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CXg)t(«)X5 



Vol 



Des Moines; Leavenworth, May 15, 1872. 



UABE UILLEB, Uanaging Editor and Publisher, Des Uoines, lova, 

 Dr. J. Stayman, Dr. Wm. M. Howsley, Dr. S. H. Kridelbaugh, 



.ABSocUU Editor, Leaveswortb, Kaiuas. CorrespoDdlDg Editor, Leaveawortli, KaDsas. EDtomologicai Editor, Clarinda, Iowa. 



The Netvtown Pippin.— Are there Two Varieties of this Apple? 



By The Correspondinq Editor. 

 We have cultivated the apple bearing the above name, since 1836, under both of the names 

 of Green and Yellow Newtown Pippin, having obtained our trees of Col. Allen, of Holly 

 Spring Nursery, Nelson county, Kentucky. We fruited them in Hardin county, Kentucky, 

 side by side and could detect no difference in either tree or fruit. The trees have a peculiar 

 habit of becoming bark bound, particularly as they approach to bearing age. They are 

 also liable to become sun scalded on the south-west side, and of sloughing off the bark, in 

 size from the palm of the hand to the crown of the hat, exposing the wood, which soon 

 decays, and the trees not unfrequently die in consequence of this exposure.* 



This disea.sed peculiarity applies equally to the green or the yellow varieties, so-ca.led. 

 It would seem strange in our judgment, that trees springing from different seeds should 

 be so identical in growth, in color o( the bark, the peculiarity of the buds and leaves, 

 wheu in health, together with the identical mauner in which disease attacks, runs its 

 course, and results in the same^way if they were not identical, that is from the same seed. 



The trees which bore for me in Kentucky, under both these names were killed with the 

 memorable freeze of November, 1844, since which time I have obtained cions under both 

 names from various portions of the country, have a'so seen them in bearing and am now 

 growing them in Kansas, and have never up to this time been able to detect any differ- 

 ence in tree or in fruit, in disease or in health. "We have always thought that in regard to 

 the flavor of fi.ne apples, we had quite a discriminating palate, but with all of our trials 

 through a long life, have never been able to say (especially when tasting in the dark,) 

 which was green and which was yeUoto. 



Mr. Charles Downing, we believe, is the only one who has attempted to define the precise 

 difference in flavor between these apposed two varieties of the Newtown Apple. How- 

 ever much we value the opinion of Mr. Downing, in anything relating to fruit, especially 

 to the apple, we are constrained to believe, that if portions of each of these supposed 

 varie^es were presented to him in the dark, of the same maturity and grown under similar 

 circumstances in all respects, that he will miss as often as hit the supposed variety in 

 question. 



The late A. J. Downing', in his first edition of his Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 

 describes, if we recollect aright, but one variety of the Newtown Pippin. We have his 

 catalogue of 1843 now before us, in which he mentions but one. If there had been two 

 varieties of an apple of such wide world renown, it is strange he did not describe them 

 both. Kenrick, in his new American Orchardist edition of 1826, we believe, mentions 

 but one variety. It is singular indeed that if there were two varieties of this apple these 

 two writers who must have been well informed upon this subject, should not know it, or 

 if known should ignore it. 



