20 THE APPLE 



soon lost their dark color as a result of intercropping, and in most 

 of the orchards planted on very dark soil the color is now at most 

 only a dark brown. On the other hand, areas of the Porters loam 

 and Porters clay that had not been blessed with the accumulation 

 of extraordinary stores of decayed vegetable matter, but otherwise 

 were the same, have produced results just as good with this variety. 

 And the secret of this success has been simply to provide an 

 increase of humus in the soil by the growth of leguminous and 

 other crops, in conjunction with stable manure where available, 

 instead of steadily decreasing such supply by wasteful practices 

 in cropping. 



In fact, it is now known that there is such a thing as having an 

 excess of organic matter, even for the Pippin, and that there is 

 a happy mean which produces fruit firmer in texture and better 

 in quality than that grown on the blackest soils. 



In choosing soil areas for the Yellow Newtown in the type 

 Porters clay, localities with stiff, heavy clay subsoils should be 

 avoided, as they tend to produce greasy skins, making the fruit 

 defective in appearance. 



The increase of insects and fungi injurious to fruits has brought 

 about the necessity for a change in the methods of growing the 

 Yellow Newtown. Orchards located in coves so inaccessible or 

 steep as to render power spraying impracticable have been profit- 

 able, but the necessity now for planting orchards not only where 

 spraying may be readily done but also where the various processes 

 of tilling, harvesting, and hauling may be economically accom- 

 plished makes the profitable production of this apple depend upon 

 its being grown on suitable soils in an accessible location, as well 

 as with necessary climatic attributes. Such areas occur in the types 

 mentioned and, with the methods of soil management briefly out- 

 lined, indicate the excellent possibilities for the production and 

 extension of this important commercial variety. Hence, soils how- 

 ever suitable should not be planted if too steep for economic 

 production. This is a crucial feature in the Virginia region, and 

 fortunately the best growers are coming to realize it. 



In the Hudson valley region the soils described as adapted 

 to the Rhode Island Greening are also suited to the growth of 

 the Yellow Newtown. Some of these soils will grow magnificent 



