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7

ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY

NEW YorK STATE COLLEGES
OF
AGRICULTURE AND Home EcoNomIcs

AT

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Cornell University Libra
363.2.U5M34

‘wig

Cornell University

The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003408261

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wee

THE APPLE IN WESTERN MARYLAND.
Ho Osrewme nts Lor deg ree not
. Thesis

by
Fdaward L. lWarkelil.

SPS I

Gan

Com fp ‘eled

Earl. History of the Apple,

The apple tree is included in the naturel family cf
nilents @@ lied Reseceur, far tie race. the type of the fanily,
comprising most of the fruits grown in the temperate zone.
Fotanists are agreed that «11 the varieties of the apple have
been derived from the wild crab apple of the wcods and hedge
rows, and are therefore artificial productions, the resuit cr

Sskiliful selection, breeding and cultivation, being succept-

ie})

ble of indefinite improvement, and of an increase of variet-
les without Limit.

Pyrus Melus, the common name of the apple, is derived
from the Greek aplios, the Celtic api, and the Saxon mpei, each
signifving a Iruit. The original erab ia arrnend with smaii
thorns, the leaves ere wsually small and serrave, the fruit
small and exceedingly acrid, and indiginous to most parts of
Furope. It is not known positively from whence the Europeans
derived the cultivated apple, “ut it was probably from Asia,
the home oF Pest of Cur Native Triate,

“here can be little doubt that the apple was known in
England hefore the political conquest of the Romans. Twenty

nine varieties vere k Ttaly at the time of the Christ-

|
°
<
(i)
=
bes

¢jin era, and this number was greatly increased by the time of
the Roman Conquest. Pliny makes the following statement in
regard to the apple industry, "there are many apple trees in

the villages near Rome, that let for the yearly sum edch, of

2900 sesterces (about $50), some of them yielding more pror-
its to the owners than a small farm. A careful study of fruit
crowing was made at this time which led to the invention of
erafting.
Vireil. writese
-"Graft the tender shoots,
finr children's children shalt enjoy the fruit.*
Professcr BK, FE, Van Deman cutlines the development cf the
apple industry in the Tnited States as follcws,-~
"With tie first white settlers who landed on the shores
ef America were brought the fruits they had in their old homes
across the sea. Chief amcng these was the apple, which to
them was like a part of those very oid Homes. Vhey haa grown
this fruit, and so had their favhers Tor generations betore
then trom which to make cider chiefiy, The old homesteads <f
Fngland, france, Germany, and to a ssmali ex'.ent those of
neignbsering cewmtries had their celiars storea. With musty bar~
rele of the the hardest cf cider, and to Keep Up & 21ke suppiy
in their homes in the new worla, was the main reason for
planting appie orcnard here, J.ittle thought was then given to
the consumption of epples in the tousands of ways that we now
use them, and least of all as a disser fruit. There were then
ne juicy Jonathans, eromatic Grimes, spicy Spitzenburgs cr

melting Primates. The apples cf that day were mostly small,

scur and forbidding to the taste, except as the juice was ex-
pressed nd allewed to ripen into an aicohelic drink. The art
of budding and grafting was then but little known and practisea
Still less. Wor the most part seedlings sufficed, for anything
thet would fill the cider barrell was good enough.

"As the civilization of the American Colonies progressed,
fhe apple orchards vere extended, but not only in sige and
Numbers, but in quality of their Truitt. Prom hard cider, the
beverages were changed in some degreeto the more ineenuiried
"apple jack”, an eve Veatering brandy, iresn from tne nmeignpor=
hood stills, wntil at beecane an articie of export. Apple but-
ter pot to be as common in the household economy as bacon. ‘this
required good apples and the seedlings grew less and less sat-
isfying and grafting grew apace. The rich mellow Fall Pi, en
and its like, was in.demand for thickening the boiling cider ‘
in +re great copper kettles hung over log fires in the making of
t’e toothsome apple butter. Dried apples becarnie an euuaily Lop-
vlar erticle of diet, and invaded the public market, Ali of this
called for better apples and niore or them, The climate and soil
of North America seemed to be the icng looked for Paradise tiat
+he old werld apple had becn seeking vor centuries, ia which
to flecurish and come into its intended supremacy as the fruit
of the temperate zones, The varieties thought to be good were

changed to still better ones, until now we have the best in: ail

the wide world. Tn no other country are there such apples found

as grow here . And the territory is by no means restricted;

for apple crehards flourish from the Atlantic to the Pacific,"
Notwithstanding the almcst universal cultivaticn of the

apple in +he temperate acne, it will be generally admitted

that lecation and soil affect both quantity and quality. Coxe,

one of ~he earlies writers on American Pomology, tiaintainea

that “the middie states are most favorable to the producticn

of fine table apples and cider. It will probably be found tnat

the River Mohawk, on the north and the River James on the South

form the limit @f that district of the country which proauces

apples of that degree of richness and fievor for both purposes,

T~ will not be denied shat apples grow well in tne intericr

and elevated parts of the Southern States, as «ell as in the

favorable exposures in the Nerthern and Eastern, Host cf the
fine varieties have been produced within these limits, Handsome
and fsir apples are grown in Naine and Novia Scotia, but they
de not posess the fine flavor of the apples of the middle
States. The same is true of thé apple orchards produced in the
Plains cf Georgia and the hilis of St. Domingo. Cold and heat
are equally necessary to the production of fine apples, - nei-
ther predominating in soo great a degree."

The preceeding parafraph clearly shows that the natural

(~4~)

advantages of the eastern pert of the United States for fruit
erowing purposes were realized as eaily as the first part of
the nineteenth century. The cultivatiou of the apple in the
southern part of this section, hdwever, did not keep apace
with the advancing civilization. The following letter printed
in Hover's VNarazine in the year loss, gives an admirable des-
crintion of conditions that lasted until comparatively recent
vears in Nervlend,

"Tn a brief newspaper account of the late Horticultural
Exhibition at Foston, which has fallen under my eye, it has
been see with surprise and admiration that apples and pears
are cultivated in that vecinity in greater variety than most
people suppose to exist in all of the world. How different are
the tastes and habits of your people, in «his respect, from
those wlio reside soutn of the Chesapeake, where estates of 900
or even a 1000 acres, exnibit no sign of anything Lixe system-
atic horticulture. Instead of one hunared ana firty two varietie
eof pears, and twenty six sorts of apples, as presented by Mr.
Manning of Salem, it is by no means uncommon to find in he
south large estates vithout a single choice pear cr paliatabiec
apple on then.

