, a high percentage of coarse sand would give a poor soil, whereas a moderate 

 admixture of it with the finer grades of sand, together with sufficient clay and 

 silt, would work no harm. 



"A surface soil of heavy, silty loam or light, silty, clay loam underlain by 

 silty clay loam excells for the 'green' Rhode Island Greening. Such soil will 

 retain sufficient moisture to be classed as a moist soil, yet it is not so heavy as 

 ever to be ill drained if surface drainage is inadequate. The soil should be 

 moderately rich in organic matter, decidedly more so than for the Baldwin. 

 Such soil conditions maintain a long seasonal growth under uniform conditions 

 of moisture, and thus produce the firm yet crisp texture, the remarkable juiciness 

 and the high flavor for which this variety is noted when at its best. If grown on 

 a soil too sandy, the Rhode Island Greening lacks fineness of grain, flavor and the 

 juicy quahty in greater or lesser degree, depending on the extent of the departure 

 from those soil characteristics which contribute to its production. 



"This variety [Northern Spy] is one of the most exacting in soil requirements. 

 To obtain good quality of fruit, i.e., fine texture juiciness and high flavor, the 

 soil must be moderately heavy, and for the first two qualities alone the Rhode 

 Island Greening soil would be admirable. The fact that the Northern Spy is a 

 red apple, however, makes it imperative that the color be well developed and the 

 skin free from the greasy tendency. This necessitates a fine adjustment of soil 

 conditions, for the heaviest of the soils adapted to the Rhode Island Greening 

 produces Northern. Spies with greasy skins and usually of inferior color. Its 

 tendency to grow upright seems to be accentuated by too clayey soils, if well 

 enriched and such soils tend to promote growth faster than the tree is able to 

 mature well. On the other hand, sandy soils, while producing good color and 

 clear skins, fail to bring fruit satisfactory in quality with respect to texture and 

 flavor. The keeping quality, too, is inferior to that of the Spy grown on heavier 

 soils in the same district. Hence the soil requirements of this variety are de- 

 cidedly exacting, and are best supplied apparently by a medium loam underlain 

 by a heavy loam or light clay loam. It should not be planted on a soil lighter 

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

 heavy loam. On light soils the Nothern Spy very often yields less per acre 

 than the Baldwin. 



''Both Ben Davis and Gano show less effect from variation in the soils upon 

 which they are grown than any others observed." 



In speaking of tlie special soil requirements of peach varieties the same author 

 has this to say: 



"Judging from the experience of a very large number of growers in Connecti- 

 cut and in other States, combined with field observations, it seems evident that 

 the Champion peach is especially sensitive to any condition of subsoil which 

 hinders the ready movement of moisture within a probable depth of as much as 

 4 feet from the surface. Carman and Mountain Rose are not quite so dependent 

 as the Champion on soils that drain out hastilj^, and while they succeed best on 

 soils of a little greater moisture-holding capacity than the Champion, they never- 

 theless give the best results on deep and well-drained soils. The Elberta and 

 the Belle thrive on well-drained soils that are somewhat stronger than the varie- 

 ties previously mentioned. "^^ 



