Chapter 95
RIDGE PIPPIN, LEMON, &C.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 290.--ROCK PIPPIN.]
This admirable long-keeper has claims upon the attention of the commercial orchardist, on account of its soundness and beauty in the spring. Tree very thrifty, large, productive; Branches open, spreading; Shoots stout, dark; Foliage large, scattered.
Fruit full medium, oblong, ovate, angular, often ribbed, truncate at the apex, sometimes unequal; Surface very smooth, very rich yellow, blushed bright carmine when ripe; Dots few, small, dark.
Basin shallow, plaited or folded; Eye small, short, closed.
Cavity acute, often lipped; Stem medium.
Core medium, pyriform, open, somewhat clasping; Seeds numerous, long, brown; Flesh yellow, breaking, rather dry; Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich; Quality only good; Use, market and kitchen; Season, December to May; of most value to sell at the latter period.
Cooks well all winter.
=Yellow Bellflower.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 291.--YELLOW BELLFLOWER.]
This n.o.ble and valuable const.i.tuent of our orchards came from Burlington County, New Jersey, where it was first described by c.o.xe.
This apple has succeeded in almost all parts of the country, North and South, and has proved remarkably hardy. The quality of the fruit varies with the soil, being best and most highly flavored and colored on exposed ridges of rather thin soil, while those on rich low bottoms or prairies are slow in bearing, and then produce very large fruit.
The crops, however, are not always satisfactory in such situations, though the trees become very large; the blossoms are often destroyed by spring frosts.
Tree vigorous, thrifty, hardy, large, spreading, drooping; Twigs slender, brown; Foliage abundant, long, wavy; Blossoms very large, on long stems, exposed to the weather and not protected by the leaves.
Fruit large to very large, oblong, ovate, angular, ribbed; Surface smooth, rich yellow, sometimes blushed; Dots scattered gray.
Basin shallow or
Cavity deep, acute or wide, wavy; Stem long, curved.
Core large, oval, open, clasping; Seeds dark, large, angular, imperfect; Flesh yellow, breaking, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor acid to sub-acid, aromatic, very rich and satisfying; Quality best; Use, table, kitchen, market; Season, December.
One of the finest culinary apples in the catalogue.
=York Imperial.=
From the neighborhood of York, Pennsylvania. Exhibited before the State Society at the meeting in Lebanon, 1855. Tree said to be healthy and productive.
Fruit large, rather oblong, somewhat angular; Surface smooth, mixed bright red on greenish yellow.
Basin wide, plaited; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity deep, wide; Stem short.
Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality quite good; Use, market, kitchen; Season, January, February.
CLa.s.s IV.--OBLONG APPLES.
+ORDER II.--IRREGULAR.+
SECTION 2.--SOUR.
SUB-SECTION 2.--STRIPED.
=Clyde Beauty.=
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 292.--CLYDE BEAUTY.]
"Origin, Wayne County, New York. Tree vigorous, upright, very productive.
"Fruit large, roundish, conic, angular; Skin greenish, oily, sprinkled and mottled with dull red, and bright red in the sun; Stem short, slender, inserted in an acute cavity; Calyx closed, set in a small corrugated basin; Flesh white, tender, juicy with a brisk sub-acid flavor; October to January."--[Downing.]
=Frank or Chenango.=
CHENANGO STRAWBERRY.
This beautiful apple has been called also the _Late Strawberry_. So, to avoid confusion, perhaps, it were better to adopt its local name _Frank_. It is a native of New York.
Fruit medium to large oblong, tapering, irregular; Surface smooth, beautifully striped on waxen yellow.
Basin folded and plaited, abrupt; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity ac.u.minate; Stem medium.
Flesh tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality very good; Use, dessert; Season, autumn.
=Minister.=
This New England apple was introduced by Mr. Manning; when he brought it before the American Pomological Society, it met with so much favor from the members of that body that it was adopted and recommended. In the Western States it has failed to give satisfaction and is generally discarded, but further North it may do as well as in New England. In Ohio it becomes an autumn apple, and is only used for cooking, when we have plenty of others that are preferred.
Tree healthy, vigorous, early bearer, and constantly productive.
Fruit full medium to large, oblong, tapering to the eye, ribbed, irregular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered bright red mixed, splashed carmine, often handsome; Dots minute.
Basin very narrow, folded, plaited; Eye small, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, sometimes brown; Stem long, slender.
Flesh yellowish, breaking, juicy; Flavor acid; Quality only good; Use, kitchen; Season, September and later; not a winter fruit in lat.i.tude forty.