"True, vou may see some of them near the old family man-
sions, the stumps and decaying remnants of large old orchards

(-5-)

acd there too, vou may trace the faint cutlines of extensive
gardens gone to utter ruin,

"Before the Revolution, and even arter that time, our
ancestors continued, as it would seem from mere force of habit,
to plant fruit, but even that habit has died away in the boasted
"march of intéllect"..Very few think now of planting anything ,
the fruit of which can not be enjo;ed in less tian ten or fif-
teen vears, and the trees that are planted are rer the most
partahbandoned, as fondlings b: their unnetural paren:s, without
care or culture, exposed to 211 of the buffetings and peitings
Of tee pi~iless storm, and other ills that trees, as. well es
flesh are “heirs to”,

The conditions described above, lasted throught this
recion until comparatively recent years. Tne industry had gone
into a rut, and was destined to remain there until modern scien-
tific methods werr applied te uplirt 1%, ard place 1% upon a
seund tasis, Tithin the past twenty five years, there nis been
an alrost complete revoluticn in the culfivaticn of Truit. Tie
dev of t:e ignorant farmer, with his improvinent careiess metn-
ods , and his large acerage of inproperiy eared fer land, 15
fast becoming a thing of the past. His place is being taken
by the educated man who appiies te the profession of modern
agriculture and horticulsuré improved and se1éntirfic methods,
that enable them to make a fortune on a small fracticn of the

(-5-)

aceragre of tac farmer cr veaterday., The application of sound
business principles has been combined with the require::cnts
of scientific horticulture, and this has resuited in an indus-=

trv of creat profit, and undoubted stabilit:.

Conditions in Western ‘iaryasvud,

VYhere has been very Littie known untii recent yesrs of tle
horti¢uitural possibilities which exist in cervein <eetions of
Western HNaryland, particuleriy in some or the mountainous dis-
tricts. There is evidence everywhere, hovever, that the possi-
bilities are great, especially in the development of the apple
industry, fhe soil over a large portion of this region is well
adapted to apple growing. Videly scattered over the territcr;
are numerous seedling epple trees- rieny of which are over uw
hund~ed vears old- as hardy end vigorous «#s an oak. All throush
some of these sections grow impenetrable thickets of wild
crab apple (P-rus coronaria) and h wthorn, So rank is its
prowte and so abundant 2s ite fruit, that one can not help
from noticing it when riding past. Where the native ewpple grows
so abundantiv, it seems strange that commercial fruit growing
has not sooner become an important industry. The explanation
however, is obvious, Nearly every farm in these sections have
nad orchsrds for generations past. There are aimost numberless
sien orchards, varying in Size trom 90 to 200 er S00 Litees,
and in some cases as many as 600 or s00 trees, Tle most of tnese
orchards recieved no care, cr at best, only indifferent atten-
tion; the fruit wass as a whole correspondingly poor and tore
than that, there seened ta be only a. slight disposition on

(-8-)

the part of the growers to market their product. The major-
ity of them did not seem to realize that their orchards might
be made a source of income. One of the old farmers, living
south of Mountein hake Park, has at least eight hundred apple
trees. He reported some time ago, that his orchard had been
there for forty eight years, and in ail of that time failed
but trice te give good crops, Yet le marketed twc wagontloads
Snivy, one ror the cider mill, and one for the local merchant
for "store goods." In many cases the trees seem to have been
stuck in the ground and left there to fight it out as best
they could. An orchard was seldom cuitivuted, but was generally
Filthv with weeds and refuse. in most cases the urchards were
never trimmed, "he trees were large, stocky, lichen covered,
and with such bushy tops, that scarceiy any suniight could
enter, Spraying seemed to be unheard of, Yeu, dispite this,
the trees were sturdy and they bore wonderful crops of fruit.
Here and there, however, an orchard was given some attention,
and its responce to this treatment was only indicative of what
might be expected if a first class system of orchard manage-
ment were adopted.

Tie elevation in Western Marylandranges from 500 feet
or more in Alleghany County to 2000 or S000 feet in parts
of Garrett County. In the latter regions, the climatic con-~

(9)

ditions are, in some respecte, not unlike the climatic con-
ditions in some of the apple sections further morth, In fact,
many of the varieties which are most satisfactory in these
nothern regions are the ones which are the most pieasing in
in the highly ekevated portions of Western !'sryland.

The Baldwin apple is a specific example. In Garrett
county, the behavior of this apple is not unlike its behavicr
in the northern sections. Over practically the remainoer of
MNarvland, the Baldwin is a poor fall apple.

In allegany county, where the elevation is much less
than it is further west, the conditions, as indicated bv the
behavior of menv varieties of fruits is intermediate between
fre extreme western part of the state, -nd the cdastal plain.
Yet, the presence of enormousiy large seedling apple trees
and an abundance of native crabs, give evidence cf a natural
adaptability Gf this fruit.

“Vestern Marviland is in the mids of one of the greatest
anple districts in the eastern part of tne United States. It
is not far from the world famed Albemarle Pippen section of
Virginia, and it is in the same general section that Iir. John
Miller has his famous York Imperial orchard. It is largely
through the success of the [filler Brothers in their peach and
apple undertakings, that an impetus was given to the apple

(+10-)

industry, not cniy in Maryland, but in the adjoining states

as well. The industry is still in its infancy, and is probably
less develéped in Merviand than in Virginia and West Virginia.
The goppertunities are just as great in Western liar; land, how-
ever, and the people are rapidly awakening to « realization of
them.

"he apple soils of this region are composed chieriy of
gravel, the result of the breaking down of shaie, mixed with
clay from a further decompositien of the same shale, and
with a small percentage of sand.

fre price of land for orchard »surposes varies with the
character of tne soil. Brush land, which when cleared will
produce good orchards, can be had for from wi0.00 to wel5.00
per acre. It casts from yib.00 to 920.00 to clear such land
at the Lowest estimzetes, Cleared land ranges in price from
$15.90. to $60.00 per acre, while Land upon which crchards are ¢
prowing, 18 hard to buy, and is held et from ¢74,00 to y200.00
per acre. Trese prices readily sugpest that the value of the
orehard land is iittile realized in this iecality. Nany invest-
ors have taken advantage of this oppertunity, and have bought
_large areas, upon which they are promoting orchard develop-
ments. The value of land in tnese sections is rapidiy rising,
and is destined tc rise even more rapidly within a few years

z (-11-)

4
ts

<a oe sigehen
ty aE eee ns

when the new plantings begin tc bring in their sarge returns.

The cultivation of the erchards is largely governed by
the character of the soil upon which they are planted, In
some sec“ions, all hill orthards are kept in sod, Semetimes
this is eut for hay, but more often, it is pasvured by hogs
er sheep. The lowland orchards are frequentl, cultivated in
erdinary farm crops such GS corn, po atees, or melons. In. the
Western section, clean cultivation, with buekrneat or rye as »
a cover crop is the rule,

Little attention is paid to the use of commercial fert-
jlisers in the apple regions, and barnyard manure is seidom
used,

ihe apples ef this Stite de not sulfer to any great

extent from insect enemies. The vers common pests of the tree
and fruit are the only ones worthy of mention, The apple tree
suffers Trom borers in the tree and at the root. Trunk borers
are both the common round headed and flat headed together
with Scolytus rugulosus, The wooly aphis is cne of tne worst
rests in voung stock. The foliage suffers greatest damage
from the green aphis , particularly upon young trees. The
tent caterpiller is the most annoying upon older trees, In-
sects troubling the fruit of the apple are few outside of the

(-12-)

codling moth. The curculio is less injurious in this region
than in lew York,

The diseases attacking the apple are chiefly the blight o
of the twigs, the rust of the fruit, branches and leaves, and
the scab in leaves and rruit. The ieaves also suffer from
hrown spot (Phyllosticta pirina), in some of the higher loc-
alities.

