50 BULLETIN 140, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



different varieties, and so to the character of cultivation the differ- 

 ent varieties should have. 



Orchard fruits differ from annual crops in that they occupy the 

 ground for a long term of years and are subjected to climatic con- 

 ditions for 12 months in each year, and the transition periods from 

 active to dormant in the fall, and especially from dormant to active 

 in the spring are not infrequently a severe test upon the trees. It 

 may be said, however, that the best results from orcharding are 

 obtained only when all contributing influences are favorable. . The 

 soil, which is one of these, is the subject of this report, and a dis- 

 cussion of the other factors mentioned is not within its province 

 except as their relationship to the soil is involved. 



The condition of tree growth and fruit yields in large numbers 

 of orchards makes it evident that soils for any kind of orchard plant- 

 ing should at least be deep, well drained and friable, yet not so 

 porous as to be droughty. For the red varieties in New England 

 both soil and subsoil should also be well oxidized as indicated by 

 brown or yellow solid colors or possibly grayish-brown rather than 

 by light-gray or mottled colors. The last especially should be 

 avoided if possible. It may be added that it is not difficult to select 

 upland soils in the States under discussion that are free from mot- 

 tling, are well oxidized, deep, and located on well-rounded hills and 

 gentle slopes where the processes of orchard practice are not unduly 

 expensive. These soils are also of diverse mineral composition, and 

 respond well in most cases where sufficient humus is supplied. 



The ratio of leaf transpiration on pruned and unpruned trees to 

 the moisture-holding tendency and moisture-furnishing capacity of 

 the soil also adds greatly to the complexity of the problem of sepa- 

 rating the influence of the soil factor upon varietal adaptation from 

 the influence of other factors of environment known to bear upon 

 varietal behavior. The physical limitations to be encountered in an 

 endeavor to determine accurately this relationship postpones its solu- 

 tion to the indefinite future. So far as this investigation goes the en- 

 deavor has been to balance or to eliminate this factor of influence by 

 the consideration of a large number of cases, but this, of course, only 

 reduces the problem in the final analysis to one of individual judg- 

 ment and leaves the actual problem for future investigation. 



The discussion of the adaptedness of soils to varieties is based in 

 part on the investigational work of the writer for several years past, 

 as well as on the work of 1911 in Massachusetts, and 1912 in Connecti- 

 cut. During the course of the field work it has been possible to ob- 

 serve the behavior of varieties under a wide range of soil,and other 

 conditions influencing apple production and meanwhile to gather 

 much data from the experience of a great number of orchardists and 

 farmers. Consistently has the attempt been made to check all such 



