THE PORTER APPLE. 



PoRTEE. New American Orchardist. 



The Porter is so well known in New England, as 

 the very finest of our early fall apples, that it is almost 

 unnecessary that we should say anything in its praise. 

 Indeed, at the season of its maturity there is scarcely 

 any other variety, — unless some of the recently intro- 

 duced ones should prove so, — that will approach it in 

 excellence. The vigor of the tree — its compact form 

 — the size of the fruit — ^its rich golden skin — and the 

 brisk and vinous excellence of its abundant juice, 

 form a combination of qualities which few apples pos- 

 sess. To this may be added, early bearing and a 

 handsome habit, which make it a fine variety for cultivation for dwarf or 

 pyramidal trees. 



The Porter originated in Sherburne, Mass., on the gi'ounds of the 

 Rev. Samuel Porter, about fifty years ago, and remained unnoticed for 

 some yeai's. A neighbor, passing through his orchard one day, had his 

 attention accidentally attracted to the tree from some very beautiful 

 specimens which fell off. He soon after called upon the owner, and 

 apprized him of the valuable fruit he had upon his grounds, and re- 

 quested that he might be permitted to cut a few scions. Mr. Porter, 

 then somewhat advanced in life, and not seeming to be aware of its 

 excellence, or of the importance of disseminating superior fruit, rephed, 

 " that he might have the whole tree if he wished." This, however, was 

 not desired, but, content to possess the scions, his neighbor grafted 

 them into trees in his own garden, and, from that period, the Porter 

 grew rapidly in favor, and no orchard could be considered complete 

 without it. As an early fall apple it has no superior, and few that 

 equal it. 



The cultivation of the Porter has been confined principally to the 

 vicinity of its origin. Within a few years however, since its quahties 

 have become more widely known, it has been much sought after; yet 

 the supply for the market does not keep pace with the demand, and 

 fine specimens always command a very high price. It is admirably 

 adapted for gai'den cultivation ; trees in our collection, six years old and 

 only eight feet high, being in full bearing. 



Tree. — Moderately vigorous, partially spreading and upright, the 



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