THE RED ASTRACHAN APPLE. 



Red Astrachan. Pomological Magazine, vol. iii. pi. 123. 



If a fruit should be entitled to the attention of cultiva- 

 tors for its beauty alone, the Red Astrachan, among our 

 great number of varieties, would bear off the palm. It has 

 not only a rich, deep crimson, skin, often heightened by the 

 peculiar abruptness of the coloring from the sunny to the 

 shaded side, but it is covered with a soft bloom, as beauti- 

 ful as that of a plum. Its fine appearance, however, is not 

 its only recommendation ; for, although not quite equalling 

 the Early Harvest, which ripens at about the same season, 

 it is an excellent apple, and one without which no collection 

 can be complete. 



It was first introduced into England, from Sweden, about the year 

 1816, and fruited in the garden of Mr. Atkinson, at Grove End, near 

 London, in 1820, at which period it was exhibited before the London 

 Horticultural Society, and noticed in their Transactions, (vol. iv.) Its 

 beauty as well as excellence commended it to the notice of cultivators, and 

 it was very generally disseminated. At what time it was introduced into 

 this country we have no precise information. Though in many collec- 

 tions of fruit, it is by no means extensively cultivated, and we believe 

 that it has not yet been so abundantly raised as tb be found in our mar- 

 kets, only in exceedingly small quantities. 



It is a hardy and exceedingly vigorous variety, admu'ably adapted for 

 dwarf trees, which, when loaded with fruit, have a very showy appear- 

 ance. It comes into bearing rather early, young and thrifty trees often 

 producing fruit the fourth or fifth year. The fruit should be gathered 

 as soon as ripe, for, if allowed to hang upon the tree, it soon becomes 

 mealy. 



Tree. — Vigorous, upright, and regular in growth, forming a handsome 

 and rather compact head ; young trees very erect, with short spurs on 

 the main stem : our vignette is from a tree two years from the bud. 



Wood. — Clear reddish chestnut, sprinkled with distinct whitish specks, 

 stout, rather short-jointed, pubescent at the ends ; buds large, broad, 

 with rather stout shoulders, and somewhat flattened : Flower-buds oval. 

 Leaves. — ^Medium size, roundish oblong, wavy on the margin, shortly 

 acuminate, rather deeply and obtusely serrated; petioles of medium 

 length, and moderately stout ; stipules narrow. 

 Flowers. — Medium size. 



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