88 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Sponge Russet is a variety sometimes met but of no special 

 value. Size medium and above, slightly elongated, regular. 

 Mild sub-acid. Never very juicy, inclined to wither. 



Of sweet russets there are many kinds none of which have 

 ever been classified, and I make no attempt to list them at this 

 time. 



POMME GRISE. 



Is a russet by nature though not in name. This also is one of 

 the varieties that have come to us from the New York nurseries. 

 It is so distinct from other russets, and is so characteristically 

 rich and delicious in flavor that there has been little if any con- 

 fusion in regard to it. It is one of the few russetted apples that 

 never appears at our shows labelled "Golden Russet." I men- 

 tion it here only to make the list complete. Downing gives the 

 following description : 



"A small gray apple from Canada, probably of Swiss or 

 French origin, and undoubtedly one of the finest dessert apples 

 for a northern climate." 



"Fruit below medium, (small grown in Maine,) oblate, round- 

 ish. Skin greenish gray or cinnamon russet, with a little red 

 towards the sun. Calyx small set in a round basin. Flesh ten- 

 der, rich and high flavored. Very good to best, December to 

 February." 



I have thus gone over the list of russets known and grown 

 among us. I am aware that much I have given is only a record 

 of what we don't know. But this should not be entirely without 

 value, for in fruit nomenclature it is better to know what an 

 apple is not than to give it an incorrect name. 



There is still a numerous list of russets listed in the fruit 

 books of which no mention has been made,, and which so far as 

 known have never been introduced among us. They are mostly 

 if not all old varieties that have dropped out of date and prob- 

 ably out of knowledge, save as their names have been kept in the 

 lists. With the exception of a few old English varieties, the 

 most of them as given in the books are very similar in their 

 characterictics — small in size and late keepers. 



The russet apples of recognized market value, and which are 

 now being grown and propagated to any considerable extent, 

 are the three first named in this paper. 



