17 U 



426 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



One purpose of this article, in continuation of similar ones printed 

 in the Yearbook since 1901, is to call the attention of fruit growers 

 generally to new and little-known sorts that are worthy of their 

 attention, and to encourage the testing of such in different sections 

 of the country. The Department of Agriculture does not distribute 

 these varieties for experimentation except as indicated. 



LOWRY APPLE. 



SYNONYMS : Lowry Seedling, Dixie, Mosby's Best, Mosby's Best Red Winter. 



[PLATE XXXIII.] 



EARLY HISTORY. 



The original tree of the Lowry apple stood on a farm owned by 

 Mr. John Lowry (deceased), 3 miles south of Afton, Nelson County, 

 Va. Though the variety first began to attract attention about sixty 

 years ago, 1 only within the past few years has its probable commer- 

 cial value been appreciated. Even at the present time its planting 

 is chiefly confined to the Blue Ridge region of Virginia. 



It appears to have been first propagated about 1880 1 by Mr. John 

 Wright 2 (deceased), of Avon, Va., and by Mr. W. G. Lobban, 3 the 

 latter making grafts on the farm of Mr. G. W. Lobban, near the 

 " John Lowry place." It was known locally at this period under 

 the name Lowry, or Lowry Seedling. About 1890 Mr. Wright fur- 

 nished scions to Mr. Elisha Robertson (deceased), who operated a 

 nursery at .Yancey Mills, Albemarle County, Va. Mr. Robertson 

 gave it the name Dixie about 1895, and appears to have been the first 

 to propagate it commercially. After Mr. Robertson's death it was 

 propagated by Mr. A. F. Mosby (deceased), proprietor of the Rich- 

 mond Commercial Nurseries, Richmond, Va., and by him named 

 Mosby^s Best* More recently it has been grown in several other 

 nurseries. 



The original tree died about ten years ago, having become weak- 

 ened, it is said, by the excessive cutting of grafts from it. 3 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish to roundish oblate, sometimes slightly ribbed ; size 

 medium; cavity regular, medium in size and depth, with gradual 

 slope and russet markings ; stem moderately long, fairly stout ; basin 

 regular, medium to large, with gradual slope, furrowed; calyx seg- 

 ments small, converging; eye large, open; surface generally smooth: 

 color yellow, washed with mixed red and splashed and brokenly 



1 Letter from W. H. Goodwin, November 21, 1910. 



2 Letter from J. T. Critzer, December 9, 1910 ; ;* 



3 Letter from S. H. Arnall, December 24, 1910. 

 * Letter from W. T. Hood, October 17, 1905. 



