FRUITS. 63 



FRUITS. 



NEW WINTER APPLES. 



[From the Report of the Committee] 



There lias been offered for several years the liberal pre- 

 mium of a hundred dollars for a new kind of winter apples 

 equal to the Baldwin or Roxbury Russet. We suppose it 

 means for late keeping as well as for quality. We well 

 remember the discussion that took place among the trustees 

 about offering this large premium. It was said by some of 

 the oldest and most experienced members, that, in their 

 opinion, apple-trees would in time deteriorate, and become 

 less productive, and the fruit inferior in quality; and the 

 importance of new kinds of late-keeping apples was particu- 

 larly alluded to. If it is a fact that apples deteriorate, as 

 above stated, it is wise to look for new kinds. Notwith- 

 standing the large premium that has been offered, we believe 

 there has been no application for it. 



We well remember the old orchards and the great quantity 

 of apples they produced in our early days, nearly all of which 

 were made into cider, as there was but little or no market for 

 them within a reasonable distance. 



There were several kinds that originated in our neighbor- 

 hood, that were of superior quality, which would not have 

 dishonored the tables at our county fair. The origin of those 

 trees, gome of which are yet standing, would, we think, date 

 back about a hundred and fifty years. The Methuen Pippin, 

 the Bean apple, the Orange apple, the Red apple, and other 

 kinds, are all now in existence in our locality, but have so 

 deteriorated, that they are now considered of but little value. 



The Roxbury Russet, we suppose from the name, originated 

 in Roxbury ; as to the time, we have no knowledge. Among 



