196 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. • 



sively grown in this State than any other variety, and it suffered 

 more in the winter of 1856-T than any other, and somewhat, also, 

 during two hard winters since then. Notwithstanding this injury, 

 however, probably a large majority of farmers in the central and 

 southern parts of the State still rely upon it as their most profit- 

 able variety. An apple possessing all the good qualities of the Bald- 

 win, connected with entire hardiness in the tree, in the climate of 

 Maine, is a great desideratum. It is supposed by some that there 

 are several varieties of the Baldwin, but there seems no doubt that 

 the differences which exist, are due to variation in soil or seasons, 

 or from a peculiar influence in some cases from the stock upon 

 which it is grafted. 



Benoni. 



Benoni. One of the best early apples, ripening with the Wil- 

 liams' or soon after, and of decidedly better qualit3^ Medium 

 size, fair, smooth skin, yellow, mostly covered with deep red. 

 Flesh yellowish, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, sprightly and rich. Tree a 

 vigorous, upright grower and bears well, mostly in alternate years. 



Ben Davis. Int#duced' from Kentucky and but little dissemin- 

 ated as yet. So far as proved, it is of vigorous growth, abundantly 

 productive every year, keeps as late as almost any, and so hardy 

 that scions inserted in the spring of 1856 wholly escaped injury in 

 the following winter, a circumstance true of very few sorts. In 

 size rather above medium, roundish, narrowing a little towards the 



