APPLES 91 
soil is sure to be a failure unless the 
subsoil be broken up and the water table 
lowered by drainage. 
J. G@. Moors, 
Madison, Wis 
Apples Thrive on Many Soils 
Apple trees will thrive and do well on 
almost any soil which is well prepared, 
but the different kinds of soil may require 
different treatment and after care. 
Loamy Soil 
A loamy soil is naturally rich in plant 
food; hence it will need little, if any, ma- 
nuring in its preparation. But it should 
pe deeply stirred and thoroughly broken 
up by subsoiling. This loamy soil is what 
may be termed free soil, as it seldom be- 
comes compacted, even by abusive treat- 
ment. 
Clay Soil 
A clay soil is the most difficult to pre- 
pare, and often requires manuring, as well 
as thorough plowing, replowing, and sub- 
soiling. It should also be frequently 
stirred during the summer months, and es- 
pecially as soon after each rainfall as is 
practicable, to prevent it from baking and 
becoming compacted. This becomes even 
more important in seasons of long 
droughts. 
Sandy Soil 
Sandy soils are generally lacking in 
the necessary plant food. They also have 
the objection of losing such fertilizers as 
may be added by the leaching effect of the 
rainfall. 
Effects of Several Soils 
The wood growth on loamy soils will 
be strong and vigorous, but may not be 
sufficiently mature to withstand the freez- 
ing of the more rigorous winters Clay 
lands are not apt to produce such vigorous 
growth, and orchard trees on such lands 
will be hardier as to winterkilling than 
on most other soils. With a free subsoil 
underlying it, a loamy clay soil will prob- 
ably yield the best results, especially if it 
be well prepared by thorough culture and 
subsoiling before planting the trees. Tim- 
ber lands, or lands on which forests have 
formerly grown, if having the proper ex- 
posure and drainage, are preferable for 
orchard sites. Such lands contain all the 
elements of plant food necessary to insure 
a good and sufficient wood growth and 
fruitfulness. Fruit grown on such lands 
will rank first class in size, quantity, and 
appearance G. B. BRACKETT, 
Washington, D. C 
Loam 
If the extremely light sandy soils and 
the very stiff clay and adobe soils are 
eliminated, apples will grow well upon 
the soils intermediate between the two, 
providing, of course, that such soils are 
free from excess of alkali and are put in 
good physical condition. 
The best soils for commercial apple 
production are moist, well drained, deep 
rich loam, derived from limestone or 
granite or volcanic ash, in which is found 
a considerable quantity of decayed veg: 
etable matter or humus. There is a dif 
ference in the adaptability of apples to 
different soils, as, for instance, the Yel- 
low Bellflower thrives best upon a rather 
light soil, while the Yellow Newtown 
Pippin seems to grow best in heavier 
ground. The adaptability of apples to 
particular soils can be determined only 
by experiment and observation. 
R. W. FISHER, 
Bozeman, Mont. 
Ohio Soils 
Admitting the truth that apples are 
being successfully grown, in some parts 
of Ohio, on soil so poor that it would 
not produce ten bushels of corn per acre, 
it is at the same time true that in order 
to secure healthy, vigorous, well-grown 
trees, which will devote a long life to gen- 
erous fruit-bearing, there must be in the 
soil those elements which constitute fer- 
tility and good physical character. These 
elements, of which there are three more 
important, are both mineral and vege- 
table. Potassium and phosphorus are of 
mineral origin, while nitrogen is derived 
from the growth, breaking down and de- 
eay of vegetation especially that class of 
plants belonging to the family of legumes 
—the clovers, peas, vetches, etc. 
Abundant decayed and decaying veg- 
etable matter, within or upon the surface 
of the soil, is very desirable aside from 