This brief sketch of conditions as they ~xist in Western
Marvland gives some idea of how naturally well adapted to the
culture of the apple this secticn cf the country has always
been. More rapid advancement along horticuitural lines in
this section of the countrywas largely prevented by coal min-
ing and other commercial industries that cccupied the atten-
tien of the pecple of Western Maryland, Fruit organizations
were overlcoked, and each grover was left to hunt a market
for his products. At present, however, the people are not
only plavting laree orchards, but they have organized strong
companies which are fast transforming the wild, ragged, brush
covered mountain tops into beautiful and profitable orchards,
Cold storage has been recieving attention of late, and many
frowers are pa&@nning storage facilities. Spraying is becoming
more ceneral, and the commercial orchards are, as a rule,
recieving several applications. Orchard anda nursery inspection

- (#13-)

is now being given careful attention, Picking, grading, anda
packing the fruit does not recieve the attention it merits,
and for this reason ricre than any other, the fruit gives far

from maximum returns,

Generel Characteristics of tne Regicn.

“he section of the state, commoniv known as Western
Marvland, consists cf the three counties, Washington, Aliegh-
anv, «end Garrett. “his region is largely broken up by tnree
mountain ranges, the Blue Ridge, the Appalachain/ and the
Alleghany. The Blue Ridge, in the eastern part, is tne lowest
of the three mountains, Tt consists of a series of rolling
ridges, many of which are not over 500 feet above sea level,
Thés region is devoted to general farming, and fruit growing
is not commercially important, Eetween the rlue nidge and
the Appalachain Mountains is a broad valley, extending from
Virginia Through Marvland and up inte Pennsvlvania. This val-
lev affords excellent farming lend, but is not well adapted
to fruit frowing. The Appalachain Range is about fifty miles
wide in Western Marviland, end consists cf numerous ridges,
ravine on aitituee af Inno feet or over, The valleys between
these ridges sre usually not more than a mile: and a half to
three Miles wide, and Post of them rit north and south, or
are turned slishtly to the Fast of west. The elevation of tre
vallevs is about 500 feet, These veileys are generally smooth
and rerular, with an average prade dr about ©.2 pereent, The
Slope of the valley sides ts naturally so:iewhat greater, but

(15-)

in most cases the slope in all directions wiil not exceen an
averace of ) percent, It was chiefly alcnr these mountain
Sites * at

sides that manv of the farous peach orchards of Mryiand flow
ished a fe. vears ago, and many that have survived the attacks
of the vellows are still thriving in this section, Apple cr-
chards ere heing set out in many parts of this region, and the
prospects are that within a few years all cf the best land
for the purpose will have been purchased fer orchard planting
er for Sneculetion. *. Mertens Sons, of Cumberland, laryland,
have invested in a large area of land in the Green Ridge Vai-
lev, and thev are planting thousands of peach and apple trees
every vear, This vallev is located in the eastern ridge of
Alleghany county,and occupies almost the entire area, from
the boundary line of the state of Pennsvivania, in the north,
to the Patomac river , in the south, Not far from here, near
Handcoch, is the Tonolowav Orchard Company. lir. Cohill, whu
organized this company, has been growing apples in this sec-
tion for a number of years, «nd has been very successful.

This company has twelve hundred acres under its controi, seven
hindred of which are already planted with 51,000 trecs, The
Alleghany mountains, in the extreme western part of the stat
heave the greatest altitude ef the three ranres, Some cf its

(-16-)

ridges are 5,000 feet, or more, above sea level, Their sides
are not too steep for orehrrds, and many excellent locations
for commercial apple growing industries may be founa in this
region. The western ridge, between tre torder of Western Mery-
land and West Virginiz, has been purchased, «and is being rap-
idly cleared and pir-ntea with fruit trees, About 00,000 peach
and apple trees have been set out here within the past Live
years.

The soils of Western iiaryland are chiefly of Limestone
roigin, and may be dividea into two distinct types, accvrding
to their location, The soils of the valley are renerally cla.
shale, cr slate loams, or mixtures of this, ~he agricul .ural
value of these scils differs considerably. “he slate soils a
are considered practically wortnless, The clay and shale loams
in tyre vallevs, nd on the mountains are very productive, anda
sre highly esteemea for fruit growing, as well as for general
agricultural purposes. The soiis of the greates importance
for fruit growing are those on the mountain ridges, which are
chiefly three distinct types, Hagerstown stony loam, Porter's
stony loam, and Cecil loam.

Hagerstown stony loam consists of a medium brown loam,
which is about eight inches deep, Occassionally the amount
of fine sand is sufficient to give the soil the cheracteror

(oats)

a Tine loan, but such cases -re of small extent, The subsoil
consists cf a heavy vellow loam which grades inty ¢lay loam
af an averace depth of thirty inches, The mmount of stones
present in both surface and subescil varies greatiy. From 25
to 40 percent of chert, quartzite, end hardened sandstone, a
are commoniy Tound, and the amount is greater than this in
lecal patches. Some of the ridges are covered to such an
extent with chert, tnrat no fine soil can be seen, Apple trees
are reported to do particularly well in tnese localities,
They grow very vigorously and bear at an early age. The Hager:
town stony loam is derived from a cherty form of limestone,
and thre principal part of the stone content of the soil cone
sists of fragments of chert which were originally imbedded in
fhe parent limestone rock, These solls, where the toporraphy
is such as +o secure good drainage, are best adapted to the
production of apples and peaches.

ine surface soil of the Porter's stony loam consists cf
lient to heavy brown loam, or occessionally clay loam from
eipet fo twelve irches deen, “ne immediate subsoil is heavy
loam, ut with increasing depth, this material grades into «
clar loam which usually extends to « depth of thirty six
imehes, toaovehn in places if is replaced b= a light red e@elay

(-18~)

af a derth of thirty inches, The st¢ne content varies wicely,
The nost level portions contain from ®9 to 50 percent of
rneissfrernents, quartz, conglomerate, etc., but with few
larre stones, The gneiss frag:ents are usuatiy small, and
because of their presence, this soil is usually termed, "Mau-
nrain Gravel land", The ridges and steep slopes are ore
ston’ than the more level areas, and tne iatter often lead

+o rougpner land on the hirner slopes or tops of the nills and
ridges, “‘umerous patches of rock outcrop, or rough ston; land
are often fcund scattered a bout the steepest parts of this
land, Alon-~ Green Ridge, such areas occur as a strip along
‘he on, ouveroapping ere “md *nere in arrecilar series, “ihe
HOpOrrAP IIe TEBSAres of the Teepe wre Men Gi versivieds In fere
eral, Its “oderively, or steeniy roiling surface is much
broken oy m- nv steep sided hills and ridrees, the tops and up-
per surfaces cf wnich hn: ve been mapped usually as rough stony
land. Good surface drainage is provided ror tnis tyve by its
position, and in the Steeper pinces, the draivace is often
excessive, In these places siight washing results, and the
creps are unable to withstand tne drouth, This tyre vf soil
seens emminentiv adapted to the production of zpples and pea-

enes, Te trees thrive, and fruit ef excellent quality is pre

(-19-)

duced.

