1 8 THE APPLE 



attractive. Hence the problem is to balance these two opposite 

 tendencies as well as possible, and soil of the following description 

 seems best to do this : light mellow loam, the sand content thereof 

 being medium rather than fine, thus constituting an open-textured 

 loam instead of a fine loam. The subsoil should be either of the 

 same texture or only slightly heavier, in no case being heavier than 

 a very light plastic clay loam. The soils must be brought to a pro- 

 ductive condition. Subsoils inclining toward stiffness in structure 

 should be carefully avoided. 



The Tompkins King is commercial only in the northern sec- 

 tions, and even there it is seldom as profitable per acre as other 

 varieties, unless it receives special care. It is a choice variety for 

 the specialist who caters to select city trade. 



Mammoth Black Twig (Arkansas). This variety bears the 

 reputation of being a shy bearer, and while such repute may be 

 deserved in a measure as a varietal characteristic, yet the variance 

 of results due to the differences of soil shows the importance of 

 the latter factor in growing the Arkansas. Originating near the 

 southern end of the Ozarks in northwest Arkansas, its growth on 

 most of the soils there, although it is still a comparatively young 

 variety, has been luxuriant. The indications are that the stronger 

 the growth of this variety the smaller the yield of fruit, and it 

 is certainly not desirable on moist or rich soils. Hence, in soil 

 adaptation it is the opposite of the Yellow Newtown, Rhode Island 

 Greening, and Grimes. 



The heavy loams and the clays not in a very rich condition are 

 often well adapted to the Arkansas. The Porters clay, for instance, 

 which has been "farmed out" produces tree growth as vigorous 

 as this variety seems able to stand and still bear satisfactorily. 

 Shale hills are well adapted to the Arkansas, for, generally unpro- 

 ductive, they do not effect excessive growth, while if deficient in 

 this respect, slight fertilization will remedy the condition and bring 

 the trees into bearing. On rich soils, however, it is very difficult 

 so to check the growth as to induce prolificacy. The limestone- 

 valley soils are an illustration of this, and on some of these soils 

 in Virginia, leaf blight is very serious with this variety. It may be 

 added that this soil adaptation holds for the Ozark plateau, as well 

 as the Appalachian region. Hence the soil conditions for this 



