THE APPLE. 85 



slightly corrugated basin. Flesh yellowish, coarse, juicy, tender, 

 with an exceedingly agreeable, rich, vinous flavour, delightfully 

 aromatic. December to March. 



Lady Apple. Coxe. 



ApL 0. Duh. 



Api Petit. Thomp. Horn. 



Pomme Rose. 



Pomme d'Api Rouge. FoiL 



Petit Api Rouge, ) ^ . 



Gros Api Rouge, J-^^*^' 



An exquisite little dessert fruit, the pretty size and beautiful 

 colour of which, render it an universal favourite ; as it is a great 

 bearer it is also a profitable sort for the orchardist, bringing 

 the highest price of any fancy apple in the market. It is an old 

 French variety, and is nearly always known abroad by the name 

 of Api ; but the name of Lady Apple has become too universal 

 here, to change it now. No amateur's collection should be 

 without it. 



Fruit quite small, but regu- 

 larly forjned and flat. Skin 

 smooth and glossy, with a bril- 

 liant deep red cheek, contrast- 

 ing with a lively lemon yellow 

 ground. Stalk of medium 

 length, and deeply inserted. 

 Calyx small, sunk in a basin 

 with small plaits. Flesh white, 

 crisp, tender, and juicy, with a 

 pleasant flavour. The tree has jj^^^ Apple. 



straight, almost black shoots, 



with small leaves ; forms a very upright, small head, and bears 

 its fruit in bunches. The latter is very hardy, and may be left 

 on the tree till severe frosts. The Lady Apple is in use from 

 December to May. 



The Api Noir, or Black Lady Apple, differs from the fore- 

 going sort only in the colour, which is nearly black. In shape, 