THK APPLE. ITS VAUIETIKS. 



133 



Figures.— Pom. Mag. t. 46. Ron. Pyr. Mai. pi. vi. f. 1. 



Fruit, medium sized ; roundish-ovate, and narrowing towards the eye, 



where it is angular. Skin, green- 

 ish-yellow on the shaded side ; 

 but bright-red next the sun, strip- 

 ed all over with darker red, and 

 strewed with grey russety dots. 

 Eye, half open, and prominent ; 

 with long, broad, erect segments, 

 surrounded with a number of 

 puckered knobs. Stalk, short and 

 thick, about half-an-inch long, 

 inserted in a small, and shallow 

 cavity. Flesh, greenish-white, 

 brisk, juicy, and vinous, with a 

 pleasant and very refreshing flavor. 

 A first-rate early dessert apple ; 

 it is ripe in the beginning of 

 August, but does not keep long, be- 

 ing very liable to become meally. 

 To have it in perfection, it is well 

 to gather it a few days before it ripens on the tree, and thereby secure 

 its juicy, and vinous flavor. 



The tree does not attain a large size, being rather a small grower. It 

 is a good bearer, more so than the Joanneting, and is quite hardy, except 

 in light soils, when it is liable to canker. It is well adapted for growing 

 as dwarfs, either for potting or being trained as an espalier, when grafted 

 on the paradise, or pomme paradis stock. 



This is a very old English apple. It is without doubt the Margaret 

 of Rea, Worldige, Ray, and all our early pomologists except Miller ; Mr. 

 Lindley, however, is of a different opinion, for he believes the Mar- 

 garet of Miller to be identical with that of Ray. That this variety is the 

 Margaret of Rea, his description is sufficient evidence. " The Margaret 

 or Magdelen Apple is a fair and beautiful fruit, yellow, and thick striped 

 with red, early ripe, of a delicate taste, sweet flavor, and best eaten off 

 the tree." Ray gives no description of it, but it is only reasonable to 

 suppose, that it is this variety he refers to, seeing it is the Margaret of 

 all authors both immediately preceeding, and subsequent to him. And 

 indeed in no instance is that of Miller noticed by any English author, 

 but himself, anterior to Mr. Lindley. 



222. MARGIE.— Hook. 



Identification. — Plook. Pom. Lond. Ilort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 428. Lind. Guide, 

 53. Down. Fr. Amer. 117. Thomp. in Gard. Chron. 1847, p. 116. 



Synonymes. — Margin, i^ors. Treat. 114. Rvg. Fr. Cult. 48. Never Fail, Hott. 

 Soc. Cat. ed. 1, 629. Munches Pippin, Ibid. 623. Small Ribston, M.C.H.S. 



Figures.— Hook. Pom. Lond. t. 33. Pom. Mag. t. 36. Ron. Pyr. Mai. pi. xii. f. 4. 



Fruit, small, two inches and an eighth wide, and the same in height > 

 conical, distinctly five sided, with acute angles on the side, which termin- 