The surface soil of the Cecil loai, to an average depth
of ten inches consists of heavy red loam or clay loam, The
subsoil consists of light red clay loam or clay, which usual-
ly prades heavier in texture with increasing depth., but in
places if. begins to grow lighter at a depth of thirty inches,
and grades gradually into a mass of disintegrated ruck, Both
soil and Sub-SOil often contain a uarge percentage of stones
end boulders. Where not too numerous, the boulders have becn
removed and used in the constructionuf fences about tne fielas
Surface drainage is so rapid in most places where this soii
is found that washing often occurs on cultivated land. The b&
subsoil is so retentive of moisture, however, that the type
seldom suffers from drouth. The least stony areas are weil
suited to the prowing of apples, and where well drainea, cfrer
eood oppertunities for the profitable development of the in-
dustry.

"he red appearance of many of the soils of Western Hary-
land is due to the presence of a large amount of iron.

The mean annual temperature in Western Maryland, as
established by records extending over aperiod of thirty seven
yearsis 51.5 derrees. Through the period of observation, the

(20-)

Lowest tempereture recorded was -19 degrees, and the highest
199 degrees, By a remarkable coincidence, tiie temperature is
almost identical with that of Hcod Rivew., Each alse recoras
the exact same minimum and maximum temperature, The mean

tenpersture averages in Western Marviland for the same months

were:
January 39,8 July ied
Februarv 32.2 August Lise
: are 38.0 September 64.2
April 50,5 Oc7cber Stee.
Paar @S 69,9 November 41,4
June 70,1 December 50,5

During the long days of the growing seascn rrom May

ist te October Slst, this region enjoys an excellent divis-
tien of sunshine and rain, The complete reecurd for the year
1909 will serve as an iliustration. During this whole season
ef 183 days there were 58% days upon which rain fell, Leaving
125 dry days, thus giving the region every benéfit that could
be desired, both as to the amount of sunshine and -10isture,
ae

. the average rainfall over the center of this area, as

establisned by and unbroken record of twenty four years, is

(-?1)

“°,8° inches a vear. The nean averages for each month of tue

year fcr she same time show:

January 2.165 inches July 5,86 inches
February 2,57 " August “09 "
March 0 s Seplemver. 27k "
Aprit 2 ead " October 2 4) i
May 3.30 " Neveriber: 2,17 u
June oy " December 2,20 i

This shows a well distributea annual rainfail, with a
maximum during the su;nmer months and a mininun during the
winter months. The actual number vf days throught the year
1999 upon which rain fell was 11”.

During the leng period cf vears in which observations
have been recorded, seaasnalle frosts have rarely been
known, and when they have occurred, thay were, with fev exe
ceptions, net of sufficient severity to endanger tne apple
erep. 28 leoking to tne future, it is a safe assertich tras
the trees will never be endangered, Judging from the recsrds
of the past thirty seven vears, late spring frosts way vccur
at. very rere intervals anc endanger thé fruit crap, but this
is a condition that is common to all fruit srowing sections,

(~22-)

The fruit, however, can readily be protected against frist
in any case by the smudging process so widely practised in
western orchard sections, where its use every-season is a
necessity. The latest unseasonable frost recorded in spring
was “av 12th, and the earliest in autumn September 23d,

Soil and air drainage have been carefully investigated
in many sections of Western Maryland, and have been pronounc-
ed excellent for fruit growing purposes, especially in hilly

anc mountainous sections,

Suggestions Regardthg Orchard Management,

Tt is practically impossible for any one to formulate a
set cf rules that will enable a grower to realize tha largest
possible profits from his orchard, The personal element det-
erm-ines success or failure in any line cf industry, ana where
this £&S absent, the results are doubtful, The general prin-
ciples and practices apply to most cases, and they must be
thoroughly understood by everyone who wisBs to make a success
of fruit growing, they must be applied together with special
practices,

Well grown one or two year old treew are the best for
“Narviand. One vear old trees have certain decided advantages
ever two vear old trees, They are cheap:r, easier to handle,
and thev may be headed where desired, Apple trees should be
headed low, and from three to five branches should te sel-
ected to form the foundation branches, These branches should
be at least five or six inches apart, and weil piaced, so as
to form a symmetrical top. Nurserymen usually cut off these
branches in growing higher headed trees, Unless a two year
old tree has been headed low in the nursery, it is usually
necessary to force the development of new main branches i1cw
on the trunk, and these are not always well placed, In addit-
ion to this is the factor of price which is wortiy cf cunsia-

(-24-)

*: a = we
BAO a Les

eretion.

Pudded trees seem preferable to root grafted ones,
because the danger from crown gall is greater in the latter
type. The necessary cuts made in root grafting prove easy
points of infection for the spores of this disease.

ixcept in the ver. cotdest parts of the state fall
planting is reccommended, and for several reasons, The
weather is usually good at this time of the year, and the
trees can be planted out as late as the last of November, or
the first of December, Other work is not heavy at this time
af the year, and labor is not scarce. The trees become well
established in the ground during the winter, and get an
earlier start in the spring. The danger of other work or
bad weather delaying spring planting is overcome,

{tf spring plenting can be done early, it is entirely
satisfactory, and late planting is better than no planting
at all. “Pe point is te de the planting in the fall, or
before the growth starts én the spring,

Most of the Maryland scils will grow gocd large trees,
and forty feet apart each way is about therright distance
for planting, thus requiring twenty seven trees te tne Bere.

These are the permanent trees, and since it will be many

(-25-)

vears before they will neea ail of the ground, a temporary
tree, or "filier", mey be set between each two permanent
trees in the row, :nd also a filler row between each. two
permanent rovs. This arrangement makes the trees twenty feet
apart each way, and requires 1038 trees per acre, The planting
arrangement is subject to a great manyimodifications and may
be adapted to a great diversity of conditions,

The roots of the young trees should be pruned somewhat
before thev are set cut. All injured wood should be 1 emoved,
and the remainder of the roots cut back to a length ef from
three to four inches.

if a one year old whijy is planted, it sheuid be cut
bach very severely in the spring. Branches are selected later
to form the framework. The pruning of a two year old tree
is different. Select from three to five branches well distri-
buted around the trunk at different heights, tc form the main
branches. Cut these back from one hava to two thirds, depend-
ing upon variety characteristics, ete, Maxeé the cuts close
to an outside bud to facilitate healing, ana to open up the
head. If the tree is to be headed low, the first of the main
branches shoudd be twe reet or less from the ground. If it is

to be high headed, the first branches should be three of

four feet from fhe ereund.

"he low headed trees have the advantage over the high
headed ones in being easier to s;ray, prune and gather fruit
from. They are less liable to injury from heavy winds, and
the dropped fruit will be less bruised, The fruit wiil coior
and ripen as well on low trees as on high ones,

In planting the trees in mellcow and weil prepared soil
the holes need be only deep enough to recieve the tree ease-
ily. In hard ground or sod the hole shouid be three feet or
more in diameter, and deep enough to set the tree two inches
or more below the point at which it stocd in the nursery row.

