NEW VARIETIES OF FRUITS. 



KEAD BY T. T. LYON OF SOUTH HAYEN, AT THE LANSING MEETING OF 



THE STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



APPLES. 



Gentlemen : Having been requested to prepare some account of the new 

 varieties of fruits now being brought before the public, we find ourselves em- 

 barrassed from the mere amount of material at hand, and also at a loss to 

 determine where to draw the line between the old and the new. It will, of 

 course, be understood that many of these candidates for the favor of planters 

 have Dot fruited, to any considerable extent, if at all, out of their original 

 localities; and hence that what we may say of them must be said largely upon 

 the representations of their originators, or other partial and possibly over- 

 enthusiastic friends. 



Inasmuch as the apple stands first in alphabetical order, as well as first in 

 real value and importance to the people of the State, your attention is first 

 drawn to that fruit. 



SHIAWASSEE BEAUTY. 



This can hardly be called a new variety, except m a very accommodated 

 sense; and attention is now called to it for the reason that, in the very full 

 notice and history of it by Prof. A. J. Cook, published in the transactions of 

 this society for 1872, at pages 459 to 462, some essential particulars seem to 

 have escape his notice; besides which, it seems to be so decidedly winning 

 upon the confidence of those who have, so far, made its acquaintance that we 

 feel it to be important that the knowledge of its history and value be made as 

 general and complete as possible. 



The following account of its origin, and description and outline of the fruit, 

 were contributed by me to the Michigan Farmer, and published in that jour- 

 nal, under date of November 12th, 1859. It was also copied into the February 

 number of Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture for 18G0. 



The description and outline by Charles Downing : 



" About medium in size, oblate, much depressed, angular, skin whitish, shaded, marbled, 

 splashed and striped with rich crimson and moderately sprinkled with light dots; stalk 

 rather short and small, inserted in a large uneven cavity; calyx closed, segments erect, 

 sometimes a little recurved ; basin large, open, slightly furrowed ; flesh of snowy whiteness, 

 very tender, juicy, with a brisk, refreshing, sut)-acid flavor; quality 'very good.' 



" This exceedingly beautiful apple was first brought to the notice of the writer last Nov- 

 ember, through the medium of J. T. Elliott, Esq., of Grand Rapids, from whom he received 

 a few specimens of the fruit at that time. He is also this season (1859) indebted to Marvin 



