78 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



juicy and soon becomes dry, but it has a peculiar aroma which is 

 pleasing to many. It is not sour enough to be very valuable for 

 cooking, but it is sometimes used for baking. It is fast becoming 

 obsolete in most parts of the state, but in some sections the planting 

 of it in commercial orchards is being extended because it is found 

 profitable to grow it in limited quantities for southern markets. On 

 good soil the tree is a good, vigorous grower and a reliable cropper. 

 The apples grow fair and smooth and there is little loss from 

 unmarketable fruit. 



Historical. Black Gilliflower is supposed to be an American variety. It 

 was brought into the central and western portions of the state more than a 

 hundred years ago by the early settlers. It is evident that it was known in 

 Connecticut as early as the latter part of the eighteenth century (2).! Manning 

 (i) mentions it in 1841 under the name Red Gilliflower and Hovey (5) de- 

 scribed it in 1850 under the same name, giving Black Gilliflower as a synonym. 

 It has generally been known under the simple name Gilliflower, which name 

 usually appears in the market quotations of this variety. 



TREE. 



Tree large, moderately vigorous. Form rather upright spreading with 

 moderately open top. Tzvigs long, slender, pubescent ; internodes short to 

 medium. Bark dark olive-green and reddish-brown with thin gray scarf-skin. 

 Lenticels rather numerous, small to medium, roundish or elongated, raised. 

 Buds medium, obtuse or acute, quite pubescent, appressed. Leaves rather 

 long, medium to above medium in size. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit medium to large, seldom very large ; very uniform in size and shape. 

 Form long ovate to oblong conic, somewhat ribbed; axis sometimes a little 

 oblique. Stem medium to long, moderately thick. Cavity usually acuminate, 

 rather wide, moderately deep to deep, sometimes lipped but usually symmetrical 

 with red russet or greenish outspreading rays. Calyx medium or below, 

 closed. Basin often oblique, usually very shallow and obtuse, varying some- 

 times to moderately deep and abrupt, furrowed and much wrinkled. 



Skin thick, tough, nearly smooth; yellow or greenish-yellow, striped or 

 mostly covered with red, deepening to dark purplish-red or almost black, 

 obscurely striped with darker crimson, and with streaks of bluish-gray scarf- 

 skin, especially toward the cavity, giving almost the effect of a dull bloom. 

 Dots numerous, gray, rather small, not conspicuous, somewhat rough. Pre- 

 vailing effect in highly colored specimens dull dark purplish. 



Calyx tube large, wide, cone-shape or funnel-form. Stamens median or 

 above. 



Core large, decidedly axile. closed; core lines somewhat clasping. Carpels 

 very long ovate, tapering both ways, emarginate, much tufted. Seeds often 



1 Cited from Batetnan, Ohio Cultivator, Aug. i, 1846. Warder gives same citation. 

 1847: 25. 



