62 BULLETIN 140, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Island Greening in their respective regions. There is, however, some- 

 thing of an overlapping of regions. That is, the Baldwin extends 

 farther south in adaptation than the Rhode Island Greening, and 

 the Rome Beauty extends as far north as the Grimes. But this 

 intraregional overlapping of Rome Beauty and Baldwin is largely 

 a matter of dovetailing due to variations in elevation. Thus in 

 southern Pennsylvania, as the Baldwin in its southern extension 

 seeks its soil at higher elevations to offset the climatic changes, so 

 does Rome Beauty in its northern extension seek the same soil at a 

 lower elevation for the same reason. 



With increasing distance south, the Baldwin very soon becomes a 

 fall variety, and where this tendency is sufficiently pronounced to 

 lessen materially its desirability it may well be replaced by the Rome 

 Beauty, which is adapted to the same kind of soil. 



Rome Beauty is grown with fairly good success in the lower Hud- 

 son Valley and at low elevations in western New York, but there is 

 question if it will become a leading commercial sort in either region. 



SOILS FAVORABLE FOR THE BEN DAVIS AND GANO. 



The reference to the Ben Davis and Gano here should not be con- 

 strued as a recommendation for planting in this region, for it is be- 

 lieved they should not be planted in Massachusetts or in Connecticut, 

 but they are mentioned simply because of the value they may have in 

 this discussion of fruit soils. These varieties are adapted primarily 

 to the middle latitudes of this country rather than to the northern 

 ones, and it is believed that the latter can not, for this reason, com- 

 pete successfully in their production. The influence of the soil factor 

 on these varieties is somewhat less marked than with varieties of 

 higher quality, though the best color is not developed on soils ex- 

 cessively clayey or ill-drained. The Ben Davis has a tendency to 

 bear annually better than most other varieties, but there are other 

 sorts of good quality that are sufficiently productive to make the 

 planting of the Ben Davis and Gano ill-advised for this section of 

 the country. 



SOILS FAVORABLE FOR THE GRAVENSTEIN. 



The Gravenstein has given growers in Massachusetts much trouble, 

 but its general excellence, the high price the fruit brings, and the 

 strong demand for it in some markets makes the Gravenstein a 

 tempting sort to plant. Its susceptibility to winter injury, however, 

 is often a serious matter. There is good evidence to show that Grav- 

 enstein should not be forced in growth, at least until it is 15 years 

 old or older. In western Middlesex County, on rich moist ground 

 or with heavy fertilization with nitrogenous manures, its growth is 

 rarely matured early enough in the season to avoid more or less 



