APPLES 



221 



became popular with the settlers on the 

 prairies of Illinois, Iowa, and other north 

 central states where the winters are se- 

 vere. It is of good size, attractive in ap- 

 pearance, and is one of the most valuable 

 Russian varieties ever brought to this 

 country. It ripens in the northern states 

 about the last of August and the first of 

 September, and is generally highly es- 

 teemed for home use on account of being 

 a good cooker. The fruit is perishable 

 and does not stand shipment well, but 

 when carefully handled it may be consid- 

 ered a fair commercial variety for its 

 season. 



The tree is vigorous and hardy, but in- 

 clines to slow growth with age. Its form 

 is at first upright, spreading; but later 

 becomes roundish: twigs moderately 

 long, curved, slender, with dark brown 

 bark. 



Fruit medium to large, average above 

 medium, uniform in size and shape. Form 

 roundish to oblate, regular, symmetrical. 

 Skin moderately thick, tender, smooth, 

 pale greenish yellow or pale yellow, al- 

 most covered with irregular splashes and 

 stripes of bright red mottled and shaded 

 with crimson: prevailing effect, red 

 striped. The flesh is tinged with yellow, 

 rather firm, moderately fine, crisp, ten- 

 der, juicy, sprightly subacid, aromatic. 



Rambo. 



Itiiiiiier 



Historical. — The original 54 trees were 

 planted some 30 years ago by a man now 

 dead and, after a very thorough inves- 

 tigation, no information was found that 

 would lead to a knowledge of the source 

 of the original scions or nursery stock. 

 Up to the time the present owner, W. W. 

 Scott, came into possession of the orchard 

 the fruit was marketed under various 

 names. The gentleman owning the or- 

 chard at that time had decided to graft 

 over the trees to Spitzenburgs, and when 

 Mr. Scott moved on to the place he found 

 that the Spitzenburg scions had been 

 grafted in. When it came time to prune 

 Mr. Scott was undecided whether to leave 

 the Spitzenburg scions or the original 

 trees but, owing to the fact that it would 

 take several years for the scions to come 

 into bearing and that Mr. Scott was no 

 longer a young man, he at last made up 

 his mind to leave the original trees and 

 take a chance on the fruit. The name 

 ■■Rainier" was selected as being suggest- 

 ive of the locality. 



Tree. — The tree is a vigorous grower 

 and is inclined to be spreading, there- 

 fore, capable of bearing a heavy crop. 

 Twigs quite long and slender. Bark light 

 and showing a few dots. 



Fruit. — The fruit is oblong and slightly 

 inclined to conical. Flesh, yellowish with 

 practically no grain. Probably better de- 

 scribed as "buttery." Skin, yellowish 

 green underneath with an over-coloring 

 of dark red. Slightly streaked. Quality, 

 much resembling the Delicious, but a 

 much better cold storage apple. Fruit 

 picked during October, 1912, was placed 

 on the table at the banquet of the Inter- 

 national Refrigerator Congress, Chicago, 

 in September of 1913, in perfect condi- 

 tion. The Government pomologists say it 

 is the one apple which does not show 

 some defect from cold storage. Scald is 

 unknown, decay practically so. Eating 

 quality seems to improve rather than de- 

 teriorate. Should also say in regard to 

 the shape of the fruit that it shows the 

 five distinct points at the blossom end 

 which is so distinctive of the Delicious. 



