212 The Apples of New York. 



Skin thin, tough, smootli, glossy, pale yellow or whitish more or less blushed 

 with red which in highly colored specimens deepens to a lively pinkish-red, 

 conspicuously mottled and striped with rose-carmine. Dots numerous, small, 

 whitish, often submerged, occasionally russet. 



Calyx tube urn-shape to somewhat funnel-form with short cylinder and wide 

 limb. Staniois median. 



Core distant, a little abaxile, usually small ; cells sometimes unsymmetrical, 

 closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels elliptical to roundish 

 obcordate, mucronate, but slightly emarginate if at all. Seeds few, often 

 abortive, medium to short, wide, flat, obtuse. 



Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, firm, somewhat coarse, crisp, very tender, 

 very juicy, sprightly, brisk subacid, fair to good. 



MINISTER, 



References, i. Manning, 1838:62. 2. Downing, 1845:116. 3. Ives, Mag. 

 Hort., 14:264. 1848. 4. Thomas, 1849:169. 5. Cole, 1849:124. 6. Emmons, 

 Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:61. 1851. 7. Hovey, 2:95. 1851. fig. and col. pi. 8. Elliott, 

 1854:147. 9. A)!i. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1854. lo- Hooper, 1857:61. 11. Warder, 

 1867:695. 12. Fitz, 1872:145. 13. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:294. 

 14. Alunson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1893:133. 15. Taylor, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1895: 

 193. 16. Rurrill and McCluer, ///. Sta. Bui, 45:332. 1896. 



Synonyms. Minister (7). Minister Apple (7). 



Fruit similar to Yellow Bellflower in form, pale waxen yellow splashed and 

 striped with bright pale crimson (i, 7, 11). In Middle New England it is in 

 season from November to February or later (i, 5, 7, 14), and is there still 

 regarded with favor in many localities on account of its productiveness and 

 good quality. " In Ohio it becomes an autumn apple and is used only for 

 cooking when we have plenty of others that are preferred" (n). When 

 carelessly handled it rots from bruising or ripens prematurely while too acid, 

 but when properly ripened it loses its brisk acidity and develops excellent 

 quality (5). The tree is healthy, moderately vigorous, a rather early bearer 

 and a regular and abundant cropper (2, 5, 7, 11, 13). It is said to succeed 

 best on good sandy loam (5, 12). 



The following account of the tree and fruit is taken from descriptions given 

 by various writers (i, 2, 5, 7, it, 13). 



Historical. Originated on the farm of David Saunders near Rowley, Massa- 

 chusetts. Introduced bv Robert INIamiing of Salem, Massachusetts, more than 

 a half century ago (i^ 7). It has failed to win favorable recognition in New 

 York and is not recommended for planting in this state. 



Tree. 

 Tree moderately vigorous. Form upright while young but becoming round- 

 headed as it matures. T'z^'igs slender, upright; internodes short. Bark dark 

 reddish-chestnut. Lenticels numerous, gray. Buds small, short, ovate, flat- 

 tened with prominent shoulders. Leaves medium in size, ovate, acute. 



Fruit. 

 Fruit large to medium. Forni roundish ovate to oblong conic, ribbed, irreg- 

 ular, flattened at the base. Stem curved to one side, short to long, slender. 



