58 ORCHARD FRUITS IN VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES. 



Rivers. Synonym: Early Rivers. 



Only a small number of growers have this variety. On Cecil sandy loam at 1,000 

 feet elevation in Bedford County, Va., it usually gives good results. Under these 

 conditions of soil and elevation it is generally less apt to decay than in many places. 

 In the "thermal belt" of North Carolina on a red clay loam containing considerable 

 sand and gravel, it is said to be very fine. The fact that it has set a full crop of fruit 

 when most varieties were killed in the bud or during the blossoming period by severe 

 climatic conditions gives support to a common impression that its buds are more hardy 

 than many varieties. The Rivers reaches maturity early in July in the central sections 

 of the Piedmont region. 

 St. John. Synonym: Yellow St. John. 



In Bedford County, Va., at about 1,200 feet elevation on a soil resembling Porters 

 clay, the St. John is said to be more subject to insect attacks than almost any other 

 variety; it also frequently rots severely. It has been reported from North Carolina 

 as successful on a friable red clay loam about 500 feet above the level of the adjacent 

 Piedmont region, and from South Carolina under the usual Piedmont conditions of 

 that section. Season in these sections, middle to the last of July. 

 Salway. 



This variety is known to only a few growers. One, in Bedford County, Va., who is 

 growing it on Cecil sandy loam at about 1,000 feet elevation, considers it among his best 

 varieties under favorable climatic conditions and seldom subject to any disease. 

 Experience in most sections of the country where this variety is grown would indicate 

 that a location which is not well elevated above the surrounding country is not suitable 

 for this variety on account of its susceptibility to peach scab or brown-spot. The fruit 

 as grown in the above-mentioned Bedford County location, is said to develop, as a 

 rule, in a satisfactory manner, ripening about the middle of September. The Salway 

 is also grown to some extent on a similar soil in North Carolina at about 2,000 feet 

 elevation, where it is reported to do well. 

 Smock. 



In Albemarle County, Va. , this variety is grown to a limited extent. The conditions 

 under which the Bilyeu reaches its highest degree of perfection are also favorable for 

 this. At the Piedmont levels the fruit does not develop properly, and it is subject to 

 peach scab. Ripens a little before Salway. 

 Sneed. 



The plantings of the Sneed are small and the orchards which contain it are compara- 

 tively few in number. That the buds are exceptionally resistent to relatively low 

 temperatures was demonstrated in the spring of 1903, when it escaped injury from 

 frosts while most varieties were severely injured thereby. It has received favorable 

 mention from Bedford County, Va., where it is being grown on Cecil sandy loam at the 

 usual Piedmont altitude. Its adaptability to these conditions seems rather marked in 

 its resistance in 1903 to brown-rot, which was unusually severe on most varieties 

 during that year. Possibly its time of ripening, which occurs here the latter part of 

 June, may have had its bearing upon the amount of decay. Porters clay at 1,200 feet 

 elevation also gives good results in the same county. In North Carolina at 1,500 feet 

 on a friable red clay loam and in South Carolina in the Piedmont region adjacent to 

 the mountains, it is being grown successfully. Here it ripens early in June. In very 

 many places the fruit is apt to decay seriously, but this does not appear to be a con- 

 spicuous fault in this section. It is prolific under the conditions named above, but 

 on the sandy loam soils of western North Carolina at 2,000 feet and Porters black loam 

 at a similar altitude in certain other sections, it is said to be undesirable because of its 

 light bearing proclivities. 

 135 



