348 The Apples of Xew York. 



ling, and it was named by him, King. The Congress of Fruit Growers at 

 Rochester added Tompkins County to it, to distinguish it from another of the 

 same name. 



" On a visit this winter I undertook to trace out its origin, and went to the 

 place where it is said to have originated. This is about one and a half to 

 two miles from Washington, Warren county, N. J. I found very old trees 

 that had been grafted ; they seemed to be over fifty years old ; two aged men, 

 Daniel Fleet and William Crivling, near Asbury, were both acquainted with 

 it from boyhood. It originated on the north side of the Musconetcong moun- 

 tain, about one mile from where these gentlemen live. Mr. Jesse Weller says 

 he knew one very old tree on his farm forty years ago ; it has been dead 

 several years. They call the apple Toma Red throughout that section. It 

 does not appear to be much disseminated, being confined to a small locality. 

 I brought some of the apples with me, and compared them with mine. I 

 also gave them some that were raised in my own orchard. They are not quite 

 as high flavored in New Jersey as they are here between the lakes (Cayuga 

 and Seneca). 



" The tree is entirely distinct in growth. When I was in New Jersey I 

 pointed out trees as I was going along the road, and inquired if they were 

 not what we call the King of Tompkins County, and they said they were. 

 The limbs grow so very horizontal that the tree needs scarcely any pruning, 

 and one of its good qualities is, it is a regular bearer every year, and a fine, 

 thrifty grower. Hundreds of barrels have been sold from this vicmity this 

 year, and we are all of one mind, that it is the most productive, and will sell 

 for the largest price per barrel of any market apple that is raised in this 

 vicinity. Dealers realized four and five dollars per barrel last fall. The apple 

 is one of those crimson red with yellow ground that attracts the eye, and its 

 color will not disappoint you when you come to eat it. Its very agreeable 

 perfumed flavor is equal to the Swaar. It wants gathering ten to fifteen days 

 before the Baldwin or Greening, and if carefully done, will keep good until 

 the first of IMay." 



The first published description of the variety which we have found is that 

 given in the Xew Genesee Farmer in 1842, under the name of King Apple (i). 

 The earliest mention which we find of the propagation of this variety by 

 nurserymen is the statement made by Ellwanger and Barry of Rochester, 

 N. Y., in 1845, that they had trees of it for sale (3). In 1848 T. C. Maxwell 

 and Brothers of Geneva, N. Y., began to propagate it extensively and were 

 active in disseminating it. Thomas, in 1848, described it under the name of 

 King and stated that it was cultivated in Tompkins and Cayuga counties but 

 not widely spread (4). In 1849 Cole mentioned it under the name of King 

 from Ellwanger and Barry, and in 1851 Emmons described it as the Winter 

 King from Tompkins county (S, 6). In 1856 the American Pomological 

 Society at its Rochester meeting included this variety in its catalogue under 

 the name of Tompkins King, using the word Tompkins to distinguish it from 

 other varieties which were then known under the name King. 



During the last sixty years its cultivation has extended through New Eng- 

 land, portions of Canada, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. It 

 has practically failed to establish itself in the Mississippi valley but is quite 

 well known on the Pacific Coast, from Washington southward into California. 



