6 



382 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



different. The orchardist should, in general, therefore, be cautious in 

 planting comparatively untried sorts. He should proceed in an experi- 

 mental way, investigating as thoroughly as possible the requirements 

 and characteristics of any sort unknown in his locality before planting 

 it on a commercial scale. A few of the little-known fruit varieties, 

 selected from a large number introduced in recent years, are described 

 and illustrated in this paper with a view to furnishing detailed infor- 

 mation to growers who desire to undertake a trial of sorts that have 

 demonstrated their usefulness and value to an extent that warrants 

 their wide dissemination and testing in climatic regions similar to those 

 in which they have already been grown. 



INGRAM APPLE. 



(SYNONYMS: Ingram Seedling; Ingraham.) 



[PLATE XLVI.] 



During the past five years this apple, which has long been grown in 

 certain localities in Missouri, has attracted marked attention as a 

 variety well adapted to planting in commercial orchards in that and 

 neighboring States. Combining, as it does, the desirable characteris- 

 tics of the old Rails (variously known in the Middle and Southern 

 States under the synonyms Rawles Genet, Rawles Janet, Genvton, 

 Never/ail, and some twenty -five others), with larger size and brighter 

 color than that well-known sort, it appears to have been first 

 described and illustrated under the name Ingram Seedling in the 

 Journal of Agriculture, published at St. Louis, Mo., and somewhat 

 later, in 1868, in the Horticulturist, Vol. XXIII, p. 201. 



According to various accounts, the variety originated 'from the plant- 

 ing of seeds of the u Rails," by Mr. Martin Ingram, or his son Jack, 6 

 miles east of Springfield, Mo., about 1850 or 1855. Several trees were 

 grown from the same lot of .seed, and when they came into bearing the 

 fruit was so hard that it was considered worthless. All were destroyed 

 except one which had belonged to the boy Jack, who had then left home 

 for the West. In the spring of 1862, when apples were scarce in the 

 locality, several specimens were found under the tree in sound con- 

 dition. They were not yet in eating condition, but when ripe, later in 

 the spring, were of excellent flavor. The variety became locally known 

 as "Little Jack," and was gradually planted throughout the neighbor- 

 hood because of its productiveness and long-keeping qualities. Later 

 it gained wide popularity, especially in Missouri and Arkansas, until 

 it is now being largely planted in commercial orchards, especially in 

 the former State, where one orchard as large as 240 acres is solidly set 

 with it. The specimen shown in PI. XLVI was furnished by Mr. L. A. 

 Goodman, of Kansas City, Mo., secretary of the Missouri State Horti- 

 cultural Societv. 



