The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-11-09
THE FARM APPLE ORCHARD
CHARACTER OF SOIL ADAPTED
TO DIFFERENT VARIETIES.
culture, University Of
Missouri.

| Generally speaking, apple trees
thrive best upon light, well-drained
land. A gravelly sub-soil is preferable
to stiff clay. In fact, the sub-soil il
Of more importance than the surface
soil itself. Hilly, broken places are
usually better than level. fat areas.
Many rugged hillsides along our riv.
ers too steep for ordinary tillage are
excellent for apple orchards. The
deep, loamy "loess" soil along our
great rivers and some of our tributa-
ries and the red soils OF the broken
Ozark region are among the best ap-
pie soils. While some Of these soils
are better than others, almost any
farm in the state is capable of pro-
ducing good family orchard that
will many times repay for the trouble
and expense of growing it.
Where there is opportunity for
choice of slope, the local conditions
and the varieties to be planted gov
ern somewhat the site that should be
selected. Often a northern or eastern
slope is to be preferred. On rocky,
thin soils, the northern slopes are
usually richer and they stand the
drought better than the southern
slope. The buds start later on the
northern slope, and are more likely
to escape late spring frosts. Other
things being equal the fruit is usually
higher favored and seems to be bet
ter colored on the southern slope.
Low, damp places are to be avoided.
If proper attention is given to the
selection Of varieties, apples may be
grown successfully under most any
conditions.
The character of the native forest
trees will indicate to some extent the
fitness of the land for apple trees
Where the nut trees, sugar maple,
poplar, paw-paw. linn or sumac thrive |
apples usually do we'll. The larger
and finer these native trees, the bet
ter the indications for the success of |
apple trees.
Ben Davis and Gano, two varieties
that are very much alike, are the
two leading commercial sorts. These
two varieties are more grown in Mis-
souri, than all others combined. In
most localities experienced growers
recommend planting at least half their
orchard to these varieties. The trees
bear heavily and the fruit ships bet
ter than almost any other sort, and
they are among the best cooking ap-
Piles. Their quality, however, is not
the best. They are remarkably cosmo-
politan, succeeding remarkably we'll
in all parts of the state.
Next to these two sorts, the iona
than is perhaps the most popular gen.
eral commercial variety. 1t is of the
richest red color and the highest
flavor 1t is productive throughout the
state. The Jonathan ripens earlier i
than the Ben Davis or Gano, and is :
not so good keeper. In cold stor- T.
age, however, it will keep perfectly 2
until late winter or early spring, and a
as a dessert fruit it is one of the best l.
in the state E
The York is unexcelled in size, 8
quality and appearance as a CONNER .
cial variety. In some parts of the q
state it produces we'll 1t is a splen- I
did keeper and is gaining in popu-
larity in some sections of the state. 0
1t is one of the most profitable ap. e
pies to grow on the "loess" formation p
along the Missouri river hills. 1t has a
the fault of scalding somewhat if o
kept either too cold or too hot in t
storage. )
Grimes is an apple of fine quality, p
but is neither strong grower nor
heavy bearer except in certain local .
ties. 1t requires rich SOIL The Mis- G
souri, Pippin is one of the earliest to g
come into bearing. The fruit tends a
10 be small size after the first few /
crops. The Winesap is variety of good =
color and flavor, but in some locali- n
les it lacks vigor and productiveness. r
The Ingram is one of the best keep. =
ers and is Of fair quality. 1t escapes 4
spring frosts on account of late bios. y
,oming
1t is we'll to bear in mind that some =
II the above named varieties are =
adapted to all conditions in the state, !,
while others are to be commended -
,nly for certain localities or condi-
ions.
Ben Davis, Gano and Jonathan are q
we'll adapted to all soils. Y
slopes and conditions in the state. v
Mammoth Black Twig, York 9
Ind Rome Beauty succeed we'll on t
'outh slopes and thin land Genet, In. r
gram and Rome Beauty are among o
he best to select for moderately low Y
and. They blossom late and are sci. a
lom killed by late frosts. p
For a home orchard, the main plant. q
ng should be Of the commercial vari- h
tiles just mentioned, considering that
hey are usually good keepers and :
will supply the family needs through.
tut the winter. In addition, a few
rees Of the earlier sorts should be
included. This will give q succession