17. 



PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 427 



striped with rich crimson; dots conspicuous, yellow; skin medium 

 thick, tenacious; flesh yellowish, rather fine grained, breaking, mod- 

 erately juicy; core conical, clasping, of medium size, nearly closed; 

 seeds plump, of medium size, brown, varying from few to many; 

 flavor mild subacid, pleasant; quality good to very good. Season 

 from December to February in the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Val- 

 ley regions of Virginia, where it has been more largely grown than 

 elsewhere and where it is highly recommended by those who have 

 most experience with it. 



Though milder in flavor than most of the varieties highly prized 

 for dessert use, it possesses many desirable characteristics and is 

 considered worthy of testing for commercial purposes in eastern 

 apple districts from Pennsylvania southward. The tree is a fairly 

 thrifty grower and good bearer. 



The specimen illustrated in Plate XXXIII was grown in 1905 

 by Mr. Hugh Foster, Afton, Va., who at that time owned the farm 

 on which the variety originated. 



KINNARD APPLE. 



SYNONYMS: Kinnard' s Choice, Kinnaird, Kinnaird's Choice. 

 [PLATE XXXIV.] 



EARLY HISTORY. 



The Kinnard apple has long been in cultivation in central Ten- 

 nessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and some other sections of the 

 South. While therefore not entitled, strictly speaking, to considera- 

 tion as a new sort, its adaptability to a much wider climatic range 

 has recently become apparent. 



This variety originated as a chance seedling in Williamson County, 

 Tenn., on a farm then owned by Mr. Claiborn H. Kinnard, on the 

 headwaters of the west fork of the Harpeth River, about 8 miles 

 southeast of Franklin, the county seat, and 2J or 3 miles north of 

 what is known as the Duck River Ridge. 1 



The date of origin is unknown, save that it was some time prior to 

 1850. The original tree is said to have been discovered in a thicket 

 and to have been in fruit when it was first found. 2 The variety was 

 apparently first propagated, commercially, early in the fifties, in a 

 local nursery operated by one " Judge " George Andrews, and it is 

 reported to have been named KinnarcTs Choice by him. 



The earliest published description appears to have been that of 

 Charles Downing, in 1872, 3 who described it as KinnaircTs Choice. 



1 Letter dated November 28, 1910, from Judge H. G. Jefferson, whose father, now in his 

 ninetieth year, boarded with Claiborn Kinnard about 65 years ago. 



2 Letters from Chas. L. Williams, January 5 and 14, 1911. 



3 First Appendix to " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America," p. 18. 



