American Pomology. Apples

Fruit quite large, oblong, conical, truncated, ribbed; Surface smooth, yellowish white, mixed red, splashed carmine; Dots rare, gray.

Basin abrupt, folded; Eye large, closed.

Cavity wide, wavy, brown; Stem short, curved.

Core large, round, very open, meeting the eye; Seeds small, plump, black; Flesh yellowish white, breaking; Flavor sub-acid; Quality scarcely good; Use, market only; Season, September.

Less ribbed than the Scalloped Gilliflower.

Toccoa

"From Toccoa Falls, Habersham County, Georgia.

"Fruit rather large, conical, irregular or oblong; Skin whitish yellow, considerably shaded with carmine, and sprinkled with a few brown dots; Stem short, inserted in a deep cavity; Calyx partially closed, set in a rather large basin; Flesh whitish, juicy, tender, pleasant, mild sub-acid; November to February."—[Downing.]

Perhaps not an early bearer; my trees, set six years, have not yet fruited.

CLASS IV.—OBLONG APPLESORDER II.—IRREGULARSECTION 2.—SOURSUB-SECTION 3.—RUSSETBourrassa

Foreign. Said to do well in the North; have seen it handsome at Detroit.

Fruit medium, oblong, ovate, somewhat angular and ribbed; Surface yellow, covered lightly with a rich red russet, giving it an orange hue.

Basin small; Eye small, closed; Segments very long.

Cavity deep, acute, wavy; Stem long.

Flesh white or stained, tender; Flavor acid, spicy, aromatic; Quality pretty good, but apt to be tough and wilted; Season, November to December.

Not worth trying in the South.

CHAPTER XVII

FRUIT LISTS

EVERY PLANTER MUST JUDGE FOR HIMSELF AND OBSERVE THE SORTS THAT SUCCEED IN HIS OWN NEIGHBORHOOD—ATTEMPTS TO MAKE LISTS FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION ABORTIVE—STATE AND REGIONAL LISTS MAY APPROXIMATE USEFULNESS—SO MANY ELEMENTS IN MAKING A DECISION—OUR TASTES DIFFER—REFERENCE TO THE LISTS OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND TO THOSE OF LOCAL SOCIETIES—PRESENT A FEW SELECTED LISTS—THE QUESTION OF HARDINESS IS OF GREAT INTEREST—LISTS OF HARDY AND TENDER VARIETIES—LISTS FOR CIDER.

Every orchard planter who examines the extended variety of fruits presented to him in the books, and by the nurserymen, must feel greatly embarrassed when he comes to select the varieties for his own orchards. Almost every one of the long lists is recommended for some good quality, and the number of best, which he is apt to conclude means indispensable for him, is wonderfully large. Some persons are bewildered by the array presented in the catalogue, and fall back upon their own slender stock of information, selecting only one well known variety; but most persons commit a far greater fault by attempting to grasp all the varieties that are offered and commended, which is very well for some one person in every region to do. It is a labor of love for the benefit of his fellow townsmen; but it is far better for him who is about to plant an orchard, either large or small, to determine which varieties are best adapted for his purposes. For the small planter, who is providing for the wants of his family, a number of varieties that will ripen in succession will be best, and the sorts should be selected with regard to their qualities for household uses. The planter of extensive commercial orchards, on the contrary, will need but a limited number of varieties, which should be selected with a view to the wants of the markets he intends to supply, as well as to the productiveness of the fruit, and its ability to bear transportation. While it is desirable to have but a few well selected varieties in such an orchard, it must be recollected that even when there is a general failure of the crop, there are always some sorts that bear fruit, and this is an argument against making the list too small.

All attempts to make out lists of fruits for general cultivation over the great extent of our country have been abortive. State and regional lists are made by the Pomological and other societies, which are useful in rendering approximate information; but, at last, every planter should observe the fruits that succeed in his own neighborhood, and upon soil similar to his own, and select his varieties for planting accordingly.

