NATIVE SEEDLING FKUITS. 63 



It is now more sought for than that apple, for consumers have 

 found out its good character, it being much better in quality as a 

 cooking apple, better for the table, and better for keeping than the 

 Baldwin. 



From all the traditions, wMch seem to be well founded, this ap- 

 ple originated on the old Hunt farm, in Concord, Mass. This 

 farm is located one mile north of the village, on the south side of 

 " Punkatasset" hill, overlooking the old North Bridge of Revolu- 

 tionary fame ; the soil a warm gravelly loam, somewhat rocky. 

 The late Mr. Humphrey Hunt, who had given much attention to 

 apples, and lived on a farm about one mile from the old place, had 

 a row of trees of this variety near his house, some of which are 

 still remaining. He informed me that these trees were lai'ge old 

 trees when he was a boy, and were planted bj^ his great-grand- 

 father. It is now one hundred and five years since he was born, 

 and if they were old trees when he was a boy, they are at least 

 two hundred years old now, and this vai'iety has undoubtedly been 

 growing in Concord more than two hundred years. I inquired of 

 Mr. Hunt where this apple originated ; he said on the old Hunt 

 farm on Punkatasset hill. 



I have described these old trees more minutely for the purpose 

 of showing the great longevity of the variety, and that means 

 hardiness, for no puny, feeble variety lives to any such age. In 

 the year 1832, when nearly all the young Baldwin trees were win- 

 ter killed, this variet}^ escaped entirely unharmed, and the same 

 result happened two years ago. These facts prove its great hardi- 

 ness and ability to withstand changes of temperature. Another 

 fact should also be remembered, that although it will grow almost 

 any where, it will not fruit well in a cold and wet soil, unlike the 

 Hubbardston, which is also quite hardy, and will produce good 

 crops on soils too cold and wet for either the Hunt Russet or Bald- 

 win, and on dry and warm soils also. In fact the Hubbardston is 

 productive on almost any soil or location where any apple tree will 

 grow. 



My observation leads me to believe that apple trees originating 

 on a cold and wet soil will do well on a soil similar to that on 

 which they originated, and on warmer soils also, but that those 

 originating and showing their perfection on warmer soils are not 

 adapted to cold ones. There may be exceptions to this rule, but 

 I think it will be found generally correct. 



