iiiL I a:\.\iua.n ii'jiiilCL'LTL'itloT. 



ESOPUS SPITZENBUEGH AND NORTHERN SPY. 



BY REV. R. BURNET, LONDON. 



The E.sopus Spitzenbiirgh is tlie king of apples — the apple of apples. 

 In flavor it holds much the same relation to apples as the Seckel does 

 among pears. We are strongly inclined to think that it has the highest 

 and most distinctive apple flavor there is. With all its distinctness 

 there is nothing harsh about it; it is a truly delicious apple. Its 

 origin is not obscure. It arose on the Hudson, at Esopus, a noted 

 apple district inhabited by low Dutch, and has gradually secured for 

 itself a very wide diffusion, being universally esteemed. Downing de- 

 clares that all good judges of fruit consider it equal to the Newtown 

 Pippin. Any apple comparable to the Newtown Pippin is worthy of 

 consideration, for it is a superb apple. The Esopus Spitzenburgh, how- 

 ever, has merits all its «wti. In some districts it thrives splendidly, 

 in some others it does not do so well. I have seen it spot badly in 

 places, elsewhere it has been all that could be desired. 



Grimsby seems a welcome soil for its production ; in Walsingham 

 it attains a large size ; at Normandale it cannot be beat. After all 

 said and done, however, the tree is a rather puny grower, and when 

 old the shoots are slender, and the limbs pendulous. At Virgil it 

 tTirives exceedingly well, and yields fairly; as a rule, however, through- 

 out the country it is not prolific; and while the best dessert fruit there 

 is, it cannot be said to be for the millions. 



The size is large, deep red, with gray spots, and delicately coated 

 with bloom ; flesh yellow, crisp, indicating the fraicJie of the French, 

 rich and excellent, and a delicious brisk flavor. It should have a place 

 in every amateur arid farmer's orchard. Its quality exceeds its quantity. 

 Ready to eat in December; it will keep readily till May. We question 

 if there be a finer cooker than the Esopus. Its quality as a dessert 

 fruit stands A 1, and as a winter cooking apple it cannot be excelled. 



EUwanger & Barry state, in reference to the Northern Spy, that it 

 is " one of the finest late keeping apples." This is no mean praise, and 

 well deserved. Few apples have so rapidly gained in public favor as 

 the Northern Spy has done. It has peculiarities all its own. The fruit 

 is large to very large, is beautifully striped, and quite covered on the 

 sunny side with deep crimson, and delicately covered with bloom 



