A Short List of Aspics, Old and New. 69 



Warjield. — I think this is the most jDcrfect apple tree I have in my 

 nursery or orchai'd. It has one fault which many other varieties have 

 in the nursery : when one and two years old, some seasons, when a 

 sudden freeze comes on in the fall, the bark bursts at the ground. 

 Much destruction to trees was done last fall, from this cause, through- 

 out nearly all the north-west. 



This is a seedling, native of Muscatine County, which I obtained of 

 my neighbor, D. R. Warfield. It is hardy, I think quite hardy, the 

 original tree having stood twenty years near me, through some very 

 severe winters. Tree very thrifty, spreading, pyramidal, with a pecu- 

 liar stout knot where each limb comes out ; bark light-reddish ; leaf 

 large ; bears young and very abundanily ; fruit above medium, very 

 round, fair, and beautiful, light waxen yellow, with a very delicate 

 tinge of brown on the cheek. Season, August and September. Qiiality 

 second rate. 



Kenhicky (or Mc Whorter, for him who brought it to notice in this 

 region). — Mr. McWhorter, of Mercer County, 111., has had this apple in 

 cultivation more than twenty years, having obtained the scions of a 

 Kentucky farmer, who was among the very earliest settlers at Hender- 

 son Grove, Knox County, 111. It is a superior fall apple, and Mr. 

 McWhorter must be called to an account for not making more fuss 

 about it long ago. However, he atoned, in part, for his modesty, last 

 fall, at our State Fair, by awarding it, as chairman of the committee, 

 the first premium as a cooking apple, and I find very few superior as an 

 eating apple. Tree thrifty, early and abundant bearer ; may not prove 

 very hardy ; fruit rather large ; profitable at home and market. 



Some of us (not many though, yet) have got a glimpse of Grimes's 

 Golden, in the orchard and out of the orchard, and a taste of it ; and I 

 am of opinion it is to be the coming winter apple for the west, and you 

 will want to try it down east too. It was brought into Lee County, 

 Iowa, and Cedar County also, many years ago, and yet its spread has 

 been very slow ; but its excellent quality is becoming known, and the 

 trees are called for, and can be furnished only in small quantities, at 

 double price. Warder describes it, " Flesh yellow, firm, breaking, rich, 

 refreshing ; quality very best ; used as dessert, too good for aught else. 

 Those who have tried it say it is excellent for cooking. Season, Jan- 

 uary to March." I would say November to March, and probably we 

 shall have to say early winter, unless it is very carefully handled. 



If we want profitable orchards, we must give more attention to the 

 quality and productiveness of the tree ; this is the starting-point. 



