The Apples of New York. 75 



BILLY BOND. 



References, i. Downing, 1872:90. 2. Thomas, 1885:503. 3. Not listed 

 by Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234. 



Synonyms. Belle Bonde (i). Belle Bonne (2). Billy Bond (i, 2). 



Fruit rather attractive, being mottled, shaded and splashed with 

 red over a yellow background. It is quite uniform in size and 

 shape. It is desirable for cooking and evaporating, but is not much 

 esteemed for dessert because it ranks but second rate in quality. 

 In Wayne county it is regarded by many as a profitable commercial 

 variety. It comes into bearing young and is a reliable cropper with 

 a marked tendency to bear annually. The tree is a good grower, 

 both in orchard and nursery. 



Historical. Downing mentions a report that this apple had its origin in 

 France in 1790, but in Wayne county where it was first brought to notice, it 

 is claimed by some that it originated in the town of Lyons with a man whose 

 name, Billy Bond, became attached to the variety. After it was disseminated 

 this name evidently became confused with that of Belle et Bonne or Belle 

 Bonne a very different apple, and so it came to be called variously Belle Bonde, 

 the name which Downing accepted as correct (i), Belle Bonne, which Thomas 

 sanctioned (2), Belle Bend, Billy Bend, etc. It has been grown to a limited 

 extent in Wayne county, and scattering trees of it are occasionally found in 

 other parts of Western New York. Bailey does not list it in his inventory 

 of North American Apples in 1892 (3). It has never received much attention 

 from nurserymen nor has it gained a prominent place in commercial orchards. 



Tree. 

 Tree large, rather vigorous. Form upright or somewhat spreading. Tivigs 

 medium in length, rather erect, thick. Bark reddish-brown mingled with 

 olive-green; internodes short, pubescent. Lcnticcls numerous to medium size, 

 usually roundish, conspicuous. Buds medium to large, broad, plump, obtuse, 

 slightly pubescent. P'oliage moderately dense ; leaves medium to large, often 

 broad. 



Fruit. 



Fruit usually above medium to rather large. Form roundish inclined to 

 oblong, or sometimes to conic, somewhat elliptical or irregular; sides some- 

 times unequal, often broadly or obscurely ribbed, axis often oblique. Stem 

 medium to rather long, rather slender. Cavity acute, deep, moderately wide, 

 compressed or furrowed, often partly russeted or with outspreading rays of 

 thin russet, sometimes lipped. Caly.v small to medium, closed or partly open. 

 Basin often oblique, moderately wide, rather abrupt, indistinctly furrowed, 

 varying from rather shallow to moderately deep. 



Skin smooth, somewhat waxy, bright yellow, mottled and shaded with red, 

 splashed with lively deep purplish-red. Dots whitish, or russet, rather numer- 

 ous. Prevailing effect striped red, attractive. 



Calyx tube long, rather narrow, funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal. 



Core medium to rather small, axile, closed or partly open ; core lines clasp- 

 VoL. I — 4 



