116 Descriptions of Select Varieties of Apples. 



supplied in our markets, that fine specimens always command 

 a very high price. No collection of early apples should be 

 without this fine variety. 



The Early Harvest is of vigorous growth, branching rather 

 low, and forming a compact head ; with erect, rather stout 

 annual shoots, and, in young trees, the fruit is usually pro- 

 duced on the ends of the branches. With good cultivation, 

 the trees bear fine crops of very handsome fruit. 



Size, medium, about three inches broad, and two and a half 

 deep : Form, roundish, slightly angular, and full at the crown : 

 Skin, fair, smooth, pale yellow or straw-color when mature, 

 very slightly tinged with blush on the sunny side, with a few 

 traces of russet around the stem, and some scattered spots of 

 the same color, intermixed with white specks, over the sur- 

 face : Stem, medium length, about three quarters of an inch 

 long, rather slender, and inserted in a moderately deep and 

 somewhat narrow cavity : Eye, medium size, closed, and 

 slightly sunk in a shallow, nearly smooth, basin : Flesh, 

 white, rather fine, crisp and tender : Juice, abundant, pleas- 

 antly acid, sprightly, and well-flavored : Core, rather close : 

 Seeds, small. Ripe from the middle of July to the end of 

 August. 



XIV. Porter. American Orchardist. 



The Porter, {fig. 12,) must, without doubt, be ranked at the 

 head of our fall apples. It comes into fruit just after the 

 Williams, and, though not so showy as the latter fruit, its fine 

 yellow skin, tinged with a shade of pale blush, places it among 

 our handsomest apples. In sprighthness of flavor, it is scarcely 

 equalled by any other fall variety. 



The Porter originated in Sherburne, on the grounds of the 

 Rev. Samuel Porter, about fifty years ago, and remained 

 unnoticed in his orchard for some years. Mr. Sanger, a near 

 neighbor, passing through it one day, had his attention at- 

 tracted to the apple, from some very handsome specimens 

 which fell from the tree, and, calling upon the owner, ap- 

 prized him of the valuable fruit he had upon his grounds, at 

 the same time requesting some scions. Mr. Porter, then some- 

 what advanced in life, and not seeming to be aware of its ex- 

 cellence, replied, ' ' that he might have the w hole tree if he 



