B. P. I.— 391. 



ORCHARD FRUITS IN THE PIEDMONT AND 



BLUE RIDGE REGIONS OF VIRGINIA AND 



THE SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In explanation of the nature and object of the fruit district investi- 

 gations of the Bureau of Plant Industry, of which the present paper 

 is the first published report, the following general outline of the work 

 may assist the reader in his understanding of their relation to the 

 fruit-growing interests of the country. 



That varieties of fruit are not equally well adapted to all con- 

 ditions of soil, climate, elevation, etc., under which they may be 

 grown is apparent to every fruit grower and to others who are in the 

 habit of observing the behavior of fruit and fruit trees. The geo- 

 graphical limit of the profitable commercial range of many of the 

 more important varieties of fruits is comparatively well known, yet 

 within such limits there are many instances which might be men- 

 tioned of sections that are noted for the unusually high degree of per- 

 fection to which some particular variety attains in one or more of its 

 important characteristics. The degree of perfection reached may 

 be in the general appearance of the fruit or in its size, form, color, 

 texture, flavor, time of ripening, or keeping quality, or in the pro- 

 ductiveness, vigor, and healthfulness of the tree, etc. On the other 

 hand, another section within the accepted commercial range of a 

 variety may have a reputation for producing fruit which is strikingly 

 lacking in some desirable feature. 



While the commercial aspect of these investigations is the more 

 important one from a financial point of view, it is necessary, also, to 

 consider them from the standpoint of the home supply. The object 

 for which fruit is to be grown must be taken into account in con- 

 sidering the merits and behavior of a variety. A particular sort may 

 have characteristics which render it of special value in some locality 

 for a given purpose, but it may be entirety unsuited to some other 

 use. A variety which in a particular location is too small or has a 

 very tender skin, or the tree of which is relatively unproductive, 



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