1848. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



29 



Norton's Melon Apple. 



This delicious winter apple, that now begins 

 to attract some attention, was noticed and de- 

 scribed by Ellwanger & Barry, of Roches- 

 ter, three years ago, in the Albany Cultivator ; 

 also in the Boston Cultivator of same date — the 

 same period at which the " Northern Spy" 

 was first publicly noticed. We copy the de- 

 scription of the " Melon" then given,)^which, 

 Rafter five years acquaintance with the fruit, with 

 abundant opportunity of seeing and using it 

 every year, we think, is perfectly accurate as 

 far as it goes. 



Norton's Melon. (Fig. 6.) 



•' Norton^ s Melon. — Tliis is an apple entirely new to us, 

 and which we strongly suspect is a native. We found it 

 in the same neighborhood where the "spy" originated. 

 We are informed'that it has been cultivated in that vicinity 

 for a great number of years, but have not been able to 

 trace its origin satisfactorily. It is a great bearer, and is 

 esteemed in Bloorafield, one of the very best table apples 

 they have, for fall and winter use ; to our taste it is a. first 

 rate fruit, and eminently worthy of cultivation. 



It is commonly called the " Melon" Apple, from its ex- 

 cessiveness ; we have added "Norton's" to distinguish it 

 more particularly, having received it from a gentleman by 

 that name, (Major Reuben Norton,, of:,^loomfieId.) It 

 is about mediun size. Form, inclining to conical, and 

 slightly ribbed. Stem one half to thr^e quarters of an inch 

 in length, in a t^retty deep hollow. Calyx usually closed, 

 and set in a smooth regular basin of considerable depth. 

 Skin smooth and glossy, exceedingly thin, and of liglit red 

 color, with stripes and blotches of crimson next to the sun, 

 and of a pale delicate flesh color in the shade. Flesh white 

 as snow, tender, breaking, fine flavored, and sprightly ; 

 juice very abundant, as much so as in a luscious peach. 

 In use from November to April." 



This fruit has lately been described in Hov- 

 ey's Magazine, and it is there stated to be " ripe 

 in September or October.^' This is an error, as 

 we have had them from Bloomfield in the middle 

 of March, in the highest perfection. 



Mr. HovEY says : — " It is, in our opinion, 

 very superior, with a flesh remarkably tender 



and juicy, and a flavor strongly partaking of the 

 Melon from whence probably its name. It is a 

 large fruit,* and of a peculiarly bright and hand- 

 some appearance. It is in some respects like 

 the ' Northern Spy,' and comes from the same 

 source, as will be seen by Mr. Smith's 'letter 

 which we copy." 



Mr. Smith says, in the letter alluded to, ad- 

 dressed to the Massachusett's Horticultural So- 

 ciety : — " I take the liberty of forwarding to thy 

 address a few specimens of an apple known here 

 as the ' Water Melon,' though noticed in a 

 Rochester Nurseryman's Catalogue, as 'Norton's 

 Melon,' for what reason, I am not informed." 



Mr. Smith, it appears, was not aware of the 

 description of this fruit, three years ago in the 

 leading journal in the state devoted in any degree, 

 to pomological matter — otherwise he would have 

 sent the fruit under the name then given, being 

 a perfectly proper and appropriate one. " Water 

 Melon" is the name of another excellent variety 

 of apple which has been cultivated around Roch- 

 ester upwards of thirty years. We have sent 

 specimens at various times, to eastern fruit grow- 

 ers, to identify it if possible, supposing it might 

 be an old variety, but in vain. It may yet, 

 however, prove to be so; but until then, it must, 

 under the rules of Pomology which we publish 

 in this paper, and to which we solicit the careful 

 attention of fruit growers, retain the name of 

 Morton's Melon. 



=* It is not a large fruit. Mr. Hovey's outline is the size 

 of rare specimens. 



Friend Earle of the New England Farmer is somewhat 

 alarmed lest some of his constituents should "be disposed 

 to go extensively into the cultivation of Swan's Orange or 

 Onondaga Pear, before its character is fully settled." He 

 says, " This is probably one of the varieties which are usu- 

 ally of ordinary quality, but which by extra cultivation in a 

 peculiarly favorable season may be made very fine." 



The facts, allow us to say, after seven years culture and 

 acquaintance with this fruit, are just the reverse. The cul- 

 tivators of Western New York know that, since it has been 

 brought to notice, it has not failed to produce fruit of the 

 first quality, and that in all sorts of seasons and ^^ ith ordi- 

 nary culture. Now and again a specimen may be wanting 

 in flavor, and so will it be with any, and particularly after 

 being packed and sent a journey after they are ripe — as those 

 sent east the past season have been. 



While at Boston, last fall, we put in our trunk a dozen or 

 two of Andrews, in the finest eating order, and when we 

 arrived at Rochester their flavor was entirely gone. !So has 

 it been with specimens sent us from Salem and other places. 

 Fondante rf' Aidomne, Paradise d' Autonme, Dix. and others, 

 of the first quality, were as insipid as water ; so that there 

 is not the least reliance to be placed upon judgment formed 

 in such cases. 



The temperature in which ripe and ripening fruits are 

 placed in, has a great eflfect on the flavor. Cold and mois- 

 ture will, in many cases, destroy it completely. We know 

 that the finest peaches become sour in rainy, cold weather. 



Tomato.— It appears by a communication of E. Whittle- 

 sey, published two years since in the Western Reserve 

 Magazine, that the tomato has been used in some part of 

 Illinois, and in the neighborhood of Vincennes, for more 

 than fifty years. 



He that hath more knowledge than judgment, oftener 

 benefits others than himself. 



