48 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



During the last quarter century Arkansas has been quite exten- 

 sively planted in the South and Southwest, but even as grown in 

 these regions, the variety has not been satisfactory in commercial 

 orchards because it is a shy bearer. 



Arkansas and Paragon resemble each other so closely that at one 

 time many regarded these two varieties as identical, and, in conse- 

 quence, the stock of the two kinds became badly mixed in nurseries 

 and orchards. 



Arkansas Black is decidedly distinct from Arkansas both in tree 

 and fruit. Sometimes these two varieties have been erroneously 

 listed as identical (17). This mistake doubtless arose because of the 

 similarity of the two names, rather than from any marked resem- 

 blance between the varieties. 



Historical. Arkansas was grown from seed (4, 10) planted about 1833 

 near Rhea Mills, Arkansas, where the original tree still stands. It bears a 

 marked resemblance to the Winesap of which it is said to be a seedling (4). 

 Nurserymen began to propagate it about 1868. In succeeding years it became 

 pretty generally disseminated in Arkansas and surrounding states. 



As previously stated, this variety has been confused with the Paragon, an 

 apple of Tennessee origin which it much resembles. It is now conceded that 

 Paragon and, Arkansas are two distinct varieties (4, 7, 8, 9, 10). 



TREE. 



Tree rather large, vigorous; branches large, crooked, stout. Form upright 

 spreading, rather open. Twigs medium to long, sometimes drooping, some- 

 what curved, thick ; internodes short. Bark very dark brownish-red with 

 some dull olive-green, thickly mottled with thin gray scarf-skin; somewhat 

 pubescent toward the tips. Eventually it becomes almost black. Lenticels 

 scattering, rather conspicuous, mostly roundish, medium or sometimes small, 

 often slightly raised. Buds somewhat pubescent; towards the tip and base 

 of the twig they are appressed and often obtuse, but on the intermediate 

 portion they stand out prominently and are large, broad, plump, acute, free. 

 Foliage rather dense; leaves medium to large, often broad. 



The mature young twigs of Arkansas much resemble those of Paragon but 

 they are somewhat darker and stockier. The mature Paragon twigs have 

 comparatively more of a reddish-brown tinge. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit large to medium, pretty uniform in size. Form roundish inclined to 

 conic,' sometimes slightly oblate, broadly ribbed, pretty uniform in shape. 

 Stem long to almost short, rather stout. Cavity acute, rather wide, medium 

 in depth, green, often much russeted, sometimes indistinctly furrowed. Calyx 

 smalVto medium, usually closed. Basin rather abrupt, rather wide, moderately 

 deep, broadly furrowed or wavy. 



