218 



EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



serious rutting and premature dro2Jping are apt to occur, and wliile 

 frequent exceptions to tliis have been observed, it is sutficiently constant 

 to suggest that extensive plantings of it in this region should be made 

 cautiously, if at all, except in the northern portion, where it appears to 

 be more nearly free from serious faults than almost any other commer- 

 cial variety that is being grown, and is considered one of the most 

 profitable sorts. This applies specially to locations in Rappahannock 

 County, in close proximity to the mountains. In the Blue Ridge region 

 above an elevation of 1,200 to 1,500 feet premature dropping is gen- 

 erally less severe than it is at lower points. Especially satisfactory re- 

 sults have usually been obtained on Porters clay at these middle eleva- 

 tions, where very heavy crops are expected, at least in alternate years. 

 If heavy dropping occurs in such cases, a sufticient quantity of fruit 



SHOt KLY. 



Fig. 13. 



usually remains to result in a heavy crop. At the higher altitudes this 

 is considered a valuable variety, especially in North Carolina, where it 

 has grown at 2,500 to 3,500 feet altitude. . . . The contrast between this 

 variety and Winesap in the manner in which they respond to the in- 

 fluence of elevation is of interest. The elevation at which Winesap 

 begins to deteriorate and above which it becomes more inferior as the 

 elevation increases appears to be about the point below which York 

 Imperial is inclined to manifest certain faults which tend to disappear 

 at higher altitudes.^ 



Fell 01V Nevdown. — This variety is one of restricted culti- 

 vation. The only region in the east where it can be said to have 



» Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin ISf), p. 49. 



