76 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
mountain top marked in many places by the outcrop of sand rock and only 
here and there showing soil formations worthy of consideration as apple 
lands; yet it is true that where this main ridge is broken down in some of 
the lower gaps or mountain passes there are considerable areas of choice apple 
lands for both red apples and pippins; and I should add that these higher 
situations that show the proper characteristics of soil are more desirable than 
those lower down the mountain slopes. 
In the southAvest part of the state the Blue Ridge section Avidens out into 
a high plateau comprising the counties of Floyd, Carroll and Grayson and 
portions of the adjacent counties. This is a very elevated district of country 
ranging from two to three thousand feet high and is marked in many places 
by the outcrop of limestone rock mingled with sand and granitic forma- 
tions, forming in many places strong soils. Only in a few rare instances 
does this southwest portion of the Blue Ridge section show pippin lands, 
but it does furnish a splendid situation for the culture of the red apples 
which I have already mentioned. As to its climatic features, from its ele- 
vated situation and the high mountains lying still back of it to the west, 
this section is less subject to injurious climatic changes than most of the 
more northern part of the state. 
THE VALLEY. 
The Valley of Virginia comprises not only what has been known in litera- 
ture as the \ T alley of the Shenandoah, but the successive valleys of the North 
Fork of the James, the head \A T aters of the Roanoke and the high plateau 
of NeAV River and the lesser streams which Aoav through it in the extreme* 
southwest. It is a long stretch of country reaching from the Potomac to 
thb borders of Tennessee and in the main is a limestone country present- 
ing soils of the very finest quality for the ordinary agricultural purposes 
and naturally Avhere the elevation and other conditions are suitable is an 
excellent fruit section.. This valley is in fact a high interior table land 
bounded by the Blue Ridge on the east and the still higher Alleghanies 
on the west. Its mean elevation varies from eight hundred to two thousand 
feet. While in the main the soil is of limestone origin yet there are many 
instances in which outcrops of • shale and sandstone occur, thus giving a 
variety of soils. Wherever the sandstone outcrops through the limestone 
mingling Avitli the latter, a most excellent soil is formed for the growth 
of apples. A ridge of this character lying to the west and north of Win- 
chester known as Apple Pie Ridge is one of the finest fruit sections of the 
state and, strange to say, though it is not Avhat is called typical pippin land 
yet on the slopes of this ridge is situated one of our finest pippin orchards. 
The present bearing orchard comprises forty acres of trees, about eleven 
hundred all told and has yielded in one crop fifteen thousand dollars worth 
of fruit. 
The slialy soils of the A T alley are wry illy adapted to fruit groAving, but 
Avherever the limestone soil* is deep and rich without rocky ledges and has 
sufficient elevation aboA*e the water courses, excellent fruit is grown. In 
fact there is noAvhere in the state such a large body of land adapted to the 
growth of apples similar in character to those grown in New York and 
other northern states as may be found in this high valley. The fact is yet 
to be proven as to Avhether it is not true that wherever the sand rock out- 
outcrops and mingles with the limestone we cannot also grow pippins. Cer- 
