TNDENTIFICATION OF APPLE VARIETIES 83 



the fruit grower should be interested in means of identifying these mixtures 

 as early as possible in the life of the tree. It is significant that most of these 

 mixtures are of varieties that are (jiiite similar in ajipearance when in the 

 dormant stage. They become established in the nursery, are not detected, and 

 are frequently passed on to other nurseries in exchange of buds or scions. It 

 is quite possible to detect them by leaf characters. Here lies the importance 

 of examining nursery rows for mixtures during the growing season. Follow- 

 ing are some of these mixtures and the differences by which the stray can be 

 distinguished from the true variety. 



Mcintosh — Wolf River 



This mixture has been widespread, and many thousand Wolf River trees 

 have been sold for Mcintosh. It is now nearly, if not quite, eliminated from 

 nurseries, but may still persist in a few^ cases. Wolf River leaves are oval 

 and distinctly folded and refiexed, while most Mcintosh leaves are broad 

 and flat or slightly folded and persist later in the fall. Wolf River serrations 

 are coarser and deeper and often tend to be double. The bark is lighter 

 reddish, and growth more slender. There are other diiferences, but these are 

 enough to distinguish one from the other. (See Figs. 2 and 3). 



Gravenstein — TJnknown Variety 



Another widespread mixture formerly found in many nurseries, which may 

 still persist, is found in Gravenstein. The apples on the strange variety ripen 

 in the fall and are red-striped, oblate, conic, and ribbed. They become mealy 

 shortly after ripening and are of inferior quality. The variety is readily dis- 

 tinguished from Gravenstein by its broad, roundish leaves with deep, rather 

 sharp serrations. Its identity is imknown. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) 



Baldwin — 'Unknowu Variety 



Another mixture which has been found by the writers in a half dozen or 

 more widely scattered nurseries, is an unknown variety among Baldwins. The 

 apple is oblate and green, often with a blushed or obscurely splashed cheek. 

 It is of inferior quality, never ripens properly in this region, and often drops 

 in early September. The nursery tree closely resembles Baldwin, but is char- 

 acterized by the folloM-ing differences. 



1. The bark is more reddish and the shoots of more slender, spreading 

 growth. 



2. The leaf is more distinctly folded and waved, and the folding is nearer 

 the midvein. The leaves are more often waved. This is the difference that 

 is most apt to catch the eye when this mixture is encountered. Often the 

 leaf is softer, less rigid than Baldwin. In the fall they do not strip so easily. 



3. There are more short spurs with folded, waved leaves at the top of the 

 trimk at the base of the main branches. 



4. The leaves at the tips of the upright shoots are more folded and the 

 surface is duller and less shining and has a slight bluish cast. 



5. The foliage often shows scab spots which are very rare in Baldwin. 

 Not all these differences appear in every case, but taken together they 



furnish a safe basis for detecting this mixture. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) 



