Chapter 39
=Evening Party.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 91.--EVENING PARTY.]
This excellent dessert fruit originated in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was brought into notice by the late lamented Dr. Brinkle, of Philadelphia, in his ad-interim reports, and also in Hoffy's Fruits.
It has been tested with entire satisfaction by J.D.G. Nelson, President of the Indiana Horticultural Society, who always has admirers of the fruit exhibited by him at the winter meetings. This apple takes the place at mid-winter which is occupied in summer by the Early Joe, and in autumn by the Jefferies, Dr. Watson and Cooper.
Fruit medium to small, regular, quite flat; Surface smooth, mixed red, and carmine stripes on waxen-yellow ground; Dots numerous, distinct, gray.
Basin abrupt, regular deep; Eye small, closed; Segments long.
Cavity wide, deep, regular, brown; Stem medium, green, slender.
Core small, regular, closed, touching the eye; Axis short; Seeds short, wide, dark; Flesh light yellow, very fine-grained, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; first quality, or very best, for the dessert, or the _evening party_, during December and January.
=Fall Wine.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 92.--FALL WINE.]
Origin unknown. A great favorite in the West as a table fruit; little grown in the Eastern States, whence it was brought. Downing supposes this is because the fruit is there defective. In virgin soil it is remarkably fair and handsome.
Tree of medium size, rather slender, but healthy, spreading, and annually productive.
Fruit medium, oblate, handsome; inclined to crack open if left on the tree till ripe; Surface very smooth, waxen-yellow, almost completely covered with bright, and often deep red, upon which it is indistinctly striped; Dots minute.
Basin abrupt, wide, regular or wavy; eye small, closed; Calyx reflexed.
Cavity wide, regular, uniformly green; Stem long, slender.
Core medium, regular, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, angular or plump; flesh yellow, breaking, tender, fine-grained, juicy; flavor mild sub-acid, and very aromatic; Quality best, for table and market, during September and October or later.
=Garden.=
GARDEN ROYAL.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 93.--GARDEN.]
This fine apple has been
Fruit pretty large, roundish, flat, regular; Surface smooth, yellowish-green, slightly shaded red, scattered stripes, carmine; Dots minute, black.
Basin wide, regular, small, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, regular, green; stem short to medium, sometimes k.n.o.bby.
Core wide, closed or open, regular, clasping the eye; seeds small, pointed, brown; flesh pale yellow or whitish, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, saccharine, agreeable; Quality very good to best; Use dessert, kitchen, market; Season August to October; worthy of cultivation.
=Golay.=
This fruit originated near Vevay, Indiana, and is supposed to be a seedling of the _Janet_, which it somewhat resembles.
Fruit medium, oblate, somewhat conic, truncated, regular; Surface smooth, yellow, mixed, striped, purplish-red; Dots minute, gray, scattered, indented.
Basin wide, regular; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, regular; Stem short.
Core very small, pyriform, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, large, plump, brown; Flesh yellowish-white, breaking, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, rich; Quality good to best; Use, table; Season, January to May.
=Harvest Redstreak.=
This old variety is valued only as an early cooking apple, for which it has been found very profitable, by those who attend market. Origin unknown. Introduced into the West by Silas Wharton, from the neighborhood of Philadelphia, where it was cultivated largely. Not recognized among the varieties described by c.o.xe.
Tree spreading, open, round-headed; Twigs stout; Leaves small, mealy.
Fruit medium, roundish-oblate, regular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, striped and splashed with red, more or less mingled; Dots minute, dark, and a light bloom.
Basin medium, folded; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity acute, regular, often brown; Stem medium, thick.
Core regular, closed; Seeds angular; Flesh whitish, breaking, coa.r.s.e, juicy, becoming dry; Quality inferior, except for cooking; Season July.
=High-Top.=--[LEWIS JONES.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 94.--HIGH-TOP.]
This handsome apple is supposed to have originated in Wayne County, Indiana, and was brought into notice by Lewis Jones.
Fruit large, flat, roundish, regular; Surface smooth, mixed dull red, striped carmine; Dots scattered, minute.
Basin wide, medium, folded; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity wavy, brown, acute; Stem short, green.
Core regular, closed, or wide and open, clasping; Seeds numerous, short, plump, pale; Flesh pale yellow, fine-grained, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality good to very good; Use table, kitchen, market; Season, December, January; reminds one somewhat of Domine.
=Hocking.=
This variety has only been found in western orchards, and has not been mentioned by name in any fruit book with which I have met. At the second meeting of the Northwestern Fruit Growers' Convention, it was reported as having been brought from Fairfield County, Ohio; its resemblance to Townsend was also observed, but it was declared to be different in wood and buds. These apples may yet prove to be identical, but as the question is not settled, both will be described.
Tree thrifty, vigorous, productive--an early bearer.