In making up our judgment of the excellence of a fruit, there are many elements that enter into the question of what constitutes a good apple, and so much depends upon the tastes of the individuals who have the question to decide, that at last every one is left to make up his own mind as to what will be best for his particular case.

The American Pomological Society, many years ago, attempted to make out lists that would be applicable to the whole country, but it was very soon discovered that their recommendations were by no means of universal application, and that what was valuable in one section was worthless in another. The State and local societies took up the work, and the result of their labors has been of great value to persons similarly situated. In some States, regions, with peculiar soils and different underlying rocks, were found to be more or less fitted for the production of different varieties, and partial or local lists have been made out upon this principle. The greater value of the data thus obtained commended itself to the National Society, which has since collated these lists so far as possible in a tabular form, which shows the relative appreciation in which many varieties are held in the several regions that have reported; to these the reader is referred.51 At present I propose to present a few lists which have been given by eminent pomologists, in different parts of the country, as the result of their extended observations, and applicable in their several districts.

Henry Little and others recommend for Maine:

Baldwin,

Blue Pearmain,

Bough,

Danvers,

Duchess of Oldenburgh,

Fameuse,

Golden Ball,

Golden Sweet,

Gravenstein,

Hubbardston,

Jewett's Fine Red,

Minister,

Mother,

Northern Spy,

Porter,

Red Astrachan,

Rhode Island Greening,

Ribstone Pippin,

Roxbury Russet,

Sops of Wine,

Tallman Sweet,

Vandervere (Newtown Spitzenberg),

Vermont,

Williams' Favorite,

Winthrop.

The following list was furnished by C. Goodrich for Vermont:

Baldwin,

Bough,

Duchess of Oldenburgh,

Early Harvest,

Esopus Spitzenberg,

Gravenstein,

Newtown Pippin,

Northern Spy,

Porter,

Red Astrachan,

Rhode Island Greening,

Roxbury Russet.

Recommended by Thomas Hancock for New Jersey:

American Golden Russet,

Bough,

Early Harvest,

Fall Pippin,

Hagloe,

Juneating,

Maiden's Blush,

Monmouth Pippin,

Newtown Pippin,

Rhode Island Greening,

Summer Rose,

Striped Harvest,

Tewksbury Blush,

White Seek-no-further.

Wm. Parry, of Burlington County, New Jersey, an excellent judge of market qualities, recommends, after thorough trial, the following for profit:

Bachelor's Blush,

Bough,

Hagloe,

Maiden's Blush.

Jno. Diehl gave this list as desirable for Delaware:

American Summer Pearmain,

Baldwin,

Bough,

Caleb,

Danvers' Winter,

Early Harvest,

Early Red Margaret,

Early Red Streak,

English Russet,

Fallawater,

Fall Pippin,

Gilpin,

Greening,

Herefordshire Pearmain,

Lady,

Maiden's Blush,

Newtown Pippin,

Rambo,

Roman Stem,

Smokehouse,

Summer Golden Pippin,

Summer Queen,

White Juneating,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

Mr. Robey, of Fredericksburgh, recommends for that part of Virginia:

Abram,

Baltimore Pippin,

Bowling Sweet,

Brooke's Pippin,

Carter,

Garden,

Gloucester White,

Green Newtown Pippin,

Hollady,

Ladies' Favorite,

Leather Coat,

Limbertwig,

Milam,

Ogleby,

Pryor's Red,

Rawle's Janet,

Red Cathead,

Roberson's White,

Russet (?),

Spice (Va.),

Strawn's Seedling,

Summer Cheese,

Summer Golden Pippin,

Vandervere,

Waugh's Crab,

Winesap,

Winter Cheese,

Winter Queen.

Daniel K. Underwood, Michigan, gives the following extended catalogue:

SUMMER.

Early Harvest,

Early Joe,

Early Strawberry,

Golden Sweet,

Maiden's Blush,

Red Astrachan,

Sweet Bough,

Sine-qua-non,

Summer Queen,

Summer Rose.

AUTUMN.

