13-JO 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



and tree which ouKht to be considered, 

 though their relative importance will vary 

 somewhat. 



(1) Baldnin 



The Baldwin is a chance seedling which 

 was found at Wilmington, near Lowell, 

 Mass. The tree is a strong grower, long- 

 lived and vigorous, making a round- 

 headed top of excellent shape, and is in 

 most respects an ideal tree. It is hardy 

 except in very severe climates. It does 

 not come into bearing early, ranking 

 about with the Gravenstein in this re- 

 spect. As a rule seven or eight years are 

 required under even good conditions to 

 bring it into profitable bearing. The tree 

 is somewhat subject to canker, though 

 not very seriously so. It bears very 

 abundantly in alternate years and little 

 or nothing in the odd years. Whether 

 this tendency can be overcome by thin- 

 ning or by some other treatment remains 

 to be settled. The fruit is finely colored 

 when well grown, of good size, regular in 

 form and runs as a rule very uniform, 

 with comparatively few culls. It keeps 

 well, the season being from November 

 to March in ordinary storage, and it 

 stands handling very well indeed. The 

 quality is usually ranked from good to 

 above, when well grown, but a poorly 

 grown Baldwin is a poor thing. This 

 point I think needs decided emphasis, 

 as some of our well-grown Baldwins are 

 the equal in color and attractiveness of 

 anything grown in the famous North- 

 west. The Baldwin is undoubtedly the 

 most popular and profitable apple in New 

 England and New York. A point worth 

 considering is that it is one of the best 

 export apples, particularly to England, 

 where American-grown Baldwins stand 

 very high. 



(2) Mcintosh 



Perhaps no other apple is more popular 

 at the present time or more largely 

 planted than the Mcintosh. It belongs 

 to the Pameuse group, having originated 

 in Ontario, Canada. The tree is a strong 

 grower, hardy and healthy, one of the 

 finest that I know. The side branches 

 come out at almost right angles so that 

 the tree will bear an immense load of fruit 

 without breaking down : the branches 



are well distributed, and, altogether, it 

 forms a beautiful tree. It comes into 

 bearing relatively early and bears well, 

 though not overabundantly. It has a 

 strong inclination to be an annual bearer 

 when well cared for, which I consider a 

 decidedly important point. The fruit 

 itself is very attractive in appearance, 

 being a bright, handsome red, with a 

 waxy texture to the flesh, which is white, 

 tender and very highly perfumed. The 

 aroma of a good Mcintosh Is something 

 to be remembered. Its season is from 

 the first of September to perhaps the 

 middle of November in ordinary storage, 

 but it will keep in fairly good condition 

 niuoli longer than this. It is particularly 

 good for holding its color and attractive 

 appearance. It is not an uncommon thing 

 to find good specimens of Mcintosh as 

 late as January or February, which, 

 though they have lost something of their 

 quality, are still very good eating. The 

 fruit ripens unevenly and has a consid- 

 erable tendency to drop, so that picking 

 should be done twice and perhaps three 

 times. It is a very desirable variety for 

 local or special trade, but will not stand 

 rough handling. At present it is prob- 

 ably the most popular variety in Massa- 

 chusetts. 



(3) Rhode Lsland Greening: 

 The Rhode Island Greening Is thought 

 to have originated in the state whose 

 name it bears, and probably near New- 

 port, although the records are not very 

 definite. It would certainly stand next 

 to the Baldwin as a commercial apple in 

 New England, though the Mcintosh is 

 undoubtedly far ahead of it in the num- 

 ber of trees being planted at the present 

 time. I believe, however, that the Rhode 

 Island Greening deserves more attention 

 than it is receiving at present from those 

 who are planting commercial orchards. 

 The tree is reasonably hardy, winter-kill- 

 ing only in rather severe climates; it is 

 long-lived and generally healthy, though 

 it does not come into bearing early. Prob- 

 ably eight or nine years would be the 

 usual time required to bring it into bear- 

 ing. The tree is strong and vigorous, and, 

 as already noted, healthy, although the 

 fruit and foliage are both liable to scab 



