64 



size, and, for that reason and others, is very useful as a filler. 

 It comes into bearing very early; frequently fruit will be 

 found on the trees in two or three years, though of course 

 only scattering specimens. The fruit is of good quality and 

 finely colored, being a light straw-yellow, splashed and 

 striped and sometimes almost covered with a handsome crim- 

 son. It attains good size on younger trees, but on older trees, 

 where, as noted above, growth has become slow, the fruit is 

 apt to run small. This has to be overcome by severe pruning 

 and high fertilization and culture. The fruit also needs to 

 be thinned to get the best results. In any case the fruit runs 

 very uniform both in size and shape, and for that reason it 

 makes an excellent variety for boxing. The ilesh is tender 

 and juicy, and requires careful handling in order not to 

 injure it. The season is September and October, slightly 

 before the Mcintosh; but it can be kept until December in 

 good storage. The fruit drops badly from the tree, and the 

 trees should be picked over two or three times. It is at 

 present being quite largely planted, more so than many other 

 varieties; but, as already noted, its special field is as a filler. 



Good points : — 



1. Bears very early. 



2. Hardy tree. 



3. Good quality. 



4. Uniform gi-ade. 



5. Good color. 



Wealthy. 



Bad points : — • 



1, Drops badly. 



2. Ripens unevenly. 



(o) Hvhbardston. — This is another variety which orig- 

 inated in Massachusetts, having been found at Hubbardston, 

 Mass., very early in the history of the State. The tree is 

 vigorous, particularly when young, and comes into bearing- 

 early, frequently, giving a fair scattering of fruit from the 

 orchard at four years. The tree is only moderate in size, but 

 bears heavily, at least biennially and sometimes annually ; 

 it is therefore a good variety to be used as a filler. It is apt 

 to overbear in a productive year, and for this reason should 

 receive careful attention, to keep the soil in a good state of 

 fertility and the foliage free from fungous diseases or in- 



