126 
AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Grapes grow well in almost all parts of this region, and some large commer- 
cial vineyards are located there. So far grapes have not been as profitable 
as peaches. Possibly this could be obviated by a better selection of varie- 
ties, but the same troubles would be encountered to some extent that were 
mentioned for the coast region. 
Apples, too, will grow in almost all locations, but it is doubtful if they will 
ever become an important market fruit here, at least until we know more 
in regard to the varieties best adapted to the far South. 
If it were not for the blight this region would produce immense quantities 
of the Oriental pears. Large plantings have been made in the past, but 
owners are quite generally discouraged by the prevalence and destructiveness 
of this disease. Future plantings will depend almost entirely on the success 
of the few who are making a determined effort to control it. Fortunately 
the bad effect of over cultivation and stimulation is being somewhat widely 
recognized, and where discouragement has led to the neglect and non-cultiva- 
tion of pear orchards the loss from blight is usually greatly lessened. A 
noticeable result of the great freeze of last February which killed all the 
pear buds, thus entirely preventing blooming, has been the marked diminu- 
tion in the prevalence of this disease which makes its most destructive at- 
tacks through the open flowers. 
The third and last of these regions is to my mind much the most attractive 
from a horticultural standpoint. It is the mountain or Piedmont region, 
including the southern extension of the Appalachian mountain system with 
its outlying foothills. The soil is mostly a red micaceous clay derived from 
the disintegration of granitic rocks, though it also includes some limestone 
lands. Cotton is largely grown in this region also, but it was formerly the 
wheat belt of the South, and owing to the low price of cotton, farmers are 
again paying some attention to this crop. These soils are less easy to culti- 
vate than the sandier lands found at lower levels, and the country is much 
broken so that level areas of much size are infrequent. They seem, however, 
to be particularly adapted to the growth of fruit trees, and with the greater 
elevation and consequent cooler winter climate, it is possible to grow a wide 
range of orchard products. Peaches and plums grown here unquestionably 
average higher in color and richer in flavor than those from lower levels and 
sandier soils, and they also seem to have somewhat better keeping and 
carrying qualities. The trees, too, are usually longer lived being less subject 
to the attacks of borers and to Gummosis. It is true that Rosette is a dis- 
ease indigenous to this Piedmont region but it is proving much less destruc- 
tive than was at one time feared. The fact that the crop ripens a little 
later here has so far been a distinct advantage, for the demand, stimulated by 
the immense shipments from farther South, becomes very active for the 
smaller quantity that is produced in the mountains. 
Many parts of this region are particularly well adapted to the growing of 
grapes. The quality of the product is of the best, and the berries hang on 
the stem and ship as well as those grown in any part of the country. Ripen- 
ing somewiiat later than those from the lower country, they come at a time 
when the markets begin to want grapes, and I foresee that in certain favored 
locations plantings of this fruit are likely to be largely increased. 
Many kinds of apples thrive admirably in the moister soils of this region 
and it is strange indeed that the commercial possibilities of apple growing at 
the South have been so long overlooked. I am glad to note that the question 
