8o Tpie Apples of Xew York. 



BLUE PEARMAIN. 



References, i. Kenrick. 1833:42. 2. Manning. 1838:55. 3. Manning, 

 Mag. Hort., 6:172. 1840. 4. Downing, 1845:122. 5. Phoenix, Horticulturist, 

 1:361. 1846. 6. Cole, 1849:120. 7. Thomas, 1849:164. 8. Emmons, Nat. 

 Hist. N. Y., 3:69. 1851. col. pi. No. 54. 9. Hooper, 1857:19. 10. Elliott, 

 1858:122. II. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 12. Barry, 1883:343. 13. Lyon, 

 Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt.. 1890:288, 14. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:235. 15. Waugh, 

 J't. Sta. An. Rpt.. 14:289. 1901. 16. Can. Hort.. 25:49. 1902. 17, Bndd- 

 Hansen, 1903:52. ^.£[. 18. Beach and Clark, .Y. Y. Sta. Bui, 248:113. 1904. 



Synonym. Prolific Beauty fi8) incorrectly. 



Occasional trees are found in the oldest home orchards of the 



state. It is rarely planted now. In some localities it bears well, 



but more often it is not a reliable cropper. It is apt to have a pretty 



high percentage of unmarketable fruit. The fruit is of mild flavor 



and does not rank high in quality. The skin is thick. When well 



colored it is beautiful, though not brilliant, being overcast with a 



flull bluish bloom. In common storage it does not keep late, and 



by January it often becomes shriveled (18). It is not a good market 



fruit and is not recommended for commercial planting. 



Historical. This is an old variety of uncertain origin but it is supposed 

 to be an American variety (13). On account of its hardiness it has often been 

 planted in the home orchards of the more elevated regions of New York and 

 New England during the last 75 years. Probably it has been in cultivation 

 for a century or more. Kenrick (i) mentions it as common in the vicinity 

 of Boston in the early part of the 19th century. 



Tree. 

 Tree becomes moderately large to large, moderately vigorous or on rich soil 

 sometimes vigorous. Form spreading. In the nursery it is a slow, stiff 

 grower (5). Twigs below medium, rather stout, nearly straight, rather blunt 

 at tips, with large terminal buds ; internodes medium to long. Bark very dark, 

 being of a dull brownish-red ; scarf-skin varies from thin to rather heavy ; 

 quite pubescent. Lenticels inconspicuous, scattering, below medium, roundish, 

 raised. Buds above medium, moderately projecting, roundish, slightly pubes- 

 cent, free. Leaves broad, coarsely serrated. 



Fruit. 



Fruit above medium to very large; pretty uniform in size and shape. Form 

 roundish or inclined to oblate, sometimes a little inclined to conic, irregular, 

 often obscurely ribbed, sometimes distinctly furrowed from the cavity nearly 

 to the basin. Stem medium length to rather short, rather thick. Cavity 

 moderately deep, obscurely furrowed, usually covered with orange-russet or 

 greenish-russet. Caly.i- partly open ; lobes acute. Basin medium in depth and 

 width, with concentric gray or russet lines, obscurely furrowed. 



Skin a little rough ; yellow, washed and mottled with red, often deepening 

 on one side to nearly solid red, splashed and striped with deep purplish-car- 



