386 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



does not scald. Its commercial limit is March. When grown as 

 far north as this the fruit is deficient in color, size and quality. The 

 reports from the growers in this state are generally adverse to its 

 culture here and it is not recommended for planting in New York 

 except perhaps in the southeastern part of the state. 



Historical. The following excellent historical account of the York Imperial 

 is given by Taylor (20). "The variety bearing this name originated early in 

 the present century on a farm adjoining the then borough of York, Pa. The 

 attention of the owner, a Mr. Johnson, was attracted to the tree by the pres- 

 ence of schoolboys who visited it in early spring to get the apples that had 

 passed the winter on the ground, covered by leaves. On securing some of 

 the fruit he found it in fine condition, and when the next crop was ripe took 

 specimens to Mr. Jonathan Jessop, a local nurseryman, who began the propa- 

 gation of the variety before 1830, under the name ' Johnson's Fine Winter.' 

 Under this name it was known until after the middle of the century, when, 

 after an inspection of specimens, the late Charles Downing pronounced it the 

 ' imperial of keepers ' and suggested that it be named ' York Imperial.' Mr. 

 Jessop did not find ready sale for trees of the variety at first, and dumped the 

 surplus trees from his nursery into a hollow beside the turnpike passing his 

 place. They were picked up by farmers returning from market and taken 

 home for planting on their farms in the lower end of York county. After its 

 merit as a variety for market orchards was established, it became widely dis- 

 tributed throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and soon became a 

 leading market variety in those States. So far as known, the variety was first 

 described in print by Dr. W. D. Brinckle in 1853. 



" Warder states that specimens of it were exhibited at the meeting of the 

 Ohio State Pomological Society in 1855, but it does not seem to have become 

 generally popular west of the Alleghany Mountains until a comparatively 

 recent date. Since about 1880 it has been widely disseminated through the 

 Middle Western States and has become one of the leading market varieties 

 of that region." 



TREE. 



Tree vigorous or moderately vigorous. Form upright spreading or round- 

 ish, rather dense. Twigs short to above medium, straight or nearly so, stout 

 or moderately stout and tapering at the tips; internodes medium to long. 

 Bark dull brownish-red streaked and mottled with scarf-skin, quite pubescent. 

 Leniicels dull, moderately conspicuous, rather scattering, small to medium, 

 roundish, not raised. Buds deeply set in bark, small to medium, plump, obtuse 

 to somewhat acute, appressed except the largest which are free, pubescent. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit pretty uniform in size and shape. When it is well grown it varies 

 from above medium to large, but in many parts of the state when the trees 

 become mature the fruit usually averages below medium to small. Form 

 roundish oblate or truncate, usually with an oblique axis. Stem short. Cavity 

 medium to rather large, acuminate to acute, deep, medium to rather broad, 

 often gently furrowed, smooth and green or partly russeted. Calyx small to 