The tap soil and subsdil shovld be placed in seperate piles,

and the top soil placed in the hole first. The soil should be
well worked among the roots and firmed by tramping with the
feet. “he hole shoutd be well filled withthe subsoil placed
on top. A little loose soil should be sprinkied on top in
spring planting to act as a mulch to retain the moisture,

Tf the trees can not be planted as soon as they are
recieved from the nursery, they should be heeled in et cnce,
Tnis consists in digging a trench in which to stand or recline
the trees, and shoveiing earth over the rocts and a part of
the trunk. This keeps the roots from drying out until the

+

(-27-)

trees are wanted for planting.

mhe pruning cpperations recommended for young trees in
Maryland are as follows:

lst vear- This consists of the pruning done when the
trees are planted, but if an; new shoots tend to make the
tree unsymmetrical the tips should be cut off in. summer to
check their growth. “his summer pinching of unsymmetrical
shoots should be done whenever necessary in the following
vearB.

end vear=- Cut out all surplus branches, and prune back
the foundation branches from one third to one haif of tnéir
growth, making the tree symmetrical, and leaving the central
shoot longer than the others. Avoid the formaticn of cretcnes
as they @re sure to split down vith a load of fruit, and
ruin the trees,

3rd year- Prune as much as mentioned for tise second
year. If twigs have grown on the foundation branches near
the trunk do not touch them except to cut back to one or two
buds to induce the formation of fruit spurs. This may need
to be done several times during the summer, Do not Let two
branches rub or cross, but remove one cf them.

(~28-)

4th veer, and following- Until the trees begin to bear
the foundation branches should be cut back annually to make
them short and strong to support heavy loads of fruit without
preaking down. After fruiting begins, not much pruning is
necessarv except to thin out excess growth and kee, the Bead
well enough opened to let the sunlight in and permis all of
the fruit te become well colored.

In cutting or sawing a limb from the trunk, cr a small
limb from a larger one, the cut should be made close up to
the surface from which it is removed, so as not to leave a wu
Stub. Wounds made by proper pruning neal over readily, but
stubs seldom heal over, but they decay, and lead the decay i
inte the trunk, tus wetkening und eventually Killing it.

Wherever the orchard land in Maryland is not too steep,
intensive cultivation should be practised, It should be piow-
ed in he spring, as soon as the land is in good plowing
condition, and then be thoroughl: harrowed to work the soil
into good tilth. Every ten days or two weeks the harrow
should be run over the ground to loosen it up, unless a heavy
rain has packed it down in the meantime when it should be
harrowed as soén as dry enough. The point is to maintain a
fine loose dust mulch on the surface cf the soil to prevent

whe (-29-)

the evaporation of soil moisture.

This harrowing or cultivating shoula be continued until
about the first of August when as soon as weather conditions
are favorable, the seed for the cover crop shouid be sown,
The commercial fertilizer, if used, should be applied and
worked into the soil just before the cover crop is sown, In
this wav the cover crop gets the immdiate effect of the fer-
£11izers and when the cover crop is plowed under the fclliow-
ing spring it soon decays and makes available plant food for
the trees. The cover crop thus chec.:s the loss by leaching,
and renders the plant foods in a much more evailable form
for the use of the trees the folleving year. The cultivation
for the succeeding years it about the same as thas suggested
for the first vear.

In verv hilly or mountainous sections, this complete
cannot safely be adopted in the orchards on account of serious
washing away cr the soil. It mav he necessary to plow strips
eight or ten feet wide along the rows in tne spring, and
cultivate these until August when the middles may be plowed,
the fertilizers applied, and the cover crop sown. A cever crop
used successfully in Western Maryland is a mixture of crimson

(-50-)

and red clover. The crimson clever grows rapidly in the spring
and after it blooms and dies: down on the unplowed middles,

the red clever takes its place, thus making a live cover crop
until the ground is plowed in preparation for the fall sewing.

Tt is a goed practise to grow sore early maturing hoed
crop between the rows of young trees until they come inte
bearing, but extra fertilizer or manure must be applied for
this crop so the trees will not be injured. Such crcps as
early potatoes, tomatoes, melons, sweet corn, and anythig
that is no» late maturing is best. Late cultivation for late
maturing crops may cause late growth on the trees, and if
this growth fails to mature it may be winter kilied,

After the trees are in good bearing, the orchara ought |
not to be planted to any other crop, Most varieties will tear
fruit five or six vears after planting and usually a profit-
able crop is produced two or three years later, The age of
pearing varies with varieties and location.

Small grains lixe wheat, rye,or oats, should never be ais
lowed to mature in the orchard, because they require so much
moisture which they use at the expense of the trees, Yfurther-
more, thev cannot be cultivated so as to prevent the loss

(+31-)

of moisture by evaporation,

In a few favored localities, orchards do well in sod.
There must be plenty of moisture so that neither trees nor
gress will suffer. Usually sheep or hogs are pastured in
these orcherds and they add considerable fertilizer to tiie
soil. Hogs root up the ground more or less, thus cultiv:iting
it in patches, but this is expensive cultiv:' tion, If the grass
recomes large enough it is cut and allowed to remain where
it falls. Sod culture is not recemmended for l’aryland where
it can he avoided.

Muleh culture is a great improvement over sod culture.
Tn this svstem not only the grass growing ¢n the graund is
cut and allowed to remain, but a large amount of straw, man-
ure and other coarse material is addea to form a heavy muich
especially under the trees,

Tt is impossibie to say what is the best fertilizer to
use because it all depends upon the age of the trees, condit-
fon of the orchard, the kind of scil, and the treatment it
has recieved for several years. Some soils are rich in pot-
ash and dificient in phosphoric acid, while others are just
the reverse, Stable manure in large amounts is aiways accept-

able, unlessthe trees are making a rank growth. Cover crops

add much plant food and humus to the soil and are necessary.
Commercial fertilizers ave depended upon to supply what is
Still needed. Tf a regular svstem of fertilizing and cover-
cropping is followed, the fertilizer ought to be applied when
the ground is fitted for the cover crop seed in August. In
other practices it should be applied eariy in the spring. A
well regulated system of cover cropping should, in most cases
supply all of the plant food elements necessary, without the
application of the commercial fertilizers.

Straying is a hitherto much neglected opperation in
Maryland, tut its importance is beng recognized, and many of
the srowers are spraying their orchards carefully, It is
bevond the scepe of this article tc go inte the detaiis of
Spraying, bwt 8 idea ¢f the value of this prectise sicy be
geined from the following article taken from Bulletin Number
14° of the Mervland Arricultural Experiment Station.

"The profits from spraving are even harder to estimate
than the cost of the operation. In “he experimental orchard
et VMarshell Hall in 1908, the crop of apples frem the unspray-
ed trees was negligeble, scarcely worth. the picking, while on
the trees spraved, even those which recieved but ¢ single

(=3%-)

treatment, the crop was, in spite of the fact the trees were
small and the blossoms very light, worth two and a half dol-
lars per tree, Previous to this time the owners had not real-
ized anvthing from the orchard.

"The vield of apples obtained from the sprayed trees in
the orchard cf the station, is at least double that from the
unspraved trees, and when, as in the case here, tne yieid per
tree ts in the neighberhocd of ten bushels on the sprayed tr
trees, the profits from spraying are easily above two dollars
per tree. In several «cf the Gemonstratvion orchards, the prof
its were even more marked than these given abeve,.

