316 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



20. Minister. — We give Manning's description : 



" This fine apple originated in Rowley, Mass. The size 

 is large, the form oblong like the Bellflower, tapering to the 

 eye, with broad ridges the whole length of the fruit ; the 

 skin a light greenish yellow, striped with bright red, but 

 the red seldom extends to the eye ; flesh yellow, light, high 

 flavored and excellent. This is one of the very finest apples 

 which New England has produced. It ripens from Novem- 

 ber to February, and deserves a place in every collection 

 of fruits, however small. This apple received its present 

 name from the circumstance of the late Rev. Dr. Spring, of 

 Newburyport, having purchased the first fruit brought to 

 market." 



21. Vandeeveer Pippin. — ^Tree large, one of the most 

 vigorous, spreading, but not drooping; ripens its Avood 

 late, occasionally touched with frost-blight and liable to 

 burst at the surface of the ground during the winter. 

 Bears young, every year, and very abundantly. Buds well, 

 grafts well on the root, grows off strongly, forms a top 

 readily, and will please nurserymen. Fruit large, more uni- 

 formly of one size all over the tree than any in the orchard ; 

 shape of fruit flat ; color, red stripes on a yellow, russety 

 ground. Flesh coarse, gritty; flavor strong, penetrating, 

 without aroma ; December to March. This fruit is remark- 

 able for having almost every good quality of tree and fruit 

 and being notwithstanding a third-rate apple. The tree is 

 hardy, its bloom, from peculiar hardiness, escapes injury 

 from frost, and even a second set of blossoms put out, 

 though feeble ones, if the first are destroyed. The fruit is 

 comely, cooks admirably, keeps well ; but a certain sharp- 

 ness and coarseness will always make it but a second or 

 third-rate fruit. No tree is sought by farmers in this 

 region, with more avidity. Its origin is doubtful. Bran- 

 son, of Wayne County, brought it to Indiana, and all our 

 nurseries trace their stock to his. It was carried for the 

 first time to New Jersey, by Quakers visiting that region, 



