NATIVE FRUITS. 37 



medium to large ; form, round, slightly flattened at the ends ; skin, pale 

 whitish-yellow in the shade, nearly covered with light red, and frequently 

 striped with carmine ; flesh, white, exceedingly tender, juicy, melting, agree- 

 ably perfumed, and having a mild sub-acid flavor. As a desert apple it has 

 no superior, if any equal. The fruit, however, is so tender that it will not 

 bear much handling or long carriage, and the tree is not vigorous enough 

 to render it a profitable variety for orchard culture. But it is such a de- 

 sirable fruit for family use, that it ought to be included in every garden 

 collection. 



The public are beginning to appreciate .choice fruits, and orchardists will 

 find it profitable to top graft this kind upon a vigorous-growing variety. I 

 am certain it will sell readily at a good price, as soon as its merits are 

 known. Is it not surprising that a fruit possessing so many good qualities 

 should be so rarely seen ? To show how scarce this apple is, I doubt if a 

 barrel of them could be found in Rochester to-day. Yet it is unquestion- 

 ably the finest of all winter dessert apples, and ought to be found in the 

 market. 



Another apple equally valuable, and nearly as difficult to obtain, is the 

 Jonathan. It is one of those slender-growing sorts, which find no favor 

 with nurserymen. But it seems to me that the people cannot afford to 

 dispense with such a valuable sort. If its value were properly estimated, 

 nurserymen I am sure would be able to raise trees of it profitably. Among 

 the numerous sorts on exhibition to-day, I ask is there a handsomer or 

 better apple than the Jonathan ? Of medium size, roundish ovate form, 

 skin of a light yellow color, nearly covered with light red, deepening to a 

 rich crimson, then to a dark purple; flesh, white, tender, juicy, with a pleas- 

 ant sub-acid flavor, it has all the qualities which constitute a perfect dessert 

 apple. And this, one of our best winter apples, can hardly be obtained in 

 the market. In this, one o f the greatest fruit-producing regions of the 

 world, there is no excuse for depriving the public of the best apples we 

 have. Grow extensively, if you will, Baldwins and others of that class for 

 exportation, but let us have the best for home consumption. It will not be 

 long till fruit generally, and the apple especially, will be classed among the 

 most important articles of food. For those who are engaged in sedentary 

 pursuits, or who suffer from indigestion, apples of fine quality, like those 

 above mentioned, are invaluable, and they should be used daily in every 

 family, and at every meal, in some form or another. 



\Ve do not half appreciate the advantages we possess in being able to 

 enjoy such luscious fruits as can be obtained here at so small a cost. Last 

 summer, while in England, I paid exorbitant prices for grapes, peaches and 

 strawberries. Even then the peaches, having been grown under glass, could 

 not compare in flavor with ours produced in the open air. And the hot- 

 house grapes, which the English esteem so highly, were not any better, if as 

 good, as our best native grapes. I there learned to appreciate my good 

 fortune in being a resident of Western New York, where the finest fruit can 

 be had remarkably cheap. In no other section of country that I know of 

 can such fine apples be raised as in this vicinity, and we ought certainly to 

 give more attention to the choice sorts, especially since they can be raised 

 with so little extra trouble. 



I might refer at length to other valuable varieties, which deserve more 

 attention than they receive, but the limits of this paper will not admit 

 of it. 