In an oreherd where thare aré forty trees. per acré, with
an ocutlay of less than twenty cents per tree or eight dollars
per acre, the orchard can be made to pay from eighty toa
hundred dollars more than it weuld otherwise neve peaia, No ve
one can doubt the wisdom of the investment. The average farn-
er would not hesitate to invest a like amount in fertilizers
for His crops, if he were sure of a preporticnate increase
in the vield. The orchardist cannet negiect spraying any
more then he can allow his fields to go unfertilizea,"

It is well said thet half of the profits of fruit grow-

(=-34-)

ing ‘epend upon the manner in which the crou is handled at
harvesting time. The fruit should be allowed to remain on the
tree until it i8 Tully grown and tell colored, *na the’ great-
est care should be exercised in picking it. The apple should
be removed from the tree by a rolling and bending motion, ana
not jerled. Careless picking distroys many fruit spurs, and
injures tie ir ait Ge bruising, If the eteéems are pulled out,
the Skins broken, or the Flesh bruised in any was, the fruit
will not keep vwelj and its value is greatly reducea, All of
the work in connection with the handling of the fruit shoulda
be most carefully supervised.

Picking baskets of oll descriptions are manufactured
€or pickings the freit im, ond mest of them serve the purpese
very well, The main precaution abcut using a basket is to
see that it is well padded te prevent the bruising of the
apples during picking. Pickers frequently prefer to use sacks
instead of baskets, and there are numerous styles of these.
Most of these, however, are too bulky to handie easily, and
the fruit is often severly bruised by crushing them against
the ladder. Paiis for picking are very popular in some of the

apple sections of the west, and they are weil adapted for

handling the very fancy varieties of fruit.

The very best fruit should be packed in boxes us it io
in the west. The commission men and city dealers advise again-
s+*it, because there is not as much money in the bushel box
for them es in the barrel. Nevertheless, the box should be
used snd forced upon them. It is certainly the coming pack
for fanev eastern apples. The second grade apples, and those
to be used for culinary purposes may yell be packed in the

barrel.

(-36-)

Varieties of Apples for Western Maryiand,.

The list of apples reported to be adapted to and wsuc~
cessfully grown in “estern Maryland is very large. Over one
hundred and fifty different varieties of prize wimning appies
are recorded tc have been exhibited by orchardists in this
section withing the past five years. The foliowing list of
varieties and number of trees planted wili give scone idea cf
the chief commercial varieties and their relative importance.
This is a list of the trees planted by the Tonoloway Orchard
Company up to the fall of 1910, This if one of the largest

erchards in Marvland.

Variety “rees Vorjety Trees

Yellow “ransparent 3000 J]Duchess of Olden. 5590

Wo, Marly Red 1000 Red Astrichan 600

Summer Rambo 16000 hicIntosh 500

wealthy 291) £000 Jonathan 6000
Yellow Bellflower 1000 ~—s- Grimes 7000
Winesap 2000 Staynan 1000
Baldwin 4000 Ben Davis 5000
Rome Beauty L000 York Imperial 12000

From the above iist one would have no @aifficulty in selecting

(<37=)

the varieties that are best adapted to the section in which
this orchard i8 lecated.

The following is a list of the varieties that are author-
atively classified as well adapted to successful cultivation
in +his region. “his includes all of the stanaard commercial
varieties, and the most popular of the non-commercial variet-
ies.

Varieties that can. be grown successfully:

Akin Boiken
Alexander Buckingham

Anerican Summer Pearmain

Carter Blue
Arkansas Black

Chenango Strawberry

Bailey Sweet Colton
Baldwin Cox Orange
Baverd Delicious
Beach Dominie

Ben Davis
Early Harvest

Pismark

Early Ripe
Riack Ben Davis

Early Strawberry
Blue Pearmain

English Red Streak

(-36-)

Esopus Spitzenburg. Lady

Lady Sweet
Falawater

Lavver
Fall Pippen

Longfield
Fall Wine

Lowell
Vameuse

MesATee
Gano

MeIntosh Red
Golden Russet

Megnet
Golden Sreet

Keiden Blush
Gravenstein

Missouri
Green Newtown

liother
Grimes Golden

Newtown Pippin
Haas

Nickajack
Henrv Clay

Nerthern Spy
Hubbardston

Northwestern Greening

Jacobs

Oldenburg
Jonathan

Ortiery
July

Paragon
Tompkins Fing

Peerless
King David

Pewaukee
Kinnaird

pee ae

(-39)

MVS ates gy
2 i a

Porter Trenton Early

Primate

Vanaivere
Rembe Virginia Beauty
Red Astrichan

Wagener
Red June

Walbridge
Redstripe

Wealthy
Rhode Island Greening

White Pippén
Rome Beauty

Williams Favorite
Roxbury Russet

Williams Red

5t. Larrnence Wilson Red June
Shiavassee Wine

srith Cider Winesap
Srokehouse Winter Banana
Stark Winter Paradise
Starr Wismer Dissert
Sharman “inesap Woll River

Summer Champion
Yates
Surmer Rambo
; Yellow Bell Flcwer
Sweetheart
Yeilow Transparens,

Talman Sweet York Imperial

(-40-)

It is by no means advisable te plant all of the varieties
given in the accompanying list. The selection. of vurieties is
one of the most important points te consider when contemplat-
ime Orehard plantings (6st of the varietis tn the lis will
grow in Western Marvland, but many of them wili do far better
in other sectics of the country and their cultivation sheuld
be confined te those regions best suited for them, A most
earefnl study: of all available information relative to the
adaptabilit~. ef the different variehies te a region, shouid

be made before selecting.

(-41-)

Déscription of Varieties cf Apple» and Their

Adaptation to Western Mary.iand.

The following descriptions of varieties of apples and t
their adaptation is taken chiefl: from Bulletin 135 cf the
Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department cf Agric-
ulture. The information is the result of a survey meae in .
L9OS by Tir. Hs Py, Gould, Pomdlogist in ¢harge of fruit dist-
rict investigations. This survey was very carefully made,
and the results are quite reliable. He states in regard to

he variets problem, “fhek range of varleties is isree, the-
ugh the commercial sorts which are extensively culviveted,
are few in number, This territcry, especially the Blue hidge,
is rich in iceal varieties, and seedlings which are not pro-
Puigated in any nursery sre known oni: in the Locelities. where
they are grown. It is prebabbe that some of the local varic-
ties mav fill en import:nt place in the future cevelcopmant
ef the apple industry in these regions, Some of them have
recieved iccal names, but many or them have no particular
designation."

Varieties.

Faldwin..

