302 PYRUS MALUS. 
beyond the "memory of man."* It is to be regretted, however, that the trees 
bearing this excellent variety of fruit, in many parts of the country, begin to 
manifest symptoms of decline ; and it is believed by many, that the period has 
arrived, in which nature is to terminate their existence, and like their parent stock, 
are about to pass into decrepitude and final decay. 
As the longevity of the apple-tree is comparatively limited, which is obvious 
from the perishable nature of its wood, there are but few very aged individuals 
to be met with, either in Europe or in America. The oldest trees of which we 
have received any account, are said to be growing near Plymouth, in Massachu- 
setts, and are represented as being upwards of two centuries old. An ancient 
tree of the "Pearmain" variety also stands on the Charter Oak Place, in Hart- 
ford, Connecticut, which was brought from England by Mr. George Wyllis. pre- 
vious to the year 1645, and consequently must be more than two hundred years 
of age. Its trunk, though much decayed, still sends forth several thrifty boughs, 
which annually produce from two to three pecks of excellent fruit. 
On the authority of Dr. James Mease, of Philadelphia, there is a mammoth apple- 
tree at Romney, in Virginia, which grew spontaneously from seed, and is esti- 
mated to be fifty years old. It has attained a height of forty-five feet, with a 
trunk more than a yard in diameter, and a spread of branches of fifty-five feet. 
It is said to be in a flourishing condition, and continues to increase in size. In 
1835, it produced one hundred and eighty bushels of large fruit, besides four or 
five bushels left under its boughs as damaged, and several bushels, which, it 
was calculated, had been taken by visitors, in the course of the season ; so that 
the total produce, in the opinion of Dr. Mease, amounted to nearly two hundred 
bushels. 
The greatest quantity of fruit borne on a single tree, in England, in one year, 
that we have heard of, is recorded in Dodsley's " Annual Register," for 1777. It 
grew in the orchard of Mr. Hackman, of Littlefield, in Sussex, and produced sev- 
enty-four bushels of fruit, which, on being weighed, was found to average four- 
teen pounds to each peck, and consequently the total product of the tree was 
nearly two tons. 
The largest recorded apple-tree in Britain, is at Herbert's farm, near Hereford, 
which, in 1836, was forty-eight feet in height, with a trunk five feet in diameter, 
and a spread of branches of forty-eight feet. 
Legendary and Mythological Allusions. The apple-tree, so singularly connected 
with the first transgression and fall of man, the fruit of which, as has long been 
supposed was eaten by Eve in Paradise, is distinguished alike in the mytholo- 
gies of the Greeks, Scandinavians, and the Druids. The golden fruits of the Hespe- 
rides, which it was one of the labours of Hercules to procure, in spite of the sleepless 
dragon which guarded them, were believed by the pagans to be apples. Hercu- 
les was worshipped by the Thebans under the name of Melius ; and apples were 
offered at his altars. The origin of this custom was the circumstance of the river 
Asopus having, on one occasion, overflowed its banks to such an extent, as to ren- 
der it impossible to bring a sheep across it which was to be sacrificed to Hercules ; 
when some youths, recollecting that an apple bore the same name as a sheep in 
Greek, (melon.) offered an apple, with four little sticks stuck in it, to resemble 
legs, as a substitute for a sheep; and after that period, the pagans always consid- 
ered the apple as especially devoted to Hercules. In the Scandinavian " Edda," 
we are told that the goddess Iduna had the care of apples which had the power 
of conferring immortality; and which were consequently reserved for the gods, 
who ate of them when they began to feel themselves growing old. The evil 
spirit Loke took away Iduna and her apple-tree, and hid them in a forest, 
where they could not be found by the gods. In consequence of this malicious 
* On the estate of Mr. Gardner G. Howland, at Flushing, there are several old trees of this description 
which bear abundantly every other vear, and are supposed to be one hundred venrs of nee. 
