266 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tially open; carpels rather small, nearly circular; seeds numerous, 

 of medium size, plump, rich dark brown ; flavor mild, subacid, pleas- 

 ant, moderately rich; quality good to very good. It is prized by 

 those who know the variety best both for culinary and dessert pur- 

 poses. Season, winter, keeping till late winter and sometimes well 

 into the spring in the region in Maryland in which it is most largely 

 grown. It is reported to be an excellent variety for cold storage. 



The tree attains only moderate size, but is vigorous and healthy; 

 the wood is very tough; limbs not easily broken by heavy crops. It 

 is said to bear young, frequently fruiting at from 4 to 6 years of 

 age, and to be a long-lived tree and a heavy, regular bearer. 



The universal esteem in which the Monocacy apple is held in the 

 region in which it is best known indicates an apple of much merit. 

 Though its color may be a little dark, it is attractive in appearance 

 and its quality is sufficiently high to give it value. It is considered 

 worthy of extended trial, especially in middle latitudes. 



The specimen illustrated in Plate II was grown by Mr. Edward 

 Shorb, Keymar, Carroll County, Md., in 1912. 



SUMMER KING APPLE. 

 SYNONYMS : Kentucky Summer Queen, Bounty. 



[PLATE III.] 

 EARLY HISTORY. 



The early history of the Summer King apple is obscure. It ap- 

 pears to have been a relatively prominent variety in Warren County, 

 Ky., during the middle of the last century, where it is supposed to 

 have been introduced by the early settlers from North Carolina 

 about 1810 or 1815. More definite records regarding its origin are 

 wanting. It seems never to have become much known in North 

 Carolina, and at the present time it is very rarely found in that 

 State. 



It was introduced into eastern Kansas about 1860, but it appears 

 not to have become of commercial importance in that region. More 

 recently it has been grown to a limited extent in Maryland, where 

 it is very highly esteemed. It has also been received at the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture from Tennessee and New Jersey, but the vari- 

 ety is unknown to most fruit growers. It is said to have been known 

 in Kentucky in the earlier years under the name of " King," but to 

 distinguish it from other varieties having that name the prefix 

 " Summer " was added by the late Dr. William M. Howsley, 1 of 

 Kansas. 



1 Manuscript notes of the late Charles Downing. 