"OROURN One ot the mes importan winter sorts im the

North, the Baldwin apple is relatively uhimportant in
these regions. It is frequently found in the older orch-
ards, especially in the Virginia portions. The tree is
rather irregular in bearing in most of these orchards, and
the fruit drops badly, particlarly at the lower elevations,
In the mountain orchards, fruit of exceptionally fine
appearance for the variety is frequently produced, Its
behavior in typical piedmont and Blue Ridge locations is
indicated as follows:

On Porter's black loam at elevations of 1,500 to
2,500 feet, probably also on Porter's sandy loam at sim-
ilar locations, fruit of high quality for the variety is
produced. This is of excellen: appearance, and may be ex-
pected to keep until the holidays, under favorable condit-
ions. Good fruit is produced on Porter's clay at 1,500
feet elevation, but it does not have the keeping qualities
of those from higher altitudes, In other sections, partic-
ularly in Bedford county, Virginia, it is growing to some
extent on other types of soil, such as Cecil clay, Cecil
sandy loam, and Murrill clay loam, with an elevation of
1,000 feet or less, Under these conditions, it matures as

(43-)

early as September, and frequently rots and drops before it
is ripe. A few growers who have the Baldwin apple in the
mountain orchards, particularly those in the northern por-
tion of the Blue Ridge region, find it fairly satisfactory
for local markets. There are other varieties, however, thet
are more reliable croppers and better adapted to these con-
ditions."

The Baldwin is not a reliable variet-. for commercial

planting in @ryland.

Ben Davis.

"There are few varieties of fruit as widely distributea
in as many sections of the country as ‘he Ben Davis apple,
and in the Piedmant and Blue Ridge regions it is one of the
comparatively small number cf varieties which have attained
a recognized commercial importance, The tree has no conspic-
uous faults; it begins to bear moderately early, usually
producing considerably by the time it reaches six or seven
vears cf age. The crops are produced mainly in alternate
years. The fruit when well grown is very attractive in app
pearance and is veluable for its keeping and shipping qual-
ities, but it is notoriously poor in dessert quality.

(-44-)

"In genera 1 it may tbe said that this variey is well
adapted to the conditions in these regions, aside from those
at the highest elevations, though there are apparently some
exceptions to this, which are probably due to lécal condit-
ions. In the Georgia ana South Carolina portions of the Pied
mont sections and extending to an elevation of perhaps 1,400
or 1,500 feet, some excellent results have been obtained
with it where the trees have been given moderately high cul-
ture and thoroughly sprayed, “ruit grown under these condit-
ions, however, ehould be marketed by the holidays, as it
may be expected to deteriorate rapidly if held later than
this.”

The Ben Davis apple is not recommended for planting in

Marviand.

Esopus.

"No important commercial plantings of this veriety
exist in these regions, but in very limited number of trees,
it may be found in a few widely seperatea orchards.

At the lower levelys it usually drops prematurely, and
even on the Porter's black loam at 2,000 feet elevation, it
often rots and drops seriously. In Albemarly County, Virgin-
ia, at an elevation of abcut 1,000 fect, and on what is pro-

(-45-)

bably Cecil clay loam, it is said to be unusually promising
aS indicated by the behavior of a limited number of trees,"

Not recormended for Maryland.

Grimes.

"The occurance of this var idy is quite general throught
these regions, and though net as vet grown in many of the
orchards, it is of recognized commercial value, the impor-
tance of which is undoubtedly increasing. The tree is consiac-
ered by fruit growers generally as short lived, but nc par-
ticular complaints of this kind have been noted by the grow-
ers here. However, most of the trees are comparativel, young/
The tree is satisfactorily productive as a rule, though un-
der the usual cultural conditions, it has "off! years, as dc
most of the varieties.

"Experiance thus far indicates that Grimes is a desir-
able varietv to grow both for home use and commercial pur-
poses in most of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge secticns where
the conditions are suitable for the planting of apple orch-
ards. The relative elevation appears to be an important fac-
tor in its erfect upon the durability @f the fruit. Produced
at elevations of 2,000 feet in the upper sections of the

(~46~)

Blue Ridge region, it may be kept under fairly favorable
conditions until early winter. Grown in Ceéil County at
1,000 feet elevation it lacks its rich color and high fla-
vor, the size is somewhat smaller, yet this combination of
conditions appears to meet the requirements of the variety
fairly well."

Grimes attains highest perfection in this section, and

is highly recommended for Maryland.

Jonathan,

"This variety occurs oniy rarely, and reference is
here mgaade to it because of the possible value it may pos-
sess for these regions. The tree is not alwaysa s vigorous
as might be desired, but usually no sericus difficulty exis-
ts in this respect. Fairly early bearing is a characteristic
Normally its season is late fall or early winter, but if
grown at noderately high elevations it would probably reach
maturity sufficiently late to permit of its being handled
in cold storage, for which it is especially well adapted.

It possesses exceptionally high dissert qualityand ranks as
an important commercial variety in some sections of the

country.

"GS (-47-)

"Its behavior in the few places in these sections
where it is known to occur indicates that it is worthy of
careful consideration by those who are planting orchards
at an elevation of 1,200 to 1,500 feet or more withing
hhese regions, The finest specimens found in these regions
have come from the orchards which have the highest altitude
of anv of those in the Blue Ridge. Observations have been
confined to young trees, "

The Jonathan is highly recommended for lNaryland.

Miaden Blush.

"This is not @ prominent variety for these regions,
and has been mentioned only occasionally, but most of the
reports concerning it.are favorable, On Cécil sandy loam at
elevetions of 900 to 1,000 feet, it is inclined to rot sev-
erely, but on the more clayey soils of the Piedmont region
it does well. Its season of ripening varies considerably,
ranging from summer to early fall. In some sections of the
country where apples are grown extensively, this is a com-
mercial sort of importance,"

It would be well for fruit growers on the higher ele-
vations to give Maiden Blush a trial.

(-48-)

Rome Beauty.

"Although this is a well known variety and well dis-
tributed, it. is rarely found in the regions in question.
As a rule, wherever it has been planted it is growing under
some other mame, and only a tree or two of it in a place.
MY’st of the trees in this region are young, hence the varie-
ty has not been tested for a sufficiently long period of
time to definitely determine its merits. It appears, how-
ever, to be promising for this section, especiali, in the
Blue Ridge region, and to be worthy of attention by those
who are planting orchards or even small collections for

home use.

Rome Beauty is well recommended for Maryland.

Winesap.
"This is one of the four or five great commercial var-
ieties of the Piedmont section, and as & general-purpose
winter apple for the Piedmont conditions, it is one of the
most uniformly successful and satisfactory sorts grown in
this region. The trees often begin bearing when they are
theee or four years old and usually produce paying crops

when six to eight years ¢ld. While not producing heavy crops

(-49~)

every year, they are more nearly annual than those of most
varieties, especially when the trees are maintained under
good cultural conditions,

"} + + conditions in the northern part of the Piedlont
region at 1,000 to 1,200 feet elevation do now produce the
best results, and in the southern counties of Virginia, the
conditions produce very excellen fruit, but less satisfac-
tery results are secure d at points having eievations which
much exceed that of the piedmont region, while still further
south this variety can be grown at higher altitudes than is
possible in the northern portion of the Piedmont. Its behay-
io~ thus indicates in an interesting way the corresponding
relationship between altitude and latitude in their influec-
@e upen the tehavior of this variety."

The “inesap is well recommended for Liaryland and is

especially well adapted to the lower elevations.

Yellow Newtown. Synonyms: Albemarle Pippen, Newtown Pippen,
New York Pippin, Virginia Pippin.

