14 THE APPLE 



other hand, must never be heavy enough to impede ready drainage 

 of excess moisture, yet must be sufficiently clayey to retain a good 

 moisture supply ; that is, it must be plastic, not stiff. 



The ideal to be sought is a heavy fine sandy loam, or light mellow 

 loam, underlain by plastic light clay loam or heavy silty loam. It is 

 fully realized that many will not possess this ideal soil, but the soil 

 that most closely resembles it should be chosen. If corn is grown on 

 such soil, the lower leaves will cure down before cutting time, giving 

 evidence of moderately early maturity. This is one of the safe 

 criteria by which to be guided in choosing soil for Baldwins. 



In the above description, mention was not made of the color of 

 the soil. The desirability of a surface soil of dark brown (the color 

 being due to the presence of decaying organic matter) is unquestion- 

 able and generally recognized, and if the soil is not of that color, 

 the successful orchardist will make it such by the incorporation of 

 organic matter through the growth of leguminous crops or by some 

 other means. It is often cheaper to buy soil with a good organic 

 content, or humus supply, than it is to be compelled to put it there 

 after purchase before good crops can be secured. Hence this is 

 purely an economic feature. The warning should be stated, how- 

 ever, that a soil should not be purchased or planted to apples of 

 any variety because it is dark-colored and rich in humus. The soil 

 should be selected because of its textural and structural adaptation, 

 regardless of the organic content. Then, if such soils happen to be 

 well supplied with vegetable matter, so much the better ; if not, it 

 may be supplied. 



Ben Davis and Gano. These varieties show less effect from 

 variation in the soils upon which they are grown than any others 

 observed. Their well-known quality is probably somewhat indica- 

 tive of why this is so, yet there are differences to be noted in the 

 character of the fruit as affected by soil and climate. The latter 

 feature is believed to be of great importance, for while there is 

 no gainsaying the fact that the Ben Davis will grow anywhere and 

 produce fruit of some description, it requires a good deal of warm 

 weather for its best development. 



The mere fact that the Ben Davis may well be called the " apple 

 of neglect," because it will probably stand more neglect than any 

 other commercial variety and still bear fruit, accounts for the 



