IV 



THE NATIVE APPLES 



FIVE types of native apples are known in the United 

 States. These are, the common wild crab of the 

 northeastern states and Canada, the narrow- leaved 

 crab of the middle and southern states, the prairie- 

 states crab, the Soulard crab, and the Oregon crab. 

 None of these are of sufficient merit to have attracted 

 much attention for their fruits, from the early settlers, 

 although many early narrators mention them. John 

 Smith saw "some few Crabs, but very small and 

 bitter," upon coming to Virginia. Strachey records : 

 " Crabb trees there be, but the fruict small and bitter, 

 howbeit, being graffed upon, soone might we have of 

 our owne apples of any kind, peares, and what ells." 

 The crabs of the eastern states are mentioned and 

 described by many early naturalists and botanists, but 

 these records contain so little of prophecy for the fruit, 

 or even interest in it for food purposes, that we do 

 not need to examine them. The European apples were 

 so much superior, and thrived so well upon introduc- 

 tion into the New World, that the wild crabs offered 

 little reward in the comparison. 



What man neglected to perform for himself, nature 

 did for him, for there have now come into existence 

 certain named and worthy varieties of apples which 

 have sprung from the native stock. Before enquiring 

 of the history of these varieties, however, it will be 



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