22 THE APPLE 



would be admirable. The fact that the Northern Spy is a red 

 apple, however, makes it imperative that the color be well devel- 

 oped and the skin free from the greasy tendency. This necessi- 

 tates a fine adjustment of soil conditions, for the heaviest of the 

 soils adapted to the Rhode Island Greening produce Northern 

 Spies with greasy skins and usually of inferior color. The habit of 

 tree growth of this variety, moreover, is such as to require careful 

 attention. Its tendency to grow upright seems to be accentuated 

 by too clayey soils, if well enriched, and such soils tend to pro- 

 mote growth faster than the tree is able to mature well. On the 

 other hand, sandy soils, while producing good color and clear 

 skins, fail to bring fruit satisfactory in quality with respect to tex- 

 ture and flavor. The keeping quality, too, is inferior to that of 

 the Spy grown on heavier soils in the same district. Hence the 

 soil requirements of this variety are decidedly exacting, and are 

 best supplied apparently by a medium loam underlain by a heavy 

 loam or light clay loam. It should not be planted on a soil lighter 

 than a very heavy fine sandy loam, underlain by a light clay loam 

 or possibly a heavy loam. On light soils the Northern Spy very 

 often yields less per acre than the Baldwin. Good air drainage 

 is also very essential with this variety. 



The Northern Spy should be grown commercially only in the 

 Baldwin district, and does not succeed so far south as that variety, 

 even at high elevations. Central Pennsylvania seems to be its 

 southern commercial limit. For family use or for local markets, 

 it may be grown on elevated positions somewhat farther south, 

 but it fails to keep until its normal season. 



Rhode Island Greening. Soils adapted to the production of a 

 green Rhode Island Greening, as distinguished from the Rhode 

 Island Greening carrying a high blush, are distinct from the 

 Baldwin standard. New York City has been the largest market 

 for this variety. She prefers a green Greening, and for it the 

 great majority of her apple dealers will pay more than for a 

 blush Greening, or more than other cities will pay for the 

 latter. Consequently it has been the aim to ascertain the soil con- 

 ditions that best contribute to this standard. For it a surface soil 

 of heavy silty loam or light silty loam, underlain by silty clay 

 loam, excels. Such soil will retain sufficient moisture to be classed 



