232 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



Arkansas Black has not been very satisfactory as a rule. 

 It does best on light mesa soils. It is also of the Winesap 

 type of fruit and a vigorous grower. 



The Spitzenburg does well on medium soils, but is 

 very susceptible to blight; consequently it is but little 

 grown except in the Cascade Mountains, where it finds 

 a congenial home (Fig. 62). 



Winter Banana is a weak grower ordinarily on heavy 

 soils, but makes a good growth on rich lands if the drainage 

 is good. Where the conditions are adaptable, the fruit is 

 beautiful and of high quality. These characters are not 

 well brought out when grown on heavy land. This 

 variety is also very susceptible to blight. 



Rails makes good growth on rich mesa soils, and the 

 fruit colors well. The fruit is borne in clusters, and there- 

 fore the trees are very likely to overbear. It makes a 

 strong growth on heavy lands, and the fruit is often poorly 

 colored. This variety often produces fruit when others 

 fail, on account of the lateness of the blossoming period. 



Mclntosh is rather a medium to strong grower, has a 

 fruiting-habit something like White Winter Pearmain, 

 long and strong limbs with short spurs. It is somewhat 

 inclined to bear in clusters, and on alternate years, if not 

 thinned, often so bunchy that part of the fruits are pushed 

 off before the picking season. The fruit is inclined to drop 

 if not picked on time. It would be called a prolific 

 variety adapted to medium to strong soil. It is particu- 

 larly adapted to Montana conditions, where it becomes 

 one of the finest winter apples (Fig. 63). 



