6 THE AMERICAN APPLE ORCHARD 



only there is an abundance of plant food present. The 

 gravel and small stones doubtless assist in the drain- 

 age, and this fact probably explains in part the su- 

 periority of such soils. As a rule we may say that 

 gravelly loam, fairly rich in plant food, is the ideal 

 apple soil. The soil surveys now being made in various 

 parts of the country have, in a general way, verified 

 the commonly accepted opinion on this point. Some of 

 the soils well known as successful apple producers 

 have now been described, mapped and given name's. 

 That soil known as Porter's black loam, found in ex- 

 tensive areas along the eastern slopes of the Alle- 

 gheny mountains, is noted for its adaptation to the 

 growing of apples. It is upon this soil that the Al- 

 bemarle Pippin of Virginia is grown. In western 

 New York the Miami stony loam may be mentioned 

 as a soil of well-proved adaptability for apples. This 

 is widely represented in Wayne county, known as 

 one of the best apple-growing counties in America. 



In other parts of the country sandy loams or even 

 silt loams are found to be successful in the production 

 of apples. The Miami silt loam furnishes the prin- 

 cipal basis of a large apple-growing industry in Clin- 

 ton county, 111., while the so-called Marion silt loam 

 is the soil chiefly developed in the famous Clay county, 

 111., apple district. On the Delaware Peninsula, where 

 the production of early apples is coming to be an ex- 

 tensive and profitable industry, orchards are planted 

 chiefly on the Norfolk loam and Norfolk silt loam. 



A rule which the writer has been in the habit of 

 giving for popular use is that any soil especially adapt- 

 ed to the growing of Irish potatoes will usually be 

 satisfactory for apples. If any difference is to be 

 distinguished it would be in the way of allowing a 



