10 ORCHARD FRUITS IN VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES. 



thus work out the requirements, in all the detail possible, of the dif- 

 ferent varieties of fruits, especially those varieties which appear to be 

 of greatest commercial importance, for the purpose of aiding fruit 

 growers in selecting those sorts which will be the most profitable and 

 satisfactory for the purpose for which they are desired. 



Incidental to the study of the adaptability of the more important 

 and better-known varieties to the conditions which may affect them, 

 these investigations also include a consideration of new and little- 

 known sorts. New varieties of which but little is known concerning 

 the requirements or their range of adaptability are being constantly 

 introduced. Many varieties having decided merit where they are now 

 grown are known only in the localities in which they originated. So 

 far as practicable such varieties are investigated and their usefulness 

 in the development of the fruit-growing interests of the country 

 determined. 



Again, a large majority of the varieties which are grown for com- 

 mercial purposes are defective in one or more important features. 

 For instance, the "Elberta" peach and the "Ben Davis" apple lack 

 high dessert quality, yet both possess characteristics which render 

 them valuable commercial sorts. Some are not sufficiently produc- 

 tive ; others do not stand shipping sufficiently well ; still others, which 

 are desirable in most respects, develop faults in cold storage. Some 

 defect might be mentioned which would apply to nearly every sort 

 found upon the market at the present time. While the attainment of 

 some preconceived ideal in any kind of fruit may not be possible, an 

 effort made in the direction of a desired end can not fail to produce 

 beneficial results. It is hoped that in these minute studies concerning 

 the requirements which are necessary for the development of varieties 

 to their highest degree of perfection, sorts may be discovered and 

 introduced into the various commercial districts of the country which 

 will not possess the more conspicuous defects of the important com- 

 mercial varieties now in general cultivation. 



In some sections the " variety problem" is a comparatively simple 

 one, even over large areas, as in the prairie region of the Central West, 

 where the soil conditions are fairly uniform and the elevation and 

 other factors of influence are not sufficiently variable to require special 

 consideration. But some of the mountainous regions offer the best 

 locations for the growing of particular fruits, and in these regions the 

 question of varieties becomes an exceedingly difficult one because of 

 the great variation in the soil, the constantly changing elevation at 

 which it is desired to grow fruit, and the corresponding lack of knowl- 

 edge regarding many other conditions. The Piedmont and Blue Ridge 

 regions of Virginia and the South Atlantic States represent such a seer 

 tion in the East. Numerous illustrations occur in the West. Under 



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