10 APPLES AND PEACHES IN THE OZARK REGION. 



A " transition period/' through which the fruit industry of the 

 Ozark region was passing, has been mentioned. This applies espe- 

 cially to the matter of varieties. Most regions in which large apple 

 interests have been developed in the past have gone through such a 

 period. It is a natural consequence of the status of our knowledge, 

 or rather lack of knowledge, of the adaptability of varieties and their 

 relative value when grown in different regions or under different 

 conditions. 



While a large portion of the apple and peach trees in the Ozark 

 region consists of comparatively few varieties, it is also true that a 

 great number of varieties, especially of apples, are grown in com- 

 mercial quantities. The experience gained during past years shows 

 that if the plantings were now to be renewed a large percentage of 

 these varieties would probably be eliminated, and of the small num- 

 ber comprising the more important sorts the proportion of trees of 

 the different varieties would be changed in many orchards. Certain 

 varieties of little value in some sections of the Ozarks could almost 

 surely be planted in other parts of the region with satisfaction. Still 

 other sorts now but little known or entirely unknown to the orchard- 

 ists there could probably be substituted with profit for some that are 

 more or less commonly planted. 



The greater the extent to which information regarding the adapta- 

 bility of varieties can be made available for the guidance of fruit 

 growers the more will it become possible to eliminate this "transition 

 period" with regard to varieties for planting in the extension of fruit 

 growing into new regions. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE OZARK REGION. 

 LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY. 



The accompanying map (PL I) shows the counties in Missouri, 

 Arkansas, and Oklahoma which comprise the portion of the Ozark 

 region to which the following discussion of apple and peach varieties 

 is intended to apply. The region includes a large part of the southern 

 half of Missouri, northwestern Arkansas (about one-third of the entire 

 area of the State), and a relatively small section of eastern Oklahoma. 

 The area does not include the entire Ozark uplift, though the portion 

 of this formation which lies outside of its limits is relatively small. 



The elevation above sea level of much of the country surrounding 

 the Ozark uplift is from 500 to 800 feet, and the surface is gently 

 rolling. A large portion of the Ozark region has an altitude of 

 1,200 to 1,500 feet, and some sections of it are distinctly mountainous. 

 The culminating altitudes of the entire region are in the range of 

 Ouachita Mountains south of the Arkansas River, in which the sum- 



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