320 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



In response, we state that we never saw the apple referred to; but it is 

 described in "Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees of America" under the name 

 of Pawpaw, with the synonyms of "Western Baldwin," "Kubicon," and " Ball 

 Apple." We give Downing^s description as follows: " Origin, Paw Paw, Mich. 

 Tree hardy, a good and regular bearer. Young shoots dull grayish reddish 

 brown. A new apple, esteemed in its place of origin for its productiveness 

 and beauty of appearance. Fruit medium, roundish oblong, slightly oblique; 

 yellow, shaded, and mostly overspread with bright rich red, faintly splashed 

 and mottled, moderately sprinkled with aureole dots. Stalk medium. Cavity 

 deep and narrow. Calyx partially open. Segments a little recurved. Flesh 

 yellowish, juicy, firm, rich, brisk sub-acid. Very good. Season December to 

 June." 



Evidently, from this description, it is a desirable winter market apple in 

 every respect. No ; we do not advise the culture, extensively, for market, of 

 fruits that are not popular, or that liave not the elements of popularity, unless 

 one has hope of making those who purchase knoio the superiority of the 

 unpopular fruit, which we have found to be up-hill work. A grower cannot 

 control taste ; and some people value the gratification of the senses through 

 the eye as highly as through the palate. 



The above article appeared in a recent number of the Eural New-Yorker. 

 Learning from a friend that j\lr. James Harris, of Grand Haven township, had 

 cultivated this apple for several years, making a speciality of it in fact, we 

 wrote him for the information asked for. 



Mr. H. did not reply to the letter at the time, but came in person some time 

 after, which accounts for the delay. Mr. Harris gives the following account 

 of the origin of the apple: 



Thirty-two years ago the mother-in-law of Mr. H,, Mrs. Ball, who was on a 

 visit to Niles, ate an apple, the seeds of which she saved and carried home to 

 Paw Paw, where they were planted, one of the trees from that planting being 

 the Rubicon, or " Ball " apple, as claimed by Mr. Harris, who cultivated and 

 brought the trees into bearing. 



Soon after the tree began to bear, Mr. H., in conversation with Mr. Lyman 

 S. Hall, a nurseryman of Paw Paw, on the relative qualities of different fruits, 

 laid a wager that he would produce the best fruit, and won it on the Eubicon 

 apple, and in this way this fruit was first brought into notice. Specimens 

 were sent to Mr. Barry, a nurseryman of Eochester, N. Y., who thoroughly 

 tested it, and gave it the name of Eubicon. Ten years ago Mr. Harris moved 

 to Ottawa county, Michigan, bringing with him some of the trees to set in a 

 new orchard. He now has about one hundred and fifty trees in bearing. He 

 has furnished the Spring Lake nursery with 20,000 grafts from his present 

 orchard. 



This apple was exhibited at the Michigan State Fair in 1871, and again at 

 Grand Eapids in 1872, and took premiums at both places. He took fifteen 

 awards at the Spring Lake Horticultural Fair in 1871, aifd in 1872 no awards 

 were made, which Mr. Harris claims was partial and unfair. He is enthusi- 

 astic on the subject of the "Eubicon," and will cheerfully answer any inquir- 

 ies that may be addressed to him at Grand Haven. He says the apple is 

 rightly described in the article of the Eural, except as to the season, wjiich, 

 for this locality, is later, being from January to July. The skin is a handsome 

 red, and flesh yellow and pleasant sour. 



After considerable discussion the apple was referred to the standing com- 



