228 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



may be classed, for this purpose, under the two general 

 heads of vigorous-growing and weak-growing kinds. 

 Most varieties will grow more vigorously, as a rule, in 

 the heavy soils than in the lighter ones. The strong- 

 growing kinds are likely to be shy bearers of poorly colored 

 fruit when planted on heavy soil, as the energies of the 

 tree are largely used in growth. On the other hand, 

 varieties that are inclined to overbear on the light soils 

 will make more growth on heavy soils, and consequently 

 they will produce less fruit, but of a better size. 



The proper coloring of the fruit is an important factor, 

 not to be overlooked. Not all of the slow-growing kinds 

 will bear highly colored fruit when grown on heavy land. 

 These varieties that are late in ripening are specially 

 liable to be poorly colored. High color usually indicates 

 high quality for the variety, no matter where the fruit 

 is grown. There are, no doubt, exceptions to this state- 

 ment, but ordinarily it may be adopted as a rule, notwith- 

 standing the strenuous objections to the contrary made 

 by our eastern contemporaries. 



Adaptation of the Standard Varieties of Apples 



The following discussion of the behavior of varieties, 

 drawn from the experience of growers and from personal 

 observation, will illustrate the relation of varieties of 

 apples to soil. 



The Jonathan does best on a rich mesa soil; that is, 

 bears fruit of good size, color, and quality. More highly 

 colored apples, but of smaller size, are produced on the 

 lighter soils. It succeeds nearly as well on the sandy 

 bottom lands, but does not color as well on heavy land. 