Alexander,

Daniel,

Duchess of Oldenburgh,

Dyer,

Fall Pippin,

Fameuse,

Gravenstein,

Hawley,

Jersey Sweet,

Keswick Codling,

Late Strawberry,

Porter,

Rambo,

Cayuga Red Streak,

Fall Wine.

WINTER.

Baldwin,

Belmont,

Black Detroit,

Blue Pearmain,

Bourrassa,

Cornish Gilliflower,

Domine,

English Russet,

Esopus,

Green Newtown,

Golden Russet,

Herefordshire,

Hubbardston,

Jonathan,

Ladies' Sweeting,

Lady,

Northern Spy,

Peck's Pleasant,

Red Canada,

Rawle's Janet,

Roxbury,

Swaar,

Stone,

Twenty Ounce Pippin,

Rhode Island Greening,

Vandervere (Newtown Spitzenberg),

Westfield,

Yellow Bellflower.

J.D.G. Nelson, President of the Indiana State Society, an extensive orchardist at Fort Wayne, presented the following list as the result of long experience in Northern Indiana:

SUMMER.

Red Astrachan, less profitable.

Early Harvest, less profitable.

Duchess of Oldenburgh, more profitable.

Keswick Codling, more profitable.

Sweet Bough.

High-top Sweet, for profit.

FALL.

Maiden's Blush,

Porter,

Rambo,

Trenton Early,

Dyer,

Lowell,

Hawley.

Golden Sweet.

WINTER APPLES FOR EXTENSIVE CULTIVATION FOR MARKET.

DARK.—Ben Davis, 500 trees.

Smith's Cider, 300 trees.

Jersey Black, 200 trees.

LIGHT.—Belmont, need careful handling

Wagener, need careful handling

Yellow Bellflower, need careful handling

SWEET.—Bentley Sweet, keeps well.

London Sweet, keeps well.

Talman Sweet, keeps well.

AMATEUR LIST.

American Summer Pearmain,

American Golden Russet,

Evening Party,

King of Tompkins County,

Swaar,

Newtown Pippin.

Dr. Cornett, of Versailles, Indiana, advised to plant

American Summer Pearmain,

Bohanon,

Carolina Red June,

Cooper,

Early Harvest,

Fall Pippin,

Fall Wine,

Golden Russet (American?),

Newtown Pippin,

Pryor's Red,

Rambo,

Rawle's Janet,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

Messrs. Lawyer, of South Pass, Union County, Illinois, recommends of 1,000 trees for profit:

250 Ben Davis,

100 Early Harvest,

50 Nickajack,

50 Pryor's Red,

150 Rawle's Janet,

150 Red Astrachan,

50 Rome Beauty,

50 Smith's Cider,

50 White Pippin,

100 Winesap.

Parker Earle, President of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, an intelligent fruit cultivator in the Southern portion of that State (called Egypt), recommends the following list as being well adapted for profit:

Ben Davis,

Buckingham,

Carolina Red June,

Early Harvest,

Golden Sweet,

Jonathan,

Keswick Codling,

Newtown Pippin,

Rambo,

Rawle's Janet,

Red Astrachan,

White Pippin,

White Winter Pearmain,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

Wm. C. Hampton, Hardin County, Ohio, recommends for a select list of winter apples:

Broadwell,

Hubbardston,

Michael Henry,

Ortley,

Rome Beauty,

Seedling Jersey Sweet,

Yellow Bellflower,

Yellow Newtown Pippin.

H.B. Spencer, of Rockport, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, recommends the following:

Baldwin,

Baltimore,

Belmont,

Esopus Spitzenberg,

Peck's Pleasant,

Red Canada,

Roxbury Russet.

Mr. G.W. Dean, of Welshfield, Geauga County, Ohio, gives the following list of ten:

Baldwin,

Baltimore,

Canada Red,

Hubbardston,

Ladies' Sweeting,

Peck's Pleasant,

Rambo,

Rhode Island Greening,

Swaar,

Westfield Seek-no-further.

Recommended by M.B. Bateham, Secretary Ohio Pomological Society, for the Central and Southern portion of the State:

SUMMER.

