46 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I902. 



seminated by a New York nursery firm under the name "North 

 Star" — an unfortunate circumstance as there is another very 

 different variety bearing that name by right of priority. It is a 

 valuable acquisition as a winter fruit for the northern parts of 

 the State, but as grown at Orono it is decidedly a fall variety. 



Rolfe. Originated in the town of Guilford about 1820. 



Fruit medium to large, oblate, often angular, yellowish, shaded 

 and striped with red. Stalk short, inserted in a large cavity ; 

 calyx large, closed, in a rather large, regular basin. Flesh white, 

 fine-grained, tender, juicy, sub-acid ; core small. Good to very 

 good. November to January. 



Though comparatively an old variety, the Rolfe is not as 

 widely known as it should be. The variety originated on high 

 land in the town of Guilford, about a mile from the Piscataquis 

 river. The seed from which it sprang was brought from West- 

 ern Maine to that place by a Mr. Rolfe. * About 1820 the original 

 tree, together with several other young seedlings was given to 

 Elder Macomber — hence the name Macombcr applied to this 

 variety by Downing. A sprout from the original tree is still 

 standing on the Macomber farm and produces annual crops of 

 fruit. H. L. Leland of East Sangerville, has more than a hun- 

 dred trees of this variety in his orchard and says : "The Rolfe 

 in our local markets, sells better and at bigger prices than any 

 other variety that we grow. It sells well as a shipping apple, 

 though not much known." As already noted, the variety is 

 hardy in sheltered locations as far north as Presque Isle, and it 

 is regarded highly wherever known. 



Stowe. Originated in Perham, Aroostook county, about 1875. 

 Tree vigorous, spreading, very hardy, an annual bearer. 



Fruit medium to large, roundish conical, greenish-yellow with 

 blush cheek, and with many small whitish dots. Stem short, 

 slender, inserted in a medium cavity. Flesh yellowish, tender, 

 juicy, sub-acid. Core small. Good. February to May, in 

 Aroostook. 



This variety has never attracted the attention of nurserymen, 

 but has had a good local reputation for several years. It is well 

 worthy of general dissemination as a valuable "ironclad" variety. 

 Its history, as given in the report of the Maine Pomological 

 Society for 1895, is essentially as follows: Seed was brought to 

 Perham from Massachusetts bv Francis Stowe about 1862, and 



