DISCUSSION OF VARIETIES. 



29 



is too small for market purposes. On account of the weakness of the tree, however, 

 it is of doubtful value in this region for any purpose. 



Early Ripe. 



This variety is supposed to have come originally from Adams County, Pa., but 

 the point is open to question. It is evidently not generally known over a wide range 

 of country, but in this region it is one of the most important of the early commercial 

 sorts of the white or yellow skinned varieties. It is grown extensively, however, 

 only in the Chesapeake peninsula sections. There appears to be no well-defined 

 reason why it has not become kno\vn and generally planted in New Jersey, but it 



Fig. 2.— An Early liipc apple tree in Delaware, al)out 15 years old. 



is practically unknown in that section; the same is true in the Virginia section. In 

 North Carolina it is to l)e found in a small number of orchards. 



The tree is rather upright in habit of growth, with strong tough limbs not easily 

 broken. (Fig. 2.) It bears early and in most cases abundantly, with nearly annual 

 crops. The fruit is medium or above in size, yellow, subacid, of firm texture, good 

 quality, and less subject to insect injury, especially the plum curculio, than many 

 other varieties. 



In season, it is one of the earliest. In some places it is the first variety to be shipped 

 from the section where it is extensively grown. It cooks well before it is fully ripe, 

 194 