American Summer Pearmain,

Bough,

Early Harvest,

Early Pennock,

Early Strawberry,

Golden Sweeting,

High-top Sweet,

Keswick Codling,

Red Astrachan,

Summer Queen,

Tetofski.

AUTUMN.

Cooper,

Fall Pippin,

Gravenstein,

Jersey Sweet,

Lowell,

Maiden's Blush,

Ohio Nonpareil,

Orange Sweet,

Rambo,

Smokehouse.

WINTER.

Bullock's Pippin,

Domine,

Fallawater,

London Sweet,

Milam,

Mount Pleasant Sweet,

Newtown Spitzenberg,

Pryor's Red,

Rawle's Janet,

Rome Beauty,

Smith's Cider,

Tallman,

Western Spy,

White Pippin,

Willow,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

Select lists from H.N. Gillett for Southern Ohio, Western Virginia and Kentucky:

SUMMER VARIETIES.

Benoni,

Early Harvest,

Early Chandler,

Primate,

Pound Royal,

Red Astrachan,

Summer Rose,

Summer Queen,

Summer Seek-no-further,

Sine-qua-non.

FALL VARIETIES.

Corse's Favorite,

Cooper,

Favorite,

Fall Pippin,

Fall Wine,

Fallawater,

Gravenstein,

Maiden's Blush,

King of Pippins,

Porter.

WINTER VARIETIES.

Ben Davis,

Black Coal,

Broadwell,

Buckingham [Autumn],

Bullock's Pippin,

Carolina Red [Nickajack?],

Defiance,

Harrison,

Hewes' Crab,

Lady,

Pryor's Red,

Rawle's Janet,

Red Cedar,

Rolen's Keeper,

Rome Beauty,

Roxbury Russet,

Smith's Cider,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

By Henry Hefflebower, an extensive orchardist at Montclovia, Lucas County, Ohio:

American Golden Russet,

Baldwin,

Bellflower,

Belmont,

Bough,

Early Harvest,

Fallawater,

Fall Pippin,

King of Tompkins,

Maiden's Blush,

Newtown Pippin,

Newtown Spitzenberg,

None Such,

Porter,

Primate,

Rambo,

Rawle's Janet,

Red Astrachan,

Seek-no-further,

Smokehouse,

Summer Queen,

Summer Rose,

Swaar,

Sweet Bellflower,

Tallow Pippin,

Twenty Ounce.

HARDY AND TENDER

After the sad experiences in many portions of the Northwest, where in some severe winters whole orchards of trees and extensive nurseries were ruined by the cold, it has become a most important question for planters to ask whether the varieties recommended are hardy. The testimony of some of our best observers has been collected, and will be of value, though it may be observed that there is some discrepancy as to certain sorts.

The following list of hardy and tender varieties was prepared by Reuben Ragan, Putnam County, Indiana, and has since been carefully revised. Soil a rich argillaceous loam on lime stone:

TENDER.

Baldwin,

Bullock's Pippin,

Early Harvest,

Esopus,

Fall Pippin,

Gravenstein,

Michael Henry,

* Newtown Spitzenberg,

Ortley,

Pryor's Red,

Rambo,

Rawle's Janet,

Rhode Island Greening,

* Roxbury Russet,

* Summer Queen.

* These suffered in the nursery especially.

HARDY.

American Summer Pearmain,

Carolina June (Red),

Carolina June (Striped),

Chronicle,

Danvers' Winter Sweet,

Early Strawberry,

Fall Queen,

Fall Wine,

Farley Red,

Hannah,

Hoops,

Horse,

Lewis (of Ragan),

McAffee,

Newtown Pippin,

Northern Spy,

Pennock,

Pottinger,

President,

Priestley,

Ragan's Red,

Red Astrachan,

Red Streak,

Rome Beauty,

Sine-qua-non,

Transport,

Vandervere Pippin,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower,

Yellow Juneating.

A.L. Benedict, of Monroe County, has taken great pains in making out lists of those that were entirely destroyed, partially injured, and slightly affected by the terribly severe winter of 1855-6:

ENTIRELY DESTROYED.

