1344 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



early, and is reasonably productive, 

 though inclined to bear biennially. Its 

 tendency to be irregular in both size and 

 shape is rather a serious drawback to a 

 coninuTcial variety, making (juite a loss 

 from unmarki'table fruit. The fruit drops 

 considerably, unless several pickings are 

 made. 



(13) Fall Pippin 

 The origin of this variety is somewhat 

 in doubt, but it is good enough so that 

 its origin does not much matter. It ought 

 to have originated in Massachusetts. The 

 tree is large and rather vigorous, making 

 a roundish, rather dense top. Both leaves 

 and fruit are seriously subject to the ap- 

 ple-scab fungus, which is a decided draw- 

 back where this disease is troublesome. 

 The fruit ripens very unevenly, which is 

 another objection, as it means repeated 

 pickings, which add somewhat to the ex- 

 pense. The fruit is large, of a fine, clear 

 yellow and decidedly handsome, having a 

 clean, attractive appearance which makes 

 it sell well. The flesh is fine-grained, 

 tender and juicy, rather aromatic, and 

 ranks as good to best in quality. It is a 

 fine dessert apple but is especially strong 

 as a culinary variety. In storage it is a 

 variable keeper, but in any case has a 

 long season, owing to its uneven ripen- 

 ing, beginning in September and lasting 

 well on toward Christmas. I should con- 

 sider it among the best of the fall varie- 

 ties for home use and a good commercial 

 sort. 



(14) Wostfield (Seek-iio-furtlier) 



The Westfield, or Westfield Seek-no- 

 further, is still another of the Massachu- 

 setts contributions to the list of fine varie- 

 ties of apples. It originated at or near 

 Westfield, in the neighborhood of Spring- 

 field, Massachusetts. The tree is very 

 hardy, healthy and long-lived, though in- 

 clined to be a biennial bearer. It is nev- 

 ertheless a very reliable cropper. The 

 fruit is of highest quality, with a nutty, 

 aromatic flavor which one who has once 

 known it cannot forget. It is not par- 

 ticularly attractive in appearance, being 

 a rather dull brownish-red, but when 

 well grown, and especially when grown 

 on sandy or gravelly soil, where it suc- 



ceeds best, it often attains a fine, hand- 

 some red, which makes it really attrac- 

 tive. It runs very uniform in both size 

 and shape, making it a good box apple, 

 and as it is principally used as a dessert 

 apple (not being a very good cooker), 

 this is the way it ought to be marketed. 

 Its season is from about October to Feb- 

 ruary, but it will often keep in good stor- 

 age much later than this. It stands 

 handling and shipping well, and in a 

 limited way I believe it would be profit- 

 able as a commercial variety. Certainly 

 it ought to be in every family orchard. 



(16) Pfortliem Spy 



The Spy is one of the few imported 

 commercial apples which Massachusetts 

 cannot claim, as it originated in New 

 York. It is one of my sincere regrets 

 that the Spy does not succeed better in 

 Massachusetts. There are certain sec- 

 tions where it does admirably, particu- 

 larly in Franklin county, but as a rule 

 it has the reputation of not being a suc- 

 cess with us. Whether it altogether de- 

 serves this reputation is a question, but 

 certainly we do not grow good Spies in 

 many sections. The tree is all that could 

 be desired in health and vigor, making 

 a fine-shaped, large tree, and living to a 

 good old age, but it is very slow indeed 

 in coming into bearing, in this respect 

 standing at the foot of the list of reput- 

 able varieties. The fruit when well 

 grown is about all that could be desired, 

 being a fine, bright, pinkish-red in color, 

 with a smooth, waxy skin, making an ex- 

 tremely attractive apple. The flesh is 

 firm and crisp, but tender and juicy, and 

 has a flavor that no one will forget, once 

 he has eaten a well-grown, well-colored 

 Spy. Both fruit and foliage are decidedly 

 subject to the attacks of the scab fungus 

 where this disease is prevalent, and its 

 tender skin and flesh make careful hand- 

 ling necessary. But, with all its faults, I 

 should say that in sections where it is 

 known that the Spy succeeds it ought to 

 be put down as one of our leading varie- 

 ties. In other sections it had probably 

 better be tried only on a small scale; but 

 even here, unless it has been tried under 

 favorable conditions, with modern treat- 



