The Apples of New York. 205 



October to midwinter. If kept later than January in ordinary- 

 storage it soon loses in flavor and quality (24). Some fruit 

 growers find it i)rofitable but more often it has proved an un- 

 satisfactory variety in the commercial orchard. Under favorable 

 conditions the fruit develops good size and good color and is 

 smooth and decidedly attractive, but in many cases there is a 

 rather high percentage of loss from undersized, poorly colored 

 or otherwise imperfect fruit. Tn portions of Eastern New York 

 it is reported as being especially susceptible to the attacks of the 

 apple maggot or railroad worm, Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh, In 

 some localities the foliage and fruit are both quite subject to the 

 attacks of the apple-scab fungus and the tree is apt to be injured 

 by canker on the limbs and on the body. The tree appears to 

 be fully as hardy and productive as Tompkins King or perhaps 

 more so, and after it attains mature bearing age it is often 

 reliably productive, yielding good crops biennially or in some 

 cases annually. It is an unsatisfactory grower in the nursery 

 and makes but a moderately vigorous growth in the orchard, 

 particularly when grown on its own body. On this account it 

 is advisable to top-work Melon upon some stock that is healthier 

 and more vigorous, such as Golden Russet, Roxbury, Northern Spy, 

 Baldwin or Rhode Island Grccniiii^. The tree naturally develops a 

 rather dense top and particular care is required in pruning to keep 

 it sufficiently open. 



Historical. IMelon originated in East Bloomfield, Ontario county, in the 

 old seedling orchard of Heman Chapin. This orchard was planted about 

 1800I with seedling trees grown from seed brought to East Bloomfield from 

 Connecticut (3, 4, 6, 13). Melon was introduced to the trade by Ellwanger 

 and Barry about 18-15 (i, 2, 4, 5, 6, 13). It has been pretty widely disseminated 

 but in no portion of the state is it grown extensively. It is now seldom offered 

 by nurserymen (20) and seldom planted. 



Tree. 



Tree medium in size, moderately vigorous. Form upright, somewhat spread- 

 ing or roundish. Twigs medium to long, erect or spreading, slender to mod- 

 erately stout. Bark reddish-brown, lightly mottled with scarf-skin, pubescent. 

 Lenticels numerous, usually small, round. Buds medium, plump, acute, some- 

 what pubescent. Leaves rather large, often rather broad. 



^Letters, H. G. Chapin and Cliarles Chapin, 1905. 



Vol. I — 9 



