294 The Apples of New York. 



Russefing (7, 27). Rox or Rox Russet (colloquial). Russet, Boston or 

 RoxBURY (7). Russet (27). Shippcn's Russet {27, 30). Sylvan Russet 

 (17, 18, 27). 



The Roxbury is the most popular russet apple cultivated in New 

 York. When well grown it is of good marketable size, and rather 

 attractive for a russet, but it varies greatly in size and appearance 

 in different localities. Being an excellent keeper it is well liked for 

 southern trade. It also sells well in western and northwestern 

 markets. The recent increase in cold storage facilities has had the 

 effect of lessening the demand for long-keeping russet apples, and 

 neither the Roxbury nor the Golden Russet is being planted as 

 extensively as they once were, but within recent years there has 

 been increasing demand for them for export. Roxbury fruit that 

 is grown in Central and Western New York keeps better than that 

 produced in more southern localities, and for this reason is preferred 

 by fruit buyers. This variety has consequently been planted more 

 extensively in this region than in any other. It generally has the 

 reputation of being a biennial bearer and when grown on rich soils 

 in favorable locations it is a pretty reliable cropper, but in many 

 places it has proved but a moderate cropper and not very satisfactory. 



Historical. It is generally supposed that this variety originated in Rox- 

 bury, Massachusetts, early in the seventeenth century. Soon after 1649 it was 

 taken to Connecticut. About 1797 it was introduced from Connecticut into 

 Ohio and afterwards disseminated there under the name Putnam Russet, 

 Marietta Russet, etc. (9, 11, 24). 



Tree. 



Tree medium to large, moderately vigorous to vigorous. Form roundish 

 spreading or flat. Twigs above medium to short, straight or nearly so, stout, 

 often with large blunt terminal buds; internodes medium to rather long. 

 Bark rather light, dull, reddish-brown and olive-green, streaked lightly with 

 grayish scarf-skin, much pubescent. Lenticels not conspicuous, scattering, 

 medium to above, roundish, oval or elongated, sometimes raised. Buds large, 

 broad, plump, obtuse, free or nearly so, slightly pubescent. 



Fruit. 



Fruit usually above medium to nearly large, sometimes large, variable in 

 size and shape. Form oblate to oblate inclined to conic, often broadly and 

 obscurely angular and sometimes remarkably elliptical as shown in the accom- 

 panying half-tone illustration ; sides sometimes unequal. Stem short to medium 

 rather thick or swollen, pubescent, often red on one side. Cavity acute rarely 

 acuminate, rather deep, medium in width to rather wide, sometimes lipped. 

 Calyx sometimes small but usually medium to rather large, pubescent, closed 



