Chapter 46
Tree very large and handsome, spreading and very open head; leaves small, curled, and mealy, making the foliage appear rather meagre, and displaying the splendid fruit, which is evenly distributed.
Fruit large, globular-oblate, flattened or truncate, regular, occasionally unequal and lop-sided; Surface smooth, yellow, more or less covered with mixed and broken stripes of red, splashed with crimson; Dots scattered, large, gray.
Basin rather shallow, wide, abrupt; Eye small, closed, or open from breaking of the calyx.
Cavity acute, regular, brown; Stem short, thick.
Core medium, regular, closed; Seeds numerous, large, angular; Flesh yellow, firm, breaking, juicy; Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich; Quality good, for market and kitchen; Season, November and December.
=Winter Queen.=--[_c.o.xe._]
FALL QUEEN--KENTUCKY QUEEN--ROBERTSON'S SUPERB (of Ga.)
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 117.--WINTER QUEEN.]
This is a favorite, of southern origin, and has many synonyms. An excellent apple for drying, for family use and for market. Tree thrifty, upright, productive, early bearer; limbs long and parallel while young; shoots dark, stout; foliage large, broad, rather pale.
Fruit large, often very large, globular-oblate, somewhat conic, regular; Surface smooth, often polished, yellow, almost wholly obscured with marbled dull red, and darker stripes that are often lost in the depth of tint; Dots generally small, indented; often a slight bloom covers the fruit, but it is easily removed, when the skin appears to be polished.
Basin deep, abrupt, narrow, often wavy or even ribbed; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity deep, wide, green, wavy or regular; Stem medium.
Core regular, closed, meeting, not clasping the eye axis is sometimes very short; Seeds large, plump;
=Yost.=
Having been disappointed in receiving this apple, I give Dr. W.D.
Brinckle's ad interim report:
Fruit rather large, roundish-oblate, beautifully striped, and delicately mottled with crimson on yellow ground; Stem short; Cavity wide, deep; Flesh yellow, tender, juicy; Flavor pleasant; Quality very good.
CLa.s.s I.--FLAT APPLES.
+ORDER I.--REGULAR.+
SECTION 2.--SOUR.
SUB-SECTION 3.--RUSSET.
=Perry Russet.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 118.--PERRY RUSSET.]
This variety is grown to some extent in the North-west. The specimen from which the description is made, was exhibited by Mr. Utters, at a meeting of the North-western Fruit Growers, in 1850.
Fruit medium to large, oblate, regular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered with fine russet; Dots minute, scattered.
Basin medium, regular, wavy; Eye large, closed.
Cavity medium, regular or wavy, brown; Stem medium size and length.
Core small, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds few, plump, brown; Flesh yellow, fine grained, juicy; Flavor acid, rich; Quality almost best, for table or kitchen; Season, December and January.
=Pomme Grise.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 119.--POMME GRISE.]
Supposed to be of French or Canadian origin. Tree sufficiently vigorous, productive; shoots slender.
Fruit small, roundish-oblate, regular; Surface even but hardly smooth, yellow, overspread with fine russet, rarely blushed.
Basin wide, regular, sometimes abrupt; Eye very small, closed.
Cavity wide, regular; Stem short or medium.
Core full heart-shaped, regular, closed, scarcely meeting the eye; Seeds plump, angular; Flesh firm, yellow, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, rich, aromatic, delicious; Quality _best_, for dessert; Season, January to March; One of the very best of the Russets.
=Willis Russet.=
This apple was brought from Ma.s.sachusetts, by my friend and neighbor B.F. Sanford, without any history of its origin. The quality of the fruit has induced me to give its description.
Fruit medium to small, roundish-oblate; Surface rough, yellow, shaded with light red, covered with russet.
Basin shallow, folded; Eye long, closed.
Cavity wide, wavy; Stem long.
Core large, wide, open, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellow, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor acid or sub-acid, aromatic; Quality almost first rate, for the table; Season, December and January.
CLa.s.s I.--FLAT APPLES.
+ORDER II.--REGULAR IN FORM.+
SECTION 1.--SWEET.
SUB-SECTION 1.--SELF-COLORED.