FRUITS IN WEST VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY, AND TENNESSEE. 25 



not be likely to become extensive apple-orchard -sections. On the 

 other hand, in the hilly sections of the northern part of the area 

 where the soil is fertile, the land is not usually adapted to a wide 

 range of farm crops, and many sites especially adapted to orchard- 

 ing may be found. Further, apple orcharding is a very specialized 

 type of farming, and in a region where little fruit is grown it is 

 often difficult to obtain trained help. In a developed orchard sec- 

 tion trained help may be secured much more readily. The grow- 

 ing of apples in the southern part of this area, then, is not likely to 

 become important on land adapted to general farming. On land 

 not so well adapted to general farming where suitable locations 

 and sites are found, varieties especially adapted to southern climates 

 and somewhat resistant to prevalent diseases should be selected. 



Fig. 17. — An apple orchard near the western boundary of the East Tennessee Valley 

 region. Note the ridges along the tree rows made in an attempt to prevent the wash- 

 ing of the soil and the forming of gullies. Orchards on such steep hillsides are often 

 kept in sod or only each alternate tree row cultivated. 



THE VARIETY PROBLEM. 



The adaptation of fruit varieties to different conditions and the 

 response of different varieties to those different conditions are well 

 illustrated in these regions. Many northern varieties are of no value 

 in southern regions, while many southern varieties are of no value 

 in northern regions. Some northern varieties ripen at the wrong 

 reason in the South to be profitable, while others are susceptible 

 to diseases not found in the North. Some southern varieties do not 

 mature in the shorter season of northern sections, while the trees 

 of others are too tender. 



The high elevations in West Virginia and eastern Tennessee off- 

 set to some extent at least the influence of latitude. On the higher 

 hill and mountain sides in these States varieties adapted to regions 

 much farther north are grown successfully, while varieties succeed- 

 ing best at lower elevations are not so desirable. 



