8 ORCHARD FRUITS IN VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES. 



would obviously not be commercially satisfactory; yet it may pos- 

 sess high dessert quality which renders it desirable for home use 

 where the basis of merit is not the market value of the product. 



The influence of conditions such as soil and climate upon the 

 behavior of varieties, and consequently upon their relative value for 

 any particular purpose, indicates the importance, and even the 

 necessity, of determining those conditions or combinations of con- 

 ditions which best meet their individual requirements, if the plant- 

 ing of fruits is to be done with the greatest possible assurance of suc- 

 cess. Many orchards and fruit plantations have been set out in the 

 past which have been unprofitable because varieties were planted 

 which were poorly adapted to the conditions under which they were 

 grown; or, if not resulting in actual loss, they have been less profit- 

 able than would have been the case had varieties been selected which 

 were better adapted to the conditions. 



The ability of a variety to reach a high degree of perfection, how- 

 ever, does not alone determine its profitableness or desirability for 

 any particular place. Adequate means must be at hand for trans- 

 porting the product from the point where it is grown to the consumer. 

 Because of insufficient means of transportation, the commercial 

 growing of fruit is rendered impossible in many sections that are 

 naturally well suited to certain kinds. 



In the case of quickly perishable fruits, like peaches, the exact 

 time of ripening is also frequently an essential factor. It is often 

 this feature which determines very largely the profitableness of a 

 variety. If a particular sort ripens a few days earlier or later than 

 some other one, it may be just in time to fill a period in the market 

 when the supply would otherwise be light, and hence it is desirable 

 on this account. Similarly, another variety may be undesirable 

 because its season of ripening comes at the same time as some other 

 variety which has a better commercial rating. 



The time of ripening has a still wider application in the case of 

 some kinds of fruit of which the range in the ripening period of all 

 varieties in general cultivation is comparatively short. For instance, 

 the commercial growing of strawberries is rendered unprofitable in 

 many sections because the " strawberry season" comes at the same 

 time as in some other sections where the berries grow equally well 

 and which are more favorably located with reference to the markets, 

 thus rendering successful competition impossible. 



It will thus be seen that definite knowledge of the factors which 

 influence the ripening period may be of great importance in consid- 

 ering the adaptability of varieties for particular purposes. For such 

 reasons as these the fruit grower must consider not only whether a 

 variety will do well under the conditions where he wishes to grow it, 



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