Baldwin Sweet,

Blue Pearmain,

Cheeseboro Russet,

Egg Top,

English Russet,

Esopus Spitzenberg,

Fall Pippin,

French Pippin,

Lowre Queen,

Newtown Spitzenberg,

Red Juneating,

Rhode Island Greening,

Robinson,

Romanite,

Spice Sweeting,

Wing Sweet,

Yellow Vandervere.

PARTIALLY INJURED.

American Golden Russet,

Belmont,

Black,

Bough,

Butter,

Colvert,

Detroit Black,

Early Harvest,

Fall Wine,

Golden Sweet,

Gray Vandervere,

Hoops,

Kaighn's Spitzenberg,

London Winter Sweet,

Newtown Pippin,

Ortley,

Peck's Pleasant,

Pennock,

Pine,

Rambo,

Raritan Sweet,

Roxbury Russet,

Scallop Gilliflower,

Streaked Vandervere,

Swaar,

Sweet Gilliflower,

Tift's Sweet,

Tulpehocken,

White Pippin,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

HARDY OR BUT SLIGHTLY INJURED.

Bethlemite,

Black Gilliflower,

Blockley,

Gloria Mundi,

Grindstone,

Harrison (Newark King),

Jersey King,

Maiden's Blush,

May,

Molasses,

Pennsylvania Red Streak,

Pound Pippin,

Pumpkin Sweet,

Red Winter Sweet,

Roman Stem,

Saint Lawrence,

Saner's Early Sweet,

Summer Queen,

Summer Rose,

Sweet Vandervere,

Tallman Sweet,

Westfield Seek-no-further,

White Rambo,

Whitmore's Sweeting,

Yellow Newtown Pippin.

M.L. Comstock, of Iowa, gives the following list of apples that are found to be tender in that region:

Baldwin,

Esopus Spitzenberg,

Fall Pippin,

Fameuse,

Gravenstein,

Golden Russet,

Hubbardston,

Jonathan,

Ladies' Sweet,

Newtown Spitzenberg,

Peck's Pleasant,

Pomme Grise,

Rawle's Janet,

Red Canada,

Rhode Island Greening,

White Winter Pearmain.

F.W. Landon, Janesville, Wisconsin, thinking the hardy list would be too long, gives the following as tender:

Autumn Strawberry,

Baldwin,

Cloth of Gold,

Early Strawberry,

Esopus Spitzenberg,

Lady,

Newtown Spitzenberg,

Northern Spy,

Norton's Melon,

Westfield Seek-no-further.

J.C. Brayton, Azatlan, Wisconsin, gives the following list of hardy and valuable fruits for the rich lands in the western part of the State:

SUMMER.

American Summer Pearmain,

Benoni,

Early Harvest,

Early Pennock,

Early Red,

Fall Stripe,

High-top Sweet.

AUTUMN.

Bailey Sweet,

Fall Orange,

Fall Winesap,

Fameuse,

Late Strawberry,

Red Streak,

Roseau,

Saint Lawrence,

Sweet Pear,

Trenton Early,

Utter's Large,

White Gilliflower.

WINTER.

Broadwell,

Domine,

Flushing Spitzenberg,

Golden Russet,

Hoops?

Limbertwig,

Northern Spy,

Perry Russet,

Rawle's Janet,

Red Spitzenberg,

Tallman's Sweet,

Wagener,

Westfield Seek-no-further,

White Winter Pearmain,

Winesap,

Yellow Bellflower.

HARDY, IF TOP-GRAFTED.

Autumn Swaar,

Belmont,

English Russet,

Fulton,

Golden Sweet,

Herefordshire Pearmain,

Jonathan,

Lowell,

Maiden's Blush,

Red June,

Sops of Wine.

SWEET APPLES FOR BAKING AND FOR STOCK FEEDING

With many persons the consumption of sweet apples becomes an important item of household economy; for the feeding and fattening of stock sweet apples have deservedly attracted the attention of intelligent farmers, and they may yet be much more extensively planted in many places where the land is not well adapted to the production of grain and other staple crops for the support of man and the animals under his care.

