18 SUMMER APPLES IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES. 



ally practiced. However, in many of the other sections, where fruit 

 growing at present is only a secondary matter, the orchards are gener- 

 ally greatly neglected. Little or no cultivation is given, unless in 

 connection with the growing of interplanted crops ; usually no pruning 

 and no spraying. Under these conditions many of the orchards are 

 sorely attacked by insects and fungous diseases. There is no reason to 

 suppose, however, that these difficulties may not be readily overcome 

 by the application of the usual methods in such cases. 



With relation to the last statement, however, it should be noted 

 that in the southern section of this region certain fungous diseases of 

 the apple appear to be unusually prevalent, and should any extensive 

 commercial development of apple culture be considered, this feature 

 should have full consideration. However, while the climatic condi- 

 tions may have some influence in the extent to which these diseases 

 have appeared in the past, it is not assumed that the more common 

 diseases which are now noticeable could not be readily controlled by 

 the use of certain precautions and the application of proper spray 

 mixtures. In fact, a few orchards in this section which have been 

 properly attended to demonstrate that this is the case, especially 

 when varieties adapted to the region are planted. 



NATURAL ADVANTAGES AND POSSIBILITIES OF THIS REGION 

 FOR SUMMER-APPLE PRODUCTION. 



The extent to which successful summer-apple culture in certain 

 sections of Xew Jersey and the Chesapeake peninsula has been devel- 

 oped is good evidence of the natural advantages of these sections, but 

 some of the other sections require notice in this connection. 



Earliness of maturity is an important consideration, and the light 

 sandy and sandy loam soils, which are characteristic of nearly the 

 entire region, doubtless contribute toward this end. The tempera- 

 ture is usually relatively high during the period when the fruit is 

 making its growth, without which the other factors, however favor- 

 able, would fail to produce early ripening. 



The location of the region with reference to the larger markets and 

 distributing centers of the East is likewise a favorable factor. The 

 relationship between the points of production and distribution is 

 always an important matter, and especially so in the handling of any 

 quickly perishable product. In case there should be developed in 

 the future a demand in the foreign markets for early apples, the com- 

 paratively close proximity of a large portion of this region to the 

 eastern seaports, and the readiness with which the fruit grown therein 

 could be landed on the docks, renders this region particularly adapted 

 from this point of view for the supplying of such demands. Shipping 

 facilities are likewise good. Many points in this region have access 



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