American Pomology Part 38

Core regular, closed; Axis long; Seeds plump, pointed, dark; Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, agreeable; Quality good for the table in December and January.

=Colvert.=

Fruit large, roundish-oblate, slightly conic, regular, often unequal; Surface smooth, yellowish-green, mixed, striped, light red; Dots scattered, distinct, white.

Basin deep, abrupt, regular, folded; Eye medium.

Cavity rather deep, acute, brown; Stem medium.

Core round, flattened, slightly open, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, long, pointed, imperfect; Flesh white, breaking, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid; Quality scarcely good; Use, market chiefly; Season October, November.

=Cooper.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 87.--COOPER.]

This delicious apple was introduced into the West with the scions that were brought to the early Putnam nursery at the mouth of the Muskingum river in 1796. Though a general favorite from its beauty, its fine texture, and exquisite flavor, this variety does not appear to have been so widely spread as others very inferior to it. Though occurring on the original Putnam list, and therefore an eastern variety, it does not appear to have been recognized by cultivators in the older States, and there are those in the West who claim that it is of French origin.

The tree has a stout, upright growth, which becomes spreading with age, when the limbs stand at a right angle with the trunk; they are frequently defaced with marks of diseased action that are called _canker_. The twigs are reddish and rather slender; the leaves are pale green, large, broad.

Fruit large, globular-oblate, regular, sometimes unequal, light; Surface smooth, pale waxen-yellow, with a little mixed scarlet and very distinctly marked carmine; Dots scattered, minute.

Basin regular, abrupt, deep; Eye small, closed.

Cavity wide, regular, green; Stem medium, green.

Core small, closed, just meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, plump, short, dark; Flesh pale yellow, fine-grained, tender, almost melting, juicy; very mild sub-acid, aromatic; of first quality for table, kitchen or market (too good for drying, but makes a superior article of _snits_); Season September and October.

=Dr. Watson.=

AUTUMN SEEK-NO-FURTHER OF INDIANA.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 88.--DR. WATSON.]

This delicious and beautiful dessert apple is much grown in Central and Eastern Indiana, particularly among the Friends. It was for a long time a puzzle to the pomologists. In the meanwhile it must have a name, and without waiting for the decision of the learned, the people in different sections, without consultation, called it the _Autumn Seek-no-further_. Finally the Horticultural Societies decided that it was an old sort named _Doctor Watson_, though upon what authority does not appear. The fruit has not been recognized by our Eastern friends, nor by the American Pomological Society, to which it was referred in 1860.

Tree large, spreading, very productive; Twigs slender, foliage small, pale green; in the nursery it is a poor grower.

Fruit medium to large, unless when too crowded, regular, oblate, sometimes unequal; Surface smooth, mixed pale and red on waxen-yellow, beautifully splashed with scarlet; Dots minute.

Basin abrupt, rather deep, wide, regular, sometimes cracked; Eye medium, open.

Cavity wide, regular or wavy, brown; Stem medium to short.

Core medium, regular, closed, just meeting the eye; Axis short; Seeds plump; Flesh yellow, fine-grained, very tender and juicy, almost melting, with a rich, aromatic, sub-acid flavor; Quality best, for table and kitchen, from September to November; also valuable for stock feeding.

=Domine.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 89.--DOMINE.]

Supposed to be a native of this country; origin unknown. Tree very thrifty, making long, stout, brown shoots, which branch from the ends, and form spurs along their sides, so that the tree has a straggling, open head, and bears its fruit crowded along the smaller branches. It is hardy, upright, vigorous and productive. Foliage large and long, with a peculiar curl or folding upwards, so as to show the underside of the leaves.

Fruit large, flat, regular, sometimes unequal; Surface yellowish-green, nearly covered with mixed red, and striped indistinctly with carmine, often vein-russeted; Dots scattered, yellow and gray, large.

Basin rather shallow, folded or plaited; Eye medium to small, closed.

Cavity wide, wavy, brown; Stem medium to long, slender at its insertion into the fruit, and easily separated from it, but holding firmly to the tree; hence care is needed in picking the fruit.

Core regular, somewhat open, scarcely meeting the eye; Axis often short; Seeds numerous, pointed, plump; Flesh light yellow, breaking, tender, juicy; flavor slightly sub-acid, rich; good, for table, kitchen, or market; Season December and January, keeping until spring in the North.

=d.u.c.h.ess of Oldenburgh.=

This very beautiful striped apple is from Russia, and has proved one of the hardiest apples in our trying climate. Reports from the Northwest are entirely satisfactory as to its hardiness.

Tree medium size, round-headed, sufficiently vigorous and perfectly hardy.

Fruit medium, regular, roundish-oblate; Surface smooth, waxen-yellow, partially covered with distinct and regular stripes and splashes of brilliant red and carmine; often having a light bloom, such as is found on most Russian apples.

Basin regular, pretty wide; Eye large and closed.

Cavity regular, acute; Stem medium to long, rather slender.

Flesh white, tender, juicy; Sour and suitable for cooking. Though attractive to the eye, it is unsuited for the dessert.

By Dr. Jno. A. Kennicott, the pioneer cultivator of Northern Illinois, this apple was considered the _ne plus ultra_ for that and higher lat.i.tudes.

=Equinetelee.=

BACHELOR--BYERS--IOLA (Berckmans' M.S.) SOL. CARTEE (Downing.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 90.--EQUINETELEE.]

This fine southern apple has its origin traced to Yancey County, in North Carolina. It has not yet been sufficiently tested in the Northern States, but is considered one of the best in the South, and is looked upon as having great promise in our northern orchards, where it is somewhat introduced. Berckmans says: "The finest of the late fall and winter apples."

The trees bear a strong resemblance to those of the _Buckingham_.

Fruit large, oblate, sometimes oblique; Surface light yellow, mostly covered with bright crimson, obscurely striped; Dots small, white.

Basin deep, narrow, irregular; Eye medium, closed.

Cavity wide, deep; Stem short.

Flesh pale yellow, very tender, juicy, melting; Flavor very mild sub-acid, making it a very superior table fruit, from November to January in Georgia, according to Berkmans.