THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 331 



When this variety is discussed by fruit growers it is not unusual 

 to hear some one relate the legend that it was produced by joining 

 two half buds, one of a sweet the other of a sour variety, and insert- 

 ing them as one bud under the bark of the stock as is ordinarily done 

 in budding. This legend is recognized in the name " Compound " by 

 which this apple has been known to some in Western New York 

 (14). The supposed split-bud origin of Sweet and Sour is occa- 

 sionally discussed pro and con in horticultural periodicals. An early 

 discussion of this kind is found in the Cultivator from 1844 to 1846 

 (4, 5, 6) and a more recent one in the Rural Nezv Yorker (14, 15). 



The tree is vigorous, spreading and often quite productive. The 

 fruit bears some resemblance to Rhode Island Greening in form, 

 color, and occasionally to some degree in flavor. It is more marbled 

 with green and yellow than Rhode Island Greening, more oblate and 

 more often the sides are noticeably unequal. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit above medium to rather large. Form oblate, ribbed and rather unsym- 

 metrical. Cavity rather shallow, broad, slightly furrowed. Calyx large ; lobes 

 reflexed. Basin shallow, broad, irregular. 



Skin green, especially along the ribs, with a shade of yellow on the inter- 

 vening surface and particularly on the exposed cheek. 



Flesh under the yellow skin very deeply tinged with yellow, mildly subacid 

 or sweetish; but under the greenish skin, less yellow and more acid; quality 

 remarkably variable, fair to good. 



SWEET GREENING. 



REFERENCES. i. Thacher, 1822:138. 2. Downing, 1869:375. 3. Bailey, 

 Mich. Sta. Bui, 31:54. 1887. 4. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:310. 1901. 5. 

 Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bui, 56:303. 1905. 



DOUBTFUL REFERENCES. 6. Warder, 1867:668, 716, 722. 7. Downing, 1881: 

 109 app. 8. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bui, 56:209. 1905. 



SYNONYMS. CURTIS GREENING (6)? Curtis Greening (7, 8)? ILLINOIS 

 GREENING (6) ? NEW GREENING (8) ? New Rhode Island Greening (7, 8) ? 

 SWEET GREENING (i). SWEET RHODE ISLAND GREENING (7) ? Sweet Rhode 

 Island Greening (8) ? 



This, as the name indicates, is a sweet apple of green color. Thacher (i) 

 describes it as " a large, handsome apple, resembling in size and form, the 

 Rhode Island greening. Ripens in autumn, and possesses the valuable prop- 

 erty of retaining its soundness and flavour till the middle of June. It is an 

 excellent apple for baking, and deserves to be more extensively cultivated. 

 Its origin is uncertain, and it is doubtful whether this fine fruit is known out 

 of the old Plymouth colony." 



