SOILS FOR APPLE GROWING. 
Depth of subsoil as a necessity for successful apple 
growing is strongly emphasized in a new bulletin of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (No. 140) 
which, although dealing primarily with conditions in 
Connecticut and Massachusetts, contains much informa¬ 
tion of value to orchardists all over the country. The 
presence of unbroken rock, large ledges, or hardpan 
within three feet of the surface, the bulletin considers 
prohibitive, and a soil depth of at least six feet is almost 
a necessity. An even greater depth is desirable. There 
is also no foundation lor the popular belief that the pres¬ 
ence of stones is useful. Their only benefit is to loosen 
to some degree the excessive compactness of clayey, stiff 
soils which, however, are never the best fitted for fruit 
growing. 
True hardpan, the bulletin points out, is not a clay 
loam which may under certain circumstances constitute 
a desirable subsoil, but is a mixture of sand, gravel, soil, 
and clay with more or less cementing material which 
hinds the mass together so that the movement of moisture 
in both directions is seriously impeded. Where hardpan 
is found close to the surface it can sometimes he broken 
up by the use ol dynamite. This, however, is an expen¬ 
sive process and with the prevailing prices for good or¬ 
chard lands, it will he better for the fruit grower to se¬ 
lect soil which does not require it. 
The cultural methods employed in an orchard should 
always he tlexible and adapted to the individual soil 
characteristics. Thus if the soil is too retentive of mois¬ 
ture, leaving the orchard uncultivated will hasten evap¬ 
oration. If the soil tends to dry out too quickly, on the 
other hand, cultivation should he frequent and a good 
supply of humus maintained by growing leguminous 
crops. It is better, however, to adapt the varieties to he 
grown to the soil rather than to attempt to change the na¬ 
ture of the latter. 
For any kind of orchard planting the soil should he 
deep, well drained, and friable, yet not so porous as to he 
droughty. The exact soil best suited to each variety of 
apple will depend largely, however, on such climatic fac¬ 
tors as the range of temperature, the rainfall, the surface 
drainage, exposure, etc. If these climatic factors are 
unfavorable for any given variety the character of the 
soil will not make it possible to grow this fruit success¬ 
fully unless it serves to offset the unfavorable conditions. 
For example, apples ripen a little later on a northerly 
slope than on a southern one. They also ripen earlier 
on a sandy loam than on heavier soils. Thus a light soil 
on the north side of a hill may produce earlier fruit than 
a heavier one on the south side. There are, therefore, 
many factors which the prospective orchardist should 
take into consideration before definitely purchasing his 
land or before deciding what variety of apple he will de¬ 
vote himself to. The character of the soils best adapted 
to the principal commercial varieties are discussed in the 
new bulletin of the department (No. 140) entitled, “Soils 
of Massachusetts and Connecticut, With Special Refer¬ 
ence to Apples and Peaches.” 
for sale a new fruit under the name of the Atlantic Dew¬ 
berry. It is claimed to he extremely vigorous and strong- 
growing, wonderfully productive. The size of the berry 
is about the same as the Snyder Blackberry. It ripens 
the first of August to first of September and comes after 
all other varieties are done. The W. F. Allen Company 
seem to think they have a good thing and claim it to be a 
wonderful money maker. 
FOR ROSES LOOK TO 
The CONARD & JONES Company, 
West Grove, Pa. 
THAT COMPETITOR 
of yours puzzles you. REASON: He knows us end you do 
not, or lie knows us better. If you wish to be as successful, 
better get our prices,, we take care of tlie quality. Don’t 
delay. We are ready to wait on you. 
KALLEN & LUNNEMANN, Boskoop, Holland 
GRAPE VINES 
OTHER SPECIALTIES: Gooseberries, Currants. 
Send want list for prices. 
The JOSSELYN NURSERY COMPANY, 
Fredonia, N. Y. 
TREE 
Large assortment 
Seeds for ornamental 
Send for catalogue. 
Germantown, 
SEEDS 
of Tree, Shrub and Fruit 
and forestry purposes 
CONYERS B. FLEU, Jr. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
Roses New and Roses Ok 
SUMMER GROWN ON OWN ROOTS 
2? inch for lining out 4 inch for shor 
t lists 
<€LEEDL 
F f LORAL COMPANY©! 
L. ^pRiNorietD-oHio^ 
GRAPE CUTTINGS 
Chas. C. Nash, Three Rivers and Kalamazoo, Mich. 
40 ACRES 
gressive, Americus and other best 
everbearers. Get acquainted 
offer for testing. Send us 10c 
for mailing expense, and we 
will send you 6 high quality 
everbearing plants (worth $1) 
and guarantee them to fruit all 
summer and fall, or money 
refunded. Catalogue with his¬ 
tory FREE if you write today. 
THE GARDNER NURSERY CO 
Box \62 OSAGE, IOWA 
Burbank 
CACTUS, LOGAN BERRIES, OLIVES, ORANGES, 
LEMONS, PALMS, ROYAL PLUMCOT, and 
everything grown in a first-class nursery — whole¬ 
sale and retail. 
POST CARDS AND ADVERTISING SPECIALTIES. 
CASH NURS., SEBASTAPAL, CALIP. 
TRADE DIRECTORY 
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY PLANTS 
The W. E. Allen Company, Salisbury, Md., is offering 
New 1914 Edition Price $3.00, Postpaid 
NATIONAL NURSERYMAN PUB. CO. Inc., 
ROCHESTER, - - - N. Y. 
When writing to Advertisers please mention The National Nurseryman. 
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