122 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



less trouble with fungus diseases. These mountain districts may some 

 day become quite important, as there appears to be an abundance of 

 suitable land comprised in them. But, for the purposes of this dis- 

 cussion, it is best to locate the orchard, which is to be a model from 

 the sanitary standpoint, in what is at present the center of the industry. 



The climate of the Pajaro Valley and other similar localities is well 

 adapted to the growth of apples, but not equally to all varieties. Aside 

 from soil, climate may be considered the principal factor entering into 

 the production of a crop. When plants are growing under climatic 

 conditions favorable to their best development the inroads of diseases 

 are reduced to a minimum because of the natural vigor so induced. 



The cultivated varieties of the apple differ materially among them- 

 selves and from the wild species from which they were derived. 



These differences in the varieties affect their tolerance of climatic 

 conditions very materially so that a variety doing well under one set 

 of conditions may fail in another locality. Then the selection of varie- 

 ties suitable to the locality is the first step to take in the protection of 

 the orchard from the inroads of pests. 



In choosing varieties the commercial value has to be taken into 

 account, for it would be useless to plant an orchard to thrifty growers 

 which do not yield regular crops of salable fruit. The planting must 

 then be made with those commercial varieties best adapted to the 

 locality, and it is often preferable to select a lower-priced apple which 

 will yield abundantly than a more fancy type producing poorly. 



Of course, it is understood that the land must be suitable for the 

 apple tree, neither too wet nor too dry, deep and moderately fertile. 

 Fertility and moisture can be regulated by artificial means, but the 

 depth must remain largely as nature provided it. Sometimes a lack of 

 one of these requirements may be compensated for by supplying more 

 of another ; to illustrate, shallow soils may be made to grow good trees 

 if fertilized and irrigated. 



To name a list of apple varieties which will do well enough in a 

 specified locality to make successful pest control possible is not a dif- 

 ficult task if all the conditions are known. Important variations in 

 conditions, may, however, be found within a half-mile as regards the 

 climate, and a few rods for soil and drainage. Such differences within 

 a short distance renders general recommendations of little practical 

 value. 



In selecting the site for an apple orchard the soil should be sur- 

 veyed to determine its adaptability to the growth of trees, and if there 

 is any question about an abundance of water the practicability of irri- 

 gation should be considered. The climatic conditions are not so easily 

 determined, as a long period of observation is necessary. By observing 

 the growth of such trees as may be in the vicinity much important 

 information concerning soil and climate may be quickly gained. 



That pests are potentially present in the orchard before it is planted 

 may be a new idea to some, but a heavy clay or adobe soil means woolly 

 aphis on the roots, while light clay to sandy loams give comparative 

 immunity. Cold winds and fogs bring about leaf spot diseases and 

 favor the powdery mildew. On the other hand, warm sheltered local- 

 ities are subject to the codling moth and scale insects. 



Of the late summer and winter varieties of apples grown in the coast 



