388 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FRUIT. 



Size, large, one-fourth to one-third larger than its parent, the New 

 England Baldwin : shape, like its parent, and specimens vary in shape 

 in the same way; color very much like its parent, but with more of 

 red ; flesh, fine-grained, juicy, crisp, rich, and of a peculiarly fine acid, 

 that plainly resembles the acid of the lemon; use, baking, stewing, 

 pies or jelly, for each and all of which it is simply the best; in cooking 

 it literally melts. It is ready to cook as soon as it has its size, but is 

 so acid that few people like to eat it uncooked until the latter part of 

 its season, when it is a favorite eating apple. Season, 1st of October 

 to April, but can be kept in good condition till May. 



A child worthy to be born in the Great AVide West from seed of 

 the apple that by reason of its real superiority of tree and fruit has 

 held highest place in our Great Little East for generations. 



I have not, nor do I expect to have, any pecuniary interest in the 

 sale of the trees of the Babbitt, directly or indirectly, presently or re- 

 motely, to the value of one cent, but I do expect to plant it in orchard 

 heavily. 



There is no monopoly of this variety, for it has been already sent 

 to a number of men to be further tested in different places in five or 

 more different States. My motive in this matter is the same that moves 

 our best fruit raisers to hasten to tell all they know, and very often to 

 hurry to give away cions, or trees, or vines of their choicest originat- 

 ings or findings. 



For my own or for my childrens' sake I could poorly afford to 

 trifle with the reputation that I have been so many years earning, by 

 making a misstatement or even a mistake. 



W. R. Laughlin. 



