FRUIT-GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES 463 



The geological history of the country is interesting, for repre- 

 sentatives of every geological age from the Archaean to the Car- 

 boniferous inclusive have been found here. Limestone varying 

 in character from the disintegrating form to the flinty shale is the 

 predominating rock formation. Broken shale, sandstone, and here 

 and there granitic formations are found. 



The designation Ozark Mountains gives the impression of a 

 prominently elevated region, but the country is not truly moun- 

 tainous. One of the distinctive features of this interesting country 

 is the surprising and spontaneous way in which streams break 

 forth from the limestone strata ; in southern Missouri and northern 

 Arkansas these occurrences are numerous and noteworthy. The 

 elevations may be thrown into two groups — the lower levels, fol- 

 lowing the stream valleys, and the upper levels, the side hills and 

 plateaus, which the orchardists are climbing in setting trees. 



Measured by years the commercial fruit-growing of the Ozarks 

 is less than a quarter of a century old. Apples and peaches have 

 been successfully cultivated for many years, but the commercial 

 plantings have practically all occurred within the last twenty-five 

 years, and the heavy development of the country within the last 

 fifteen years. 



Apples and peaches are the staple crops. Other fruits are 

 grown to a somewhat limited extent in certain sections, but the 

 crop of the country is the apple. In the middle elevations of 

 Arkansas the peach industry leads. 



The fruit-grower from the East is struck by the following impor- 

 tant features in the apple orchards of this region. (1) The trees 

 are planted from 20 to 30 feet apart, with 60 to 70 trees per acre. 

 (2) Very little pruning is done. (3) Comparatively little tilling is 

 done. In fact, the ground is so stony in many places that surface 

 tillage would seem impossible to the man accustomed to sandy or 

 loamy conditions. The surface of many orchards in the side-hill 

 region is covered with loose, shaly stone. (4) The trees come into 

 bearing early. (5) They appear to age young. 



The king of the region is the Ben Davis. The following varieties 

 are those held in greatest popularity by the heavy planters — first 

 choice : Ben Davis, Gano, York Imperial, Jonathan, Grimes, In- 

 gram ; second choice : Huntsman, Willow, Pippin, Winesap, Ralls. 



