228 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



localities favorable to its proper development the tree is a strong grower and 

 very productive and the fruit is large and sometimes well colored and showy 

 but usually it is rather dull colored and not very attractive. It ranks only 

 .second rate in quality but it is a remarkably good keeper. It is evidently 

 not well adapted for regions as far north as this. It has failed to gain favor- 

 able recognition among New York fruit growers and has been planted but 

 sparingly in this state. 



Historical. This variety is supposed to have originated near a stream of 

 the same name in Macon county, N. C., 1 among the Cherokee Indians (i, 2, 

 3, 6, 7). The time of its origin is not definitely known but the fact that in 

 1861 it is referred to as an old variety cultivated in at least three states and 

 having over twenty synonyms (5) indicates that it has probably been under 

 cultivation for a century or more. Colonel Summerour of Lincoln county, 

 N. C., early disseminated this variety under the name of Winter Rose (7), 

 but Silas McDowell of Franklin, N. C., at about the middle of the last century 

 brought it to notice under the name Nickajack (2), which has now become the 

 generally accepted name for the variety. 



TREE. 



Tree large, very vigorous. Form upright, moderately spreading. Twigs 

 rather short, slender to rather stout, nearly straight, heavily pubescent ; inter- 

 nodes medium to long. Bark smooth, of a rather clear dark red with some 

 olive-green. Lenticels moderately conspicuous, quite narrow, small, raised. 

 Buds small, rather projecting, sharply acute, appressed, moderately pubescent. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit above medium to large, rather uniform in size and shape. Form 

 inclined to roundish conic varying sometimes to roundish oblate or rarely to 

 roundish oblong; sides usually somewhat unequal; axis often slightly oblique. 

 Stem usually short and thick. Cavity acuminate to acute, deep, rather broad, 

 obscurely furrowed and partly covered with thin greenish-russet. Calyx 

 rather large to below medium, closed or somewhat open; lobes short to 

 medium in length, rather broad, acute. Basin often oblique, rather shallow, 

 medium in width to wide, obtuse to somewhat abrupt, obscurely furrowed 

 and slightly wrinkled. 



Skin thick, tough, rather smooth, sometimes a little glossy, yellow or 

 greenish, mottled and shaded with orange-red or red, irregularly splashed and 

 streaked with bright carmine and somewhat flecked with russet. It is usually 

 streaked over the base with grayish scarf-skin and overspread with thin 

 bloom, giving it a rather dull appearance. Dots numerous, usually irregular 

 in shape and of variable size, very conspicuous, pale or russet. Prevailing 

 effect grayish-red. 



Calyx tube rather large, wide, varying from short and urn-shape or cone- 

 shape to very long, approaching funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal. 



Core medium or above, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines clasp- 

 ing. Carpels rather concave, broadly ovate approaching roundish, tufted. 

 Seeds below medium to above, light to dark brown, rather short and wide, 

 plump, acute to somewhat obtuse, tufted. 



1 Warder gives it erroneously as Macon county, Ga. 