"In these regions, the synonmy first menticned is the

name by which this variéy is universally known, though the

leading varietal name, according to the rules of the Amer-

(-50-)

ican Pomological Society, is as indicated. It is one cf the
fer prominent commercial sorts of these regions, and doubt-
lessranks first in importance, It is grown to some extent
the entire length of the Blue Ridge rerion, but more exten~
Sively in Virginia and North Carolina, than at points fur-
ther south. While it ranks as one of the teading commercial
Sorts of these regions, and doubtless bears a more flatter-
ing reputation than any of the others, there ere comparat-
ively few growers who consider it as profitable as some of
the other varieties, and it is being planted extensively at
present only in a few restricted sections, The greates pos-
Sibilities of this variety can only be realized when it is
grown under the best cultural conditions, As better methods
of orchard management are adapted in these regions, it is
possible that it will increase in commercial importance in
the future for planting in locations to which it is espec-
jally well adapted, because of the high favor in which the
fruit is regarded both for export and domestic markets, and
the relatively high prices which it generally brings.

"The tree makes a Slow growth, and under usual methods
of culture in these regions is late in coming into bearing,

(-51-)

It seldom produces crops that are of commercial value until
it is twelve years old, and in the experiance cf many grow-
ers, not until it is 18 or 20 years old. It is unusual for
the tree to bear fruit of commercial consequence more often
than every other year, and many orchards do not produce crops
oftener than eve y three or four years, and even less in
nuv-erous cases. The orchards which are given the best cul-
tivetion are, as a rule, the ones which bear most regularly
and abundantly and are relatively the most profitable. The
tree is quite subject to twig blight in comparison with
many other varieties, and bitter rot attacks the fruit
quite seriously in some cases. The latter, however, yields
readily to spraying, and hence is regarded with less con-
cern than formerly."

Yellow ‘lewtown is not highiy recommended for “‘aryiland,
but would probably do well in some sections under the best

conditions.

York Imperial.
The distribution of this variety is quite general thr-
cught the southern apple growing region. The tree is fairly

vigorous and healthy aside from its succeptability to blight

which is soretimes serious, The tree begins to bear compar-
atively young, end frequently produces profitable cro;js at
Six or seven years of ape.

"Tt appears to be less influenced by soil conditions
than by elevation. In the Piedmont orchards having less than
1,990 to 1,200 fect elevation serious rotting and prenature
dropping are apt to occur, end while frequent excepticns to

hhis have been observed, it is sufficiently constant to
suggest that extensive plantings of it in this region should
be made cautiously, if at all, except in the northern por-
tion where it appears to be more free from serious fauits
than almost any other commercial variet, that is being grown
and is considered one of the most profitable scrts. In the
Blue Fidge region above an elevation of 1,200 to 1,500 feet
premature dropping is generally less severe than at lower
points. Especially satisfactory results havé been usually
obtained on Porter's clay at these riddle elevations, where
heevyv crops are expected at least in alternate years. If
heavy droppings occur in such cases, a sufficient quantit;
of fruit usually remains on to result in a heavy crop. At
higher altitudes this is consicered a valuable variety es-
pesially in North Carclina, where it has grown at 2,900 to

3,500 feet altitude. (-53-)

"It is frequently found advisable to harvest the crop
of this variety somewhat earlier than that of most cf the
other commercial sorts on account cf its tendency to drop,
but this is not necessarily and objection in large orchards
where the harvesting must extehd over a considerabie period
of time."

The York Imperial is a popular and reliable variety in
“Waryland, where it is ailarge producer and a good keeper.
It is a very profitable sec@nd grade commercial apple, for

which there is a uniform demand,

Other varieties recommended for planting in Western
Marviland are the following;

Stayian Winesap. ThisS variety is claimed by some to
be the best commercial apple for Marvland. The fruit both
in size and quality is far Superior to the variety Winesap,
from which it originated. It is hardy, vigorous, and long
lived. It comes into bearing early and yields profitable
crops the 6th or &th year.

King David. A standard high grade apple. In size medium
to lerge. Good keeping qualities. Tree is a vigorous grower
and hardy. It is an early bearer, frequently yielding a

(-54-)

good crop by the fifth vear. The variety ripens in early

winter.
Winter Banana. The fruit is medium to large. Th e skin

is thin and of a light yellow or cream color. Owing to its
thén skin and tender flesh, its shipping qualities are con-
B8iderably impaired, It is avery fancy fruit and bring the
highest prices when grown to perfection, It is an early
winter variety, and is not a late keeper. The tree is hardy
and vigorous. [It bears early and frequently yield crops

the fifth or sixth year,

Wealthy. Medium to large in size. It has both good
quality and good keeping qualities. Ripens in the late fall,
but the fruit keeps well until early winter, The tree is
vigorous and hardy and yiels well under most conditions in
the regions to which it is adapted, It frequently bears by
the trird or fourth year, and for this reason it is recom-
mended as a filler, but it i8 a good perminent variety as
well,

Wagener. The fruit is of medium size, highly flavored,
and of good quality. Usually comes into bearing very early
but is often short lived. An early winter variety. The tree
yields a fair quantity of fruit. This variety is recommen-

(-55-)

ded only as a filler,

The varieties recommended above are merely suggestive,
and are by no means conclusive. An attempt has been made to
include the best varieties adapted to this section of the
country, but there are probably others which are as good or
better, but they have not been sufficiently tried out as
yet. In general, therefore, these varieties are adapted to
Western tiarvland conditions, but the grower must select

those best suited to his own locality.

INDEX,

Page

Early History of the Apple 1 -"
Conditions in Western Maryland 5-14
General Characteristics of the Region 15-i7
Soils 17-20
Temperature 20-21
Frosts 22

Rainfall 21-22
Suggestions for Orchard lianagement 24-56
Varieties of Apples for Western “Varyland 67-41

Notes on Varieties of Apples and Their Adaptability

To Western *‘aryland Conditions 42-56

(-5'7-)

Bibliography.

American Pomology by John A. Warder.

Fruit Trees, by William Coxe,

Culture and Management of Fruit Trees, bi Witliam Forsyth.

The Practical Fruit Gardener, by Stephen Switzer.

The New American Orchardist, by William Kendrick.

American Fruit Culturist, by John J. Thomas,

Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, by Charles Downing.

Principles of Fruit Growing, by L. H. Bailey.

Encyclopedia Of American Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey.

Magazine of Horticulture, by Hovey. 18435, etc.

Pamphlets, descriptive of conditions in *estern Maryland,
published by Mertens Company, Cumberland, liaryland.

Apple Culture, Bulletin 144, Maryland Experiment Station.

Plant Diseases and Spray Calender, Bulletin 145 , Maryland

Experiment Station.
Bulletin 151, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States
Department of Agric ulture,
Summer Apples in the Middle Atlantic States, Bulletin lya,
Bureau of Plant Industry.
Orchard Fruits in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Regions of
Virginia and the South Atlantic States, Bulletin 155,
(-58-)

Bureau of Plant Industry.
The Apples of New York, by S. A. Beach.
The American Apple Orchard, by F. A. Waugh.

Year Book of the U. 5S. Department of Agriculture, 1907 -'10.

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