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NEW WINTER APPLES. 



There has been offered for several years the liberal premi - 

 um of one hundred dollars for a new kind of winter apples 

 equal to the Baldwin or Roxbury Russet. We suppose it 

 means for late keeping as well as for quality. We well re- 

 member the discussion that took place among the trustees 

 about offering this large premium. It was said by some of 

 the oldest and most experienced members, that, in their 

 opinion, apple trees would in time deteriorate and become 

 less productive, and the fruit inferior in quality, and the im- 

 portance of new kinds of late keeping apples was particular- 

 ly alluded to. If it is a fact that apples deteriorate, as above 

 stated, it is wise to look for new kinds. Notwithstanding the 

 large premium that has been offered, we believe there has 

 been no application for it. 



We well remember the old orchards and the great quantity 

 of apples they produced in our early days, nearly all of which 

 were made into cider, as there was but little or no market for 

 them within a reasonable distance. 



There were several kinds that originated in our neighbor- 

 hood, that were of superior quality which would not have 

 dishonored the tables at our County Fair. The origin of 

 those trees, some of which are yet standing, would, we think, 

 date back about 150 years. The Methuen Pippin, the Bean 

 apple, the Orange apple, the Red apple, and other kinds, are 

 all now in existence in our locality, but have so deteriorated 

 that they are now considered of but little value. 



The Roxbury Russet, we suppose from the name, originated 

 in Roxbury; as to the time, we have no knowledge. Among 

 our earliest recollections, were the Russet trees on our father's 

 farm, one of which was sufficiently large to bear several bar- 

 rels of apples. And in imagination we can see the tree loaded 

 with large fair fruit, yellowed with golden russet tinged with 

 red from the rays of the sun ; and when kept till spring , they 

 tasted quite as well as they looked on the tree. 



