THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 247 



fig. 14. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bui, 48:52. 1903. 15. Beach and 

 Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bui, 248:137. 1904. 



SYNONYMS. Black Twig (8, 14), but erroneously. Mammoth Black Twig 

 (8, 13, 15), but erroneously. Twitty's Paragon (8). 



This is a southern variety of the Winesap type. In the apple- 

 growing regions of the South where it has been tested it has proven 

 to be an excellent variety in many respects, but it is not generally 

 regarded by the orchardists of that region as being especially 

 promising for commercial orchards. The fruit evidently does not 

 develop to as high a degree of perfection in New York as it does 

 in more southern latitudes. It is not probable that it will prove 

 successful as a commercial variety here, though it has sufficient 

 merit to make it worthy of testing to a limited extent. 



Historical The Paragon originated on the farm of Major Rankin Toole 

 near Fayetteville, Lincoln county, Tennessee (3, 6, 7, 8). The early history 

 of the tree is not very clear but it probably came from a seed planted about 

 1830. Grafts from the original tree were taken in 1870 by Mr. Twitty, a local 

 nurseryman, and later introduced to the public. It was badly confused for 

 a while with an Arkansas seedling now properly known by the name of 

 Arkansas but then passing under the name of Mammoth Black Twig. Some 

 believed that the Arkansas was identical with Paragon. An extensive dis- 

 cussion and the testimony of many persons has since brought out the fact 

 that these are two distinct although similar seedlings of Arkansas and Ten- 

 nessee origin respectively. Many have thought that Paragon may be a seed- 

 ling of the Winesap crossed by Limbertwig as it possesses some of the char- 

 acteristics of both of these varieties. 



TREE. 



Tree moderately vigorous with rather short, stout, twisted branches. Form 

 roundish to spreading, inclined to droop, rather dense. Twigs medium to 

 rather long, nearly straight, stout to rather slender ; internodes short to 

 medium. Bark very dark reddish-brown, mottled with thin scarf-skin, pubes- 

 cent. Lenticels scattering, medium in size, roundish to oval, raised. Buds 

 large, prominent, broad, plump, acute to somewhat obtuse, curved, free, gener- 

 ally pubescent. Leaves medium in size, broad. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit medium or above, pretty uniform in size and shape. Form roundish 

 or sometimes oblate, slightly conic, rounding toward stem and calyx ; sides 

 often a little unequal. Stem medium in length and thickness. Cavity nearly 

 obtuse to acute, medium in width and moderately shallow to sometimes rather 

 wide and deep, usually symmetrical, often furrowed or compressed, occasion- 

 ally lipped, usually russet and with outspreading russet rays. Calyx rather 

 small, closed. Basin rather shallow and obtuse varying occasionally to abrupt 

 and medium in width and depth, often furrowed and wrinkled. 



