Chapter 57
=Limbertwig.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 155.--LIMBERTWIG.]
This well known southern apple is much cultivated in many parts of the West as a long keeping winter variety. It is a favorite with the southern immigrants, and found most abundant in regions occupied by them, but it has been carried pretty far to the north. The synonym _James River_, as given by Downing, is not met with among the people as applied to this apple, but the _Willow Twig_ is often so named.
Tree thrifty, exceedingly productive; Shoots slender and drooping with the heavy crops.
Fruit medium to small, roundish conic, regular; Surface rather smooth, mixed dull purplish red, on green, stripes scarcely to be traced; Dots numerous, large, irregular, brown.
Basin medium, regular; Eye small, open.
Cavity deep, acute, brown; Stem medium, curved.
Core rather large, regular, turbinate, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, small, plump, long; Flesh greenish-yellow, firm; Flavor sub-acid, rich, aromatic; Quality very good; Use, table and kitchen; Season, March and April. Keeps very well, but wilts if exposed to the air--preserved very well in the ground.
=Long Island Seek-no-Further.=
WESTCHESTER SEEK-NO-FURTHER.
This old variety still has its admirers in the Eastern States, but is not often seen in the West. I describe specimens from Wm. S.
Carpenter, of Westchester County, New York.
The tree is vigorous and productive.
Fruit rather large, oblate, conic, regular; Surface greenish-yellow, splashed bright red; Dots numerous, scattered, russet.
Basin shallow, wavy; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem long.
Core regular, closed; Seeds pointed, angular, imperfect; Flesh greenish-white, breaking, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality good to very good; Use, table, cooking; Season, October, November.
=Polly Bright.=
Origin Virginia. Considerably cultivated in Eastern Ohio.
"Fruit elongated, conic; Skin light yellow, shaded carmine, obscurely striped; Stalk of medium length, in an acute cavity, russeted; Calyx in a small furrowed basin. Flesh tender, juicy, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor;
=Rawle's Janet.=
JANETTING OR GENETON--NEVER FAIL--ROCK RIMMON, ETC., ETC.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 156.--RAWLE'S JANET.]
This famous southern apple has been spread throughout the West, and even the Northwest where, however, it has not proved hardy. It also has the fault of over-bearing, when the fruit is often small and insipid. In suitable soils it is very fine and deservedly a favorite with planters, some of whom recommend fifty trees of this variety in an orchard of one hundred. Origin Virginia.
Tree thrifty, not large, spreading; Twigs brownish, foliage medium, rather whitish. Blossoms appear later than other sorts, and thus they sometimes escape a spring frost.
Fruit medium, sometimes large when thinned, flattened, conic, regular; Surface smooth, mixed and striped crimson on yellow and green; Dots numerous, small.
Basin wide, regular; Eye small, closed; Segments reflexed.
Cavity acute, deep, regular, brown; Stem long, curved.
Core regular, heart-shaped, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellowish, crisp, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, vinous, refres.h.i.+ng; Quality good to very good; Use, dessert, kitchen, market and cider; Season, February, March, and later.
=Red Winter Pearmain.=
RED GILLIFLOWER--RED LADY FINGER--BUNCOMBE? ETC.
This favorite southern apple is widely diffused through the South and West, and its good qualities have made it many admirers. Origin uncertain.
Tree sufficiently vigorous, upright, productive, annual bearer.
Fruit medium to large, conic, regular; Surface smooth, deep red, almost purplish on yellow, stripes nearly lost in the depth of coloring, whitish shading exteriorly, not a bloom; Dots numerous, minute.
Basin regular, plaited or folded; Eye long or large, open.
Cavity acute, regular, green; Stem medium length, thick, k.n.o.bby.
Core medium, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, large, plump; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, almost sweet, rich, satisfying; Quality good; Use, table and kitchen; Season, December and January.
=Rosy Red.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 157.--ROSY RED.]
This is one of the valuable fruits which we owe to the indefatigable efforts, of that earnest pomologist and thus philanthropist, Lewis Jones, of Cambridge, Indiana. Found in a seedling orchard.
Fruit medium, conical, truncated, regular; Surface smooth, bright red, generally diffused, indistinctly striped; Dots scattered, medium, yellow.
Basin medium, shallow, regular or folded; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity acute, narrow, deep, brown; Stem medium, slender, yellow.
Core wide, indistinct, partly open, scarcely meeting the eye; Seeds few, plump and imperfect; Flesh pale yellow, breaking, juicy; Flavor sub-acid; Quality good; Use, market and table; Season, December and January.
=Westfield Seek-no-Further.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 158.--WESTFIELD SEEK-NO-FURTHER.]
This favorite Connecticut apple has been widely disseminated throughout the country, and is universally admired by those who come from the Northern States; on lower parallels it is less known, and not so highly appreciated, nor is it so fine a fruit, being larger, but less compact, more spongy, less beautifully colored and sometimes almost a russet.