THE BENONI APPLE 



Benoni. Kenrick's American Orchardist, 1st Ed. 1833. 



The Benoni is a summer apple, of superior quality. It 

 is not quite so large as the Williams, which ripens about 

 the same time, — nor has it the prepossessing appearance 

 of that showy and excellent Tariety, — but it is fully equal 

 to it in quality. It has a firm and crisp flesh, and a rich, 

 pleasant, subacid and sprightly flavor, which, combined 

 with the productiveness of the tree, claim for it a promi- 

 nent place in every fruit garden or orchard. 



The Benoni is a native variety, and was first brought to 

 the notice of cultivators, about twenty years ago, by Mr. 

 E. M. Kichards, of Dedham, a zealous amateur, who has devoted much 

 attention to apples, and introduced several varieties of merit. Mr. Rich- 

 ards gave a brief account of this apple in the Magazine of Horticulture 

 for 1835, (vol. i. p. 343.) He there states that it originated in Dedham, 

 Mass., upwards of twenty-five years ago, where the original tree, we 

 believe, is still growing, and that it first came into bearing in 1831 or 

 1832. Its merits soon became known, and, since that time, its cultiva- 

 tion has gradually extended, until it is now found in many of the best 

 collections of apples. Mr. Richards has repeatedly shown very fine speci- 

 mens of the Benoni, and pomologists are indebted to him for his endeavors 

 to bring this and other native seedlings into more general cultivation. 



The tree has a peculiarly erect and handsome habit, — greatly resem- 

 bling in this respect the Northern Spy, — and, if left to itself, forming a 

 perfect pyramid, with its annual branches shooting up to the height of 

 four or five feet. The foliage is also of a deep green, and a small tree, 

 loaded with its bright red fruit, is, at all times, a fine object. Mr. 

 Richards states that " it bears almost to a fault every second year." It 

 comes into fruit rather earlier than most varieties, and we have seen young 

 trees standing in the nursery rows, not more than six or eight feet high, 

 bearing several of its handsome apples. As a dwarf, on its own stock, 

 it is especially desirable ; the trees branch low, and, from then* naturally 

 compact form, are easier kept within a convenient size than many 

 other varieties. 



Tree. — Moderately vigorous, with an erect and upright habit, the 

 branches ascending at an acute angle with the main stem, and forming, 

 when fully gi'own, a handsome round head. 



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