American Pomology Part 85

This fine fruit is credited to Rhode Island. The tree is healthy, spreading, moderately vigorous, but productive, and a regular bearer.

This apple is said to resemble the Newtown Pippin, but I have never been able to trace any resemblance, except that both are green; at any rate there is no danger of the merest tyro in pomology confounding the two varieties. There is, however, a remarkable diversity in the fruit arising from the different soils and climates in which it is cultivated, North and South, and while, like many other varieties, its size is greatly developed, its texture and flavor are depreciated in the migrations southward.

Fruit large, flattened, globular, somewhat angular, or flattened, sometimes having a shallow sulcus or furrow on one side; Surface smooth, yellow or orange, being sometimes faintly blushed; Dots gray, with white bases.

Basin rather shallow and folded; Eye small and open, calycinal segments being short.

Cavity wide, but often lipped, brown; Stem short, very thick, clubbed or k.n.o.bby.

Core large, closed, clasping the eye; Seeds numerous, angular; Flesh yellow, tender, breaking, fine-grained; Flavor sub-acid and somewhat aromatic; of first quality in the North; Use, table, kitchen or market; Season, December to January, or later.

=Primate.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 253.--PRIMATE.]

This delicious table apple has strong claims upon our admiration, on account of its good qualities as a dessert fruit, for the extreme delicacy of its skin and flesh render it unfit for market; it is therefore not profitable for the commercial orchard.

Tree thrifty, stocky, vigorous, strongly branched, productive; Shoots stout, short, light olive; Buds prominent, foliage pale green.

Fruit full medium, globular, angular, irregular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, becoming almost white, sometimes faintly blushed; Dots minute.

Basin abrupt, folded; Eye small but long, closed; Segments reflexed.

Cavity acute, wavy, green; Stem medium to long, thick.

Core medium, round, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, angular, long, dark; Flesh greenish-white, very tender, fine-grained; Flavor mild sub-acid, very agreeable; Quality best; Use, the dessert; Season, July and August.

=Progress.=

Not having had the good fortune to study this apple, I quote the description given by Downing:

"A native of Middletown, Connecticut. Tree a moderate grower and forms a handsome head, bears early and very productive.

"Size above medium, rather globular, inclining to conic, sometimes oblate, somewhat angular; Stem short, inserted into a round cavity, surrounded by russet; Calyx large, partially closed, set in a shallow, open basin; Skin smooth, yellow, with a sunny cheek, sometimes a few scattered, gray dots; Flesh solid, tender, crisp, juicy, with a very refres.h.i.+ng, vinous flavor. Ripe October until April."

=Quince.=

COLE'S QUINCE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 254.--QUINCE.]

This does not appear to be exactly the same as that described by c.o.xe, and later by Downing. This fruit is not very extensively cultivated.

The specimens described are from that precise pomologist T.T. Lyon, of Michigan.

Fruit full medium, globular, angular, ribbed; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, pale.

Basin narrow, folded, plaited; Eye small, closed.

Cavity acute, wavy; Stem medium, yellow.

Core oval, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, angular, plump, brown; Flesh yellowish-white, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality good for cooking; Season, November to January.

=September.=

This apple is highly esteemed by Mr. W.G. Waring, of Center County, Pennsylvania, where it originated.

Tree hardy and vigorous, a good and regular bearer.

"Fruit large, globular, somewhat depressed, slightly conic, angular; Skin yellow, slightly shaded and thinly sprinkled with brown dots; Stalk short, inserted in a deep, abrupt cavity, surrounded by thin russet; Calyx partially closed, set in an open basin; Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, with a very agreeable sub-acid flavor; October."--[Downing.]

=Sheepnose.=--_of Mears._

This substantial little apple was presented by Wm. E. Mears, a zealous horticulturist of Clermont County, Ohio, where it is considerably cultivated. Origin unknown.

Fruit medium, round, slightly conic, irregular; Surface smooth, greenish yellow, white striae about the base, like _White Winter Pearmain_, which it resembles in some other respects; Dots minute.

Basin shallow, wavy; Eye long, closed.

Cavity acute, narrow, bronzed; Stem medium, k.n.o.bbed.

Core roundish oval, irregular, open, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump, dark; Flesh yellowish-white, breaking, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid; Quality good; Use, table and kitchen; Season, December to February.

=Summer Pippin.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 255.--SUMMER PIPPIN.]

A favorite apple about New York--not known extensively. Tree vigorous, forming a beautiful head, a regular and good bearer.

Fruit medium to large, variable in form, sometimes oblong-oval, or inclining to conic, angular and irregular; Skin pale waxen yellow, shaded with a delicate crimson blush, and sprinkled with green and grayish dots; Stalk varies in length and thickness, inserted in a deep, abrupt cavity; Calyx closed, set in a deep, abrupt, corrugated basin; Flesh white, tender, moderately juicy, with a pleasant, refres.h.i.+ng sub-acid flavor; Valuable for culinary uses; Ripens in August and continues a month or more.--[Downing.]

=Transport.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 256.--TRANSPORT.]

Another of Reuben Ragan's Indiana seedlings. Tree poor in the nursery--good in the orchard. Very productive.

Fruit large, globular, flattened, angular; Surface smooth, pale yellow, blushed carmine; Dots scattered, green, with white bases, becoming purple where exposed; Bloom white.

Basin medium, plaited; Eye small, closed.

Cavity deep, acute, brown; Stem medium to long.