CHAPTER II 

 ADAPTATION OF VARIETIES TO SOILS 1 



The selection of the soil for orchard planting has received rela- 

 tively little attention in the past as compared with that given to 

 selecting soils for other special crops. In the production of the 

 latter, such as tobacco, onions, garden and floral crops, competition 

 has forced the selection of favorable soils as well as suitable condi- 

 tions. The most successful growers have learned through experi- 

 ence, moreover, to discriminate carefully in choosing their soils. 



The general farmer has not advanced so far in the matter of 

 selecting particular soils for his crops, or, conversely, in using his 

 soils to grow only those crops which they are best adapted to 

 produce. This is largely due to the fact that the money returns 

 per acre are much less than the returns from special crops, and 

 hence it has not been so essential to select soils with as much 

 care as for special crops. Even so, in the eastern United States 

 there are many soil areas from which general farming has been 

 driven because the soils were not adapted to such use. And this 

 statement is not meant to include rough lands which have been 

 unable to compete on account of the relatively heavy expense of 

 working them. 



There is no longer any question as to whether orcharding is a 

 specialized business. The steadily increasing demand for orchard 

 products of select appearance has compelled growers, if they would 

 succeed, to spray thoroughly, to maintain a Well-balanced wood 

 growth, and to market the fruit in an attractive manner. 



As a result of the vast amount of orchard experience already 

 acquired, it is apparent that some soils have given better returns 

 than others. Hence we get from many sources the prescription 

 of "a deep, well-drained soil for successful apple-growing." No 

 one will question the excellence of this general rule (which is, in 

 fact, just as applicable to other crops as to apples), but there is a 



1 After H. J. Wilder, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 

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