122 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



shaded with deep rich red in the sun, obscure, broken stripes, spla?hes and mottling? 

 in the shade, sometimes entirely covered with crimson and many light dots; stalk 

 short to medium, slender; cavity large, green russet; calys partially closed; basin, 

 deep, abrupt, uneven; flesh white, fine, sometimes stained with red, tender, juicy 

 vinous, lively subacid; very good; core small; October to February. The chief 

 objection to it is that it drops badly. 



MuNSON Sweet — Origin uncertain, probably Massachusetts. Tree vigorous, spread- 

 ing, an annual and abundant bearer. Fruit medium, oblate, pale yellow, sometimes 

 with a blush. Stem short, cavity large, calyx closed. Basin small Flesh yellow- 

 ish, juicy, sweet. Good. September to February. One of the most desirable for 

 family use. 



Ben Davis — The committee do not deem it advisable to place 

 tbis variety in the Society's Fruit list at this time, for while the 

 apple sold well in 1886, 1887, and 1888 in the foreign markets, — 

 better than the Baldwin in fact, — it is of inferior quality. It is said 

 by our pomologists that those grown in the southwest are superior 

 to those grown in Maine. The tree is hardy, blossoms late, a regu- 

 lar bearer, and to give a succession of fruits through the year for 

 family use one or two trees are desirable, but for commercial pur- 

 poses it is thought by many that its quality will not warrant grow- 

 ing them in Maine. For the information of the public we give the 

 following description of the tree and fruit abridged from Downing : 



"The origin of this apple is unknown. The tree is very hardy, a free grower, with 

 very dark reddish brown, slightly grayish young wood, forming an erect round head» 

 bearing early and abundantly. In quality it is not first-rate, but from its early pro- 

 ductiveness, habit of blooming late in spring after the late frosts, good size, fair even, 

 fruit, keeping and carrying well, it is very popular in all the Southwest and West. 

 Fruit medium to large. Form roundith, truncated conical, often sides unequal. 

 Color yellowish, almost entirely overspread, splashed and striped with two shades of 

 red, and dotted sparsely with areole dots. Stalk medium, rather slender. Cavity- 

 narrow, deep, russeted. Calyx partially open. Basin wide, abrupt, slightly corru- 

 gated. Flesh white, tender, moderately juicy, pleasant, subacid. Core medium to 

 large. Good to very good. December to March." 



Maine grown Ben Davis are not as good as those described above; in fact it is in- 

 ferior to many of our best apples in quality. Its season in Maine is from February to 

 August. 



MiLDEN OR MiLDiNG — Origin, Alton, N. H. Tree hardy; a strong, vigorous, up- 

 right grower, forming a large, round head; very productive alternate years of large,, 

 fair fruit, which is highly esteemed where known for market and family use. Fruit 

 large, oblate, slightly conic, slightly angular; skin smooth, whitish yellow, shaded, 

 striped, splashed and mottled with light and dark bright rich red nearly over th» 

 whole surface and a few light dots; stalk rather short, slender; cavity broad, deep, 

 sometimes thinly russeted; calyx closed, or nearly so; basin broad, moderately deep, 

 furrowed; flesh whitish yellow, rather coarse, brittle, tender, juicy, sprightly, sub- 

 acid, slightly aromatic; core medium. December, January. 



