344 THE APPLES OF NEW YORK. 



Sweet has gained the reputation of being- one of the hardiest of the 

 old New England varieties. For this reason it is often selected as 

 a stock upon which to top-graft less hardy kinds. The tree comes 

 into bearing at a moderately early age, and, generally speaking, is a 

 reliable cropper, yielding from moderate to heavy crops biennially 

 or sometimes almost annually. 



Historical. Thacher's description of this variety is the earliest one of 

 which \ve have any record. He was unable to trace it to its origin (i). 

 Manning (18) in 1891 called attention to the correct orthography, the name 

 having been differently spelled by various authors, and mentioned the sup- 

 position that the variety originated in Dorchester (Massachusetts). It has 

 long been known in cultivation in New York and it appears that it is more 

 generally grown in the home orchards of this state than any other sweet 

 apple. 



TREE. 



Tree moderately vigorous. Form upright, very spreading, drooping, open ; 

 top roundish ; branches long, moderately stout, curved and drooping. Twigs 

 medium to long, straight or bowed, stout ; internodes medium to short. Bark 

 clear brownish mingled with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, 

 heavily pubescent. I.cnticcls rather conspicuous, scattering, medium or above, 

 roundish or oval, not raised. Buds medium in size, broad, plump, obtuse, ap- 

 pressed, pubescent. 



FRUIT. 



Fruit commonly averages below medium but sometimes grows rather large. 

 It is pretty uniform in size and shape. Form nearly globular or varying to 

 roundish conical or to roundish oblate, often inclined to elliptical or obscurely 

 ribbed. Stem medium to rather long, slender. Cavity obtuse to acute, broad, 

 deep, often russeted, often obscurely furrowed yet pretty symmetrical. Calyx 

 medium to small, somewhat open or sometimes closed ; lobes often long and 

 acuminate. Basin small to medium, often oblique, moderately shallow to 

 moderately deep, medium in width, rather abrupt, furrowed, wrinkled, some- 

 times compressed. 



Skin tough, often marked by a suture line extending out from the cavity, 

 sometimes reaching even to the basin; color pale clear yellow or whitish- 

 yellow, sometimes a little blushed. Dots small, inconspicuous, pale yellow 

 or faint russet. The skin is apt to be roughened slightly by very inconspicuous 

 capillary russet lines over the entire surface, becoming heavier and concentric 

 at the basin. 



Calyx tube urn-shape to truncate funnel-form. Stamens basal or nearly so. 



lore medium to rather small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines 



slightly clasping. Carpels rather flat, broadly roundish, slightly emarginate, 



ufted. Seeds medium in size, wide, plump, acute to somewhat obtuse, tufted. 



Flesh white, firm, neither tender nor crisp, rather hard, moderately fine, 

 rather dry to moderately juicy, decidedly sweet, good to very good. 



