40 



ORCHARD FRUITS IN VIRGINIA AND OTHER STATES. 



soil with porous clayey subsoil. Such conditions develop a firm, solid fruit, with 

 excellent color and fair keeping qualities. Porters black loam and some modifications 

 of it at 2,000 feet or more in Virginia also produce good fruit, but the natural limit of 

 its durability is reached by the Christmas holidays or early winter. So far as observed 

 there is no exception to the general statement that at points below 1,800 or 2,000 feet 

 elevation the variety is unsatisfactory, premature rotting and dropping occurring to 

 a disastrous extent. 



Oldenburg. Synonym: Duchess of Oldenburg. 



As with Wealthy, Gravenstein, and several other varieties considered in this con- 

 nection, but little is actually known of the behavior of this sort in these regions. So 

 far as reported it is a regular and abundant bearer and gives promise of value as an 

 early ripening variety for culinary purposes. Its season in the middle Piedmont 

 would probably be early July. 



Ortley. Synonym: White Bellflower. , 



Only a passing mention of this variety is required, as it is of little importance. It 

 is in a few of the older orchards, where very little attention is given to it. Loamy soils 

 with deep, rich, porous subsoil and comparatively high altitudes are favorable to its 

 best development. It has a long ripening season and may be used throughout the 

 fall months. 



Pennock. Synonyms: Pennochs, Red Pennoch, Phoenix, Winter PenicJc, Large 

 Romanite. 



It is seldom that this variety is found at the lower altitudes away from the moun- 

 tains, but it is common in the foothills and higher elevations. 



A dry rot or breaking down of the cell tissue just under the skin has been observed 

 in certain instances, especially in the Georgia section. This variety is of only second- 

 ary importance. It does not have a reputation for heavy crops, but on Porters 

 black loam from 2,000 to 2,500 feet elevation the fruit develops very finely and may 

 be kept until well into the winter. The red clay loams at 1,000 to 1,200 feet also give 

 good results where located at the foot of the mountains. 

 Pilot. Synonym: Virginia Pilot. 



Like the Pennock, the Pilot is not often found, except in the mountains or in close 

 proximity to them. It has seldom been planted in recent years. The tree requires 

 an unusual amount of room for best results, since it grows to a large size. It is very 

 late in coming into bearing, little fruit is produced before the trees are 12 years old, 

 and frequently they are nearly 20 before they become a source of much profit. 



This variety seldom gives satisfaction below an altitude of 1,200 feet, and then only 

 on Porters black loam or some of the other rich, loose, mountain types of soil. On 

 Porters clay at 1,600 feet it usually produces light crops, which frequently decay. In 

 some places it hardly bears at all, particularly on the heavier clay soils at less than 

 1,000 feet elevation, where it occasionally occurs. The fruit often sets under such con- 

 ditions, but it drops badly and is also liable to decay. The trees which have made 

 the best record of any observed are in a Virginia orchard on Porters black loam with 

 a western exposure and an elevation of not less than 1,500 feet. These trees are prob- 

 ably twenty years old and bear considerable fruit nearly every year. Annual bear- 

 ing, however, is unusual with this variety. Some of the small growers in the moun- 

 tain sections sometimes allow the fruit to remain in piles all winter under the trees, 

 covering them with a light mulch of leaves or straw. In the spring, after the frost 

 has gradually withdrawn before the mulch is removed, the fruit is barreled and sold. 

 It is claimed that very satisfactory prices are often obtained when handled in this way. 

 Pine Stump. 



But little attention has been given this variety by any of the growers. It is of 

 North Carolina origin and has been propagated more or less by some of the nursery- 

 135 



