APPLES 



207 



in Arkansas, but they are differently col- 

 ored and of different quality. The Arkan- 

 sas Black is the most deeply colored, most 

 polished and most beautiful of the apples 

 grown in this country. On account of its 

 dark red color, its solid flesh and superior 

 keeping and shipping qualities, it is desir- 

 able. It looks well on exhibition, and sells 

 for good prices; yet it is not a good ap- 

 ple for dessert purposes nor is it a heavy 

 bearer. 



It originated in Benton county, Arkan- 

 sas, about 1870; the first description is 

 given by Van Deman in 1886. 



Tree moderately vigorous; branches 

 long, slender. Form upright, spreading, 

 rather open. Twigs short, stout; inter- 

 nodes short. Bark dark reddish brown, 

 mottled with scarf skin, pubescent. Fruit 

 as grown in the Middle or Eastern states 

 medium or rather below medium; but as 

 grown in the Pacific Northwest, it is me- 

 dium or above medium. Form nearly 

 round, slightly elongated. Calyx tube 

 conical, approaching funnel form. Sta- 

 mens marginal. 



Flesh decidedly tinged with yellow, very 

 firm, rather fine grained, crisp, moderately 

 juicy, sprightly subacid, and by some con- 

 sidered good to very good. In this par- 

 ticular we would differ somewhat from 

 these statements. We have already said 

 "it is not a good apple for dessert pur- 

 poses." Perhaps this may be a little over- 

 stated, inasmuch as the apple is so late in 

 maturing that it is seldom offered for sale 

 in its proper season. Its season is said 

 to be "December to April," but our obser- 

 vation is that it is never fit for use until 

 April, and that its proper season is April 

 to May. 



Baldwin 



The Baldwin is preeminently the lead- 

 ing variety in the commercial orchards 

 of New York, New England and certain 

 parts of Canada. Also it is one of the 

 leading varieties of Michigan and North- 

 ern Ohio. In the South and Southwest 

 it is not a desirable apple, because it rip- 

 ens too early to be a good winter variety, 

 and because it does not attain so high a 

 quality and flavor as in other climates. 

 It does fairly well in the Pacific North- 



west, but is not one of the best varieties, 

 and it seems to be conceded that it can- 

 not be grown successfully in these dis- 

 tricts in competition with the Northeast- 

 ern states where it reaches its highest per- 

 fection. 



The tree is a strong grower, long lived 

 and vigorous. It is somewhat slow in 

 reaching maturity, but when mature it 

 bears abundantly. 



Historical. This fruit originated as a 

 chance seedling on the farm of John Ball. 

 Wilmington, Massachusetts, about 1740, 

 but it was given the name Baldwin be- 

 cause it was largely propagated by Col. 

 Baldwin. 



Tree large, ver.v vigorous; branches 

 large, strong. Form upright, spreading, 

 eventually becoming rather round and 

 somewhat dense. Twigs long, straight or 

 somewhat crooked, moderately stout; 

 internodes medium to long. Bark brown- 

 ish red, mingled with olive green. 



Fruit sometimes large to very large: 

 usually above medium; pretty uniform in 

 size. Form roundish to conic, varying to 

 roundish oblong. Skin tough, smooth, 

 light yellow or greenish, blushed and mot- 

 tled with bright red; sometimes approach- 

 ing a deep red. Flesh yellow, firm, mod- 

 erately coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, agree- 

 able subacid, very good. Season March or 

 April; November to December in the 

 Northwest. Later in cold storage. 



Ben Dan's 



The Ben Davis is perhaps as widely dis- 

 tributed as any other variety of apples 

 grown. It is not very successful in the 

 extreme northern part of the United 

 States, but from the Atlantic to the Pa- 

 cific, between the parellels of 32 degrees 

 and 42 degrees it is the most important 

 variety grown. It is preeminently suc- 

 cessful in the Virginias, Kentucky. Ten- 

 nessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and 

 portions of the adjoining states. Its great 

 popularity seems to be largely on account 

 of its good keeping qualities, its good 

 shipping qualities, the vigor of growth of 

 the tree and its regular heavy bearing. 



Historical. The origin of this apple is 

 not definitely known. It is supposed, how- 

 ever, to have originated about the begin- 



