750 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK STATE 



small nursery started near Athens, Greene County, New York, in 

 1840, and a little later from another nursery near Hudson in 

 Columbia County. Improved varieties were being extensively 

 grown at this time, and the purpose of production had also 

 changed. Instead of being used mostly for the production of cider, 

 the time had come when apples were regarded as a staple farm 

 crop, and commercial apple growing soon became popular. 



The Work of Andrew J. and Charles Downing 

 The most important factor in influencing the fruit industry of 

 the Hudson Valley region was probably the Downings' nursery at 

 Newburgh and the untiring labors of A. J. Downing and his 

 brother Charles. At what time the Downing nursery was started, 

 I am unable to say. We know, however, that it was before 1815, 

 since it is recorded that Charles Downing, who was born in 1802, 

 worked in his father's nursery at the age of thirteen. In the early 

 forties, A. J. Downing made a study of the common fruits with 

 the purpose of giving a description of all varieties. Con- 

 sequently new varieties were sent to him for identification or 

 introduction, and in 1845 appeared his " Fruits and Fruit Trees 

 of America." A. J. Downing died in 1852. Although the Down- 

 ing brothers did not continue in the nursery business later than 

 1850, Charles Downing devoted himself to a life study of the 

 varieties of fruits, on which subject he was the leading authority 

 until his death in 1885. One can readily see that the work of the 

 father and the two sons would greatly influence the apple industry 

 in the Hudson Valley region. 



Orchards in the Lake Section 



In. the western part, or lake section of the state, the first settlers 

 planted apple seeds in the clearings, where they grew and. produced 

 seedlings and natural fruit. About 1830, when grafting was in- 

 troduced, these trees were grafted to improved varieties. In many 

 cases the union of the graft with the original stock can still readily 

 be distinguished by the enlarged growth of the wood about three 

 feet from the ground. 



In western New York, the earliest record of the apple is found 

 in Onondaga County, where Asa Danforth settled and, in 1748, 



