STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79 



the two names, nor could we get any satisfactory information 

 on the matter from the exhibitors. We conckided that the 

 Roxbury Russet generally goes under the name of "Nonpareil" 

 in that province, and that showing the two plates under different 

 names was a sly dodge of the exhibitor to get another prize. 

 Later on I obtained samples of the "Nonpareil" direct from the 

 Annapolis Valley, and have them on exhibition here, and I think 

 you will all call them the true Roxbury Russet. 



A curious fact in this connection I run across last fall for the 

 first time. That is that there are two kinds of this well-known 

 apple grown here in Kennebec county. I have this from good 

 authorities. While the apples are closely identical, the trees 

 differ essentially in type. It is not at all improbable that a 

 fruit closely identical with that of the parent tree may have 

 sprung from some one of the Russet orchards of this vicinity. 

 Such facts are on record with some other varieties. 



ENGLISH RUSSET, OR POUGHKEEPSIE RUSSET. 



In our efifort to describe, distinguish and identify this variety 

 the confusion of Russet nomenclature begins to be encountered. 

 This variety so closely resembles the Golden Russet (of West- 

 ern New York) that very few of our Maine fruit growers have 

 been able to distinguish one from the other, or in fact to posi- 

 tively identify either. Downing, Barrv^ and Thomas all de- 

 scribe it in their works, all giving it the same name I have used 

 here. Their descriptions also all agree. Downing alone fig- 

 ures the outlines of the fruit. His description is as follows : 



"English Russet is a valuable long-keeping variety, exten- 

 sively cultivated, and well known by this name. It is not fit for 

 use until February, and may be kept till July, which together 

 with its great productiveness and good flavor, renders it a very 

 valuable market fruit." 



"The trees grow very straight and form upright heads, and 

 the wood is smooth and of a reddish brown. Fruit of medium 

 size, roundish, slightly conical, and very regularly formed. 

 Skin pale greenish yellow, about two-thirds covered with 

 russet, which is thickest near the stalk. Calyx small, closed, 

 and set in an even, round basin, of moderate depth. Stalk 

 rather small, projecting even with the base and pretty deeply in- 



