NEW OR RARE FRUITS. 



357 



tions of it — " It is difficult to form a cor- 

 rect judgment of a fruit from a few spe- 

 cimens. You need to be domiciled in its 

 company for a month or more, to give time 

 for the novelty to wear off", and to ascertain 

 whether first impressions are permanent. 

 We have been using this fine apple for 

 some time ; and, among a large variety of 

 first rate kinds, we place this at the head 

 of the list of early winter apples." 



The oldest known trees of the Melon ap- 

 ple, are in the old Chapin orchard, East 

 Bloomfield, N. Y. Oliver Chapin, jr., has 

 informed our correspondent just quoted, 

 that his father used to say, that " the kind 

 was brought from Salisbury, Connecticut." 

 But, we understand, there is no fruit of this 

 kind known in Connecticut; 

 and from certain strong traits 

 of resemblance between this 

 and the Northern Spy apple, 

 which originated in the Cha- 

 pin orchard, we suspect that 

 they are both seedlings from 

 the same source. 



The following is a correct 

 description of the Melon ap- 

 ple : 



Fruit of medium or large 

 size, roundish-flattened, pret- 

 ty regularly formed, surface 

 shining, but a little uneven. 

 Skin fair — the gound colour 

 of a pale yellowish white, 

 prettily marked with broken 

 streaks of pale purple in the 

 shade, and striped thickly 

 with rich dark purple on the sunny side. 

 Stalk about three-fourths of an inch lono-, 

 rather slender, inserted in a wide round 

 cavity, which is marked with greenish rus- 

 set. Calyx closed, set in a deep basin, 

 which is wide, finely plaited at the bottom. 

 Flesh white, fine grained, at once crisp and 



tender, and exceedingly juicy, (somewhat 

 like a watermelon in these respects,) and 

 with a remarkably refreshing, sprightly and 

 delicious flavor — a fine mingling of sweet 

 and acid. Core rather close ; seeds rather 

 small, broad and black. Season, October 

 to December. 



Altogether, we regard this fruit, in point 

 of form, size, beauty, and refreshing deli- 

 cious flavor, as one of the first dessert ap- 

 ples. Amateurs may, we presume, procure 

 trees of Mr. Smith, of Macedon, or El- 

 WANGER & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y. 



II. THE TOMPKINS APPLE. 



A large, handsome and productive au- 

 tumn apple ; superior in flavor to the 



Fig. 45. — The Tompkins Apple. 



Porter, and nearly equal in this respect to 

 the Fall Pippin. It is, we learn, a native 

 of Tompkins county, in this state, and is 

 well known in Ithaca, whence it was first in- 

 troduced to our notice by Mr. Chas. Hamil- 

 ton, nurseryman, of Canterbury, Orange 

 county. New- York. We commend it, with 



