THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 185 



till spring in ordinary storage. The tree is pretty hardy, vigorous, 

 healthy and long-lived. It comes into bearing rather young 

 and usually bears some fruit every year. Occasionally the 

 crops are heavy but more often they vary from moderate to 

 rather light. Generally speaking, it is hardly satisfactory as a 

 cropper and Hubbardston is much to be preferred for planting 

 in commercial orchards in New York. 



Historical. Ribston originated more than two hundred years ago in York- 

 shire, England (i, 7). In that country it has long been considered the 

 standard of excellence among dessert apples. It has long been known in 

 cultivation in America but has not gained the standing here that it holds in 

 England. It is not grown to any considerable extent in New York but suc- 

 ceeds better farther north, as in portions of Northern New England and of 

 Canada, where it is of some commercial importance (16, 20, 24, 44). 



TREE. 



Tree medium in size or sometimes rather large, moderately vigorous to 

 vigorous with rather stout, stocky branches. Form rather upright and 

 spreading or roundish, not very regular. Twigs medium to rather long, 

 rather slender to moderately stout ; internodes medium to long. Bark 

 bright dark reddish-brown and olive-green, somewhat mottled with grayish 

 scarf-skin. Lenticels conspicuous, scattering, small to medium, elongated 

 or roundish. Buds medium to large, broad, plump, obtuse, nearly free, very 

 pubescent. Foliage rather dense; leaves broad. 



FRUIT. 



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

 rather broad and flattened at the base, narrowing somewhat toward the 

 basin, occasionally a little inclined to roundish oblong, often broadly and 

 obscurely ribbed. Stem pubescent, medium to short, occasionally moderately 

 slender, more often rather thick, sometimes irregularly swollen or inserted 

 under a lip. Cavity rather large, acute, moderately shallow to rather deep, 

 wide to moderately narrow, sometimes furrowed or compressed, occasionally 

 smooth and green but often faintly russeted and with some outspreading 

 russet. Calyx variable, small to rather large, closed or partly open; lobes 

 sometimes separated at the base, erect or converging, tips usually somewhat 

 reflexed. Basin small to medium, shallow to moderately deep, moderately 

 narrow, more or less abrupt or occasionally obtuse, often slightly furrowed 

 and wrinkled. 



Skin smooth or slightly roughened with russet, deep yellow or greenish- 

 yellow more or less overspread with rather dull red which in highly colored 

 specimens deepens to a distinct red with some obscure carmine stripes and 

 splashes. Dots scattering, conspicuous toward the base, more numerous 

 and smaller toward the basin, pale, sometimes whitish, often areolar with 

 russet center. Prevailing effect sometimes rather attractive but more often 

 the colors are rather dull. 



