68 The Apples of New York. 



but it is not a good shipper. Because of its tender skin and delicate color 

 it shows bruises readilj^, so that with ordinary methods of handling it is apt 

 to be damaged in appearance. It has not always kept well. When the trees 

 are overloaded, a good deal of the fruit is either too small for market or grades 

 second class in size. For these reasons and because there are other commer- 

 cial sorts larger in tree and in fruit, more reliable croppers and less subject 

 to scab, Belmont, although it is known in various parts of the state, is grown 

 to a limited extent only in New York commercial orchards. The tree is gen- 

 erally hardy except in the more elevated or more northern portions of the state. 

 In trying locations it is sometimes injured by sunscald or canker. It usually 

 bears biennially and yields good to heavy crops. The fruit hangs well to 

 the tree. 



Historical. Downing at first regarded Belmont as identical with Waxen 



of Coxe (i), but in the first revised edition this error is corrected with the 



statement that the variety originated in the garden of a Mrs. Beam, near 



Strasburgh, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from whence it was taken to 



Belmont county, Ohio, where it became very popular and received the name 



of Belmont. 



Tree. 



Tree medium size, usually moderately vigorous, in some places rather 



dwarfish but on rich soils and in favorable locations it becomes large. Form 



upright spreading. Tivigs medium in length or rather short, rather slender. 



Bark light reddish-brown or olive-green becoming rather dark ; partly covered 



with gray pubescence. 



Fruit. 



Fruit medium or above, sometimes large; fairly uniform in size and shape. 

 Form varies from rounded oblong to oblate conic but is usually roundish, some- 

 what broadly and indistinctly ribbed, somewhat irregular. Stem medium to 

 short, often slender. Cavity rather large, acute to acuminate, rather deep, 

 moderately broad, wavy, irregular, usually with thin brown russet, sometimes 

 lipped. Calyx rath.er small, usually closed. Basin rather shallow to deep, 

 moderately abrupt to abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled. 



Skin thick, tough, smooth, waxen, clear bright yellow with bright orange- 

 red blush. Dots whitish with minute russet point, often submerged, on the 

 blushed portion becoming red areolar. Prevailing color yellow, not striped. 



Calyx tube long, elongated cone-shape or funnel-form. Stamens marginal. 



Core medium to rather large, axile, sometimes closed ; core lines clasping. 

 Carpels roundish, pointed cordate, tufted. Seeds rather long, acute, tufted. 



Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine, crisp, tender, moderately 

 juicy, mild subacid, very good. 



Season October to February. 



Uses. Cooking, dessert and local market. 



BEN DAVIS. 



Referexces. I. Downing, 1857:119. fig. 2. Elliott, 1859:124. 3. Adair, 

 Horticulturist, 15:226. i860. 2 figs. 4. Downing, Horticulturist, 16:40. 1861. 

 5. Am.. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 6. Warder, 1867:585. fig. 7. Am. Pom. Soc. 

 Rpt., 1869:40. 8. Downing, 1872:93. fig. 9. Leroy, 1873:126. i^"'. 10. Barry, 

 1883:343. II. Thomas, 1885:230. 12. Lyon, Mich. Hart. Soc. Rpt., 1890:288. 