With a view to aid the planter the following lists have been collated:

Sweet apples to be planted for stock feeding. Recommended by T.S. Humrickhouse, of Coshocton, Ohio, in Ohio Cultivator, vol. VI, page 283:

SUMMER.

* Duling Sweet,

Golden Sweet,

* Jersey Sweet,

Pumpkin Sweet,

Red and Green Sweet,

Summer Sweet,

* Summer Sweet Paradise,

* Sweet Bough.

* My friends write that they would have preferred more of these sorts, and that they planted such trees as were at hand at that time.

AUTUMN.

* Haskell Sweet,

* Kinsey's Sweet,

Lyman's Pumpkin,

Ramsdell's,

Spice Sweet,

* Superb Sweet.

* My friends write that they would have preferred more of these sorts, and that they planted such trees as were at hand at that time.

WINTER.

Baldwin Sweet,

Broadwell,

Butter Sweet,

*Danvers' Winter,

Honey Sweeting,

*Ladies' Sweeting,

Late Pound Sweet,

May,

McKay's Favorite,

*Phillips' Sweeting,

*Tallman's Sweeting,

Wells' Sweeting,

Winter Sweeting.

* My friends write that they would have preferred more of these sorts, and that they planted such trees as were at hand at that time.

ALSO, LESS KNOWN,

Acid Sweet,

Akeson's Sweet,

Beauty of the West,

Cash Sweet,

Charlotte Sweet,

Climb Sweet,

Ling Sweet,

London Sweet,

Merritt's Sweet,

Mt. Pleasant Sweet,v Morgan's Favorite,

Red Sweet Pippin,

Stone Sweet.

Planted by A.L. Benedict, Morrow County, Ohio, in a lot to be devoted to hogs. The numbers of each might be varied:

2 Bough,

3 Golden Sweet,*

6 Jersey Sweet,*

16 May of Myers,

10 Moore's Sweeting,

32 Pumpkin Sweet,

8 Raritan Sweet,

17 Spice Sweet,

1 Tift's Sweet,

19 Tallman Sweet,

30 Whitmore Sweet,

14 Wing Sweet.

* My friends write that they would have preferred more of these sorts, and that they planted such trees as were at hand at that time.

L. Hampton's list52 for a succession through the year:

Bentley Sweet,

Bough,

Broadwell,

Fall Sweet,

Federal Sweet,

Golden Sweet,

Hightop Sweet,

Honey Greening,

Kentucky Sweet,

Paradise Winter,

Scarlet Sweet,

Simpson's,

Smith's Sweet,

Sweet Favorite,

Winter Sweet.

For Illinois, by W. Cutter, in Prairie Farmer:

Broadwell,

Golden Sweet,

Paradise Winter,

Ramsdell Sweet,

Sweet June,

Sweet Nonesuch.

Sweet apples arranged in succession for stock. Those marked T. are also fine for the dessert; those marked B. are superior for baking:

Hightop, B.

Bough, T.

Golden Sweeting, B.

Victuals and Drink, B. T.

Jersey Sweet,

Lyman's Pumpkin, B.

Bailey Sweet, B. T.

Ramsdell's, B.

Mote's Sweet, B. T.

Stillwater Sweeting, B.

Higby Sweet, B.

Dr. Watson, T.

Molasses,

Fall Queen, B. T.

Buckingham,

Baltimore,

Fallawater,

Michael Henry,

Broadwell, T. B.

Sweet Bellflower,

Sweet Janet, B.

London Sweet, B.

Winter Sweet Paradise, T. B.

Jersey Black,

Ladies' Sweeting, T. B.

Tallman's, B.

Holton's,

Moore's Sweeting,

Gilpin,

Campfield,

Sweet Vandervere,

Red Winter Pearmain,

Swaar,

Black Gilliflower.

In giving selections of Cider Apples I will begin with the veteran Coxe's list:

American Pippin,

Campfield,

Cooper's Russeting,

Gloucester White,