18 



chards in which it is found and holds third place in the 

 total number of trees planted. The limitation of this var- 

 iety to a certain type of soil is frequently mentioned by 

 the fruit growers and this point is discussed under another 

 topic. But where Albemarle can be grown it is held in high 

 esteem and is very popular with the fruit-growers. The 

 growers give this variety high rank; 51 per cent of the 

 growers who have Albemarle in their old orchards, consider 

 it first in commercial importance. Speaking in relative 

 terms, Albemarle ranks higher than any other variety found 

 in the old orchards. It is interesting to note that this 

 variety makes up 15.70 per cent of the total number of 

 trees reported in the old orchards. 



Perhaps it is not profitable to go further into the 

 details of Table 1. The reader can glance through the array 

 of facts which are set forth and draw his own conclusions 

 from them. There is a remarkably large number of varieties 

 reported in the bearing orchards. All told, there are eighty- 

 three varieties, several of which I have not been able to 

 find mentioned in pomologieal literature. However, it may 

 be seen that the main bulk of the plantings in the bearing 

 commercial orchards is composed of just a few varieties. 

 Some of the old orchards which are now still in bearing, date 

 from that period when commercial apple-growing in Virginia 



