FRUITS IN WEST VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, AND TENNESSEE. 47 



The tree, at first, is an upright grower, but at bearing age becomes open 

 and spreading and later most of its limbs become decumbent and the top dense. 

 Sometimes it may bear a full crop at 8 years of age, but usually it is 10 to 12 

 years old before bearing well. Owing in part at least to its late-blooming 

 habit, it is one of the most reliable croppers in the northern Allegheny Plateau 

 region. The fruit, though often attacked by sooty fungus, apple blotch, black- 

 rot, and bitter-rot in the southern parts of the regions of this area, is usually 

 comparatively free from these in West Virginia. The fruit keeps in storage 

 until spring in the Allegheny Plateau region, but usually loses much of its 

 flavor after January 1. Its uniformity in shape and size make it suitable for 

 box packing. 



In the southern part of this area it is very subject to blight and does not 

 keep well enough nor bear well enough to compete with other more productive 

 varieties. The same is true of most of the Interior Low Plateau region in 

 Kentucky, though conditions along the Ohio River, especially in the section near 

 Covington and from that place up the river to Huntington, W. Va., more nearly 

 approach the conditions of the place of its origin. Along the Big Sandy River 

 in Kentucky the conditions are also similar. In the Virginia Valley and Ridge 

 region the York Imperial takes the place filled by the Rome Beauty in the 

 Allegheny Plateau region. Both sorts are susceptible to cedar rust to about 

 the same degree. They ripen at about the same time, the Rome Beauty being 

 often picked first, and both keep about the same length of time in cold storage. 

 In this area neither variety bears regular crops at an early age, but in the 

 Allegheny Plateau region of West Virginia both produce regularly after coming 

 into bearing. Because the Rome Beauty frequently does not reach high color 

 in the Virginia Valley and Ridge region, while the York Imperial is usually 

 high colored, it is not yet largely grown there. It has not been planted in 

 recent years as widely as formerly in the Allegheny Plateau region. However, 

 there is no variety which as yet stands out with sufficient merit and popularity 

 to succeed it. 

 Roxbury. Synonym : Roxbury Russet. 



Occasional trees and small orchards of the Roxbury variety have been ob- 

 served in all parts^of this area. 



The trees bear when quite young, 6-year-old trees bearing a fair crop at 

 Belington, W. Va. The tree grows to very large size, is healthy, and bears 

 fair crops. The fruit is usually of medium size, oblate, and covered with 

 russet. The flesh is firm, subacid in flavor, and good in dessert quality. In 

 northern West Virginia the fruit will keep through midwinter in cold storage. 



It is considered desirable wherever grown, but is surpassed by more produc- 

 tive varieties of more attractive color for both commercial orchards and home 

 use. 

 Salome. Synonym: Winter Rambo (erroneously). 



The Salome is found frequently in the orchards of all regions of West 

 Virginia and rarely in the remainder of the area. It is being superseded in this 

 area by other varieties of more attractive color, better dessert quality, and 

 which keep longer. 

 Shackleford. 



The Shackleford variety is found in several commercial orchards in this area. 

 Besides maturing in the summer in Kentucky and farther south, it is subject 

 to the diseases to which the Ben Davis is subject and to a similar degree. In 

 West Virginia, though it develops well, it is not so good a keeper as the Ben 

 Davis and seems inferior to it in every way. 

 Shockley. 



Though widely distributed in this area, the Shockley appears very little in 

 commercial orchards. Where it is grown it is frequently sold for decorative 

 purposes as it is of small size and becomes highly colored under favorable condi- 

 tions. It has been grown because it keeps well in common storage. As its 

 foliage is very susceptible to cedar rust and the fruit to apple scab, apple blotch, 

 and cedar rust and is not of high dessert quality, it is not desirable. 

 Shortcore. Synonyms: Brass field, Garden Red. 



The Shortcore variety and its many seedlings, or related forms, have been 

 distributed in the hills and mountains of eastern Kentucky and probably into 

 northern Tennessee. The Shortcore seems to have been propagated by sprouts 

 from the roots. The most striking characteristic of this group is that though 

 the apples are small, the basin is larger and deeper than that of other varieties, 

 while the cavity is small and shallow. The effect of this is to make a very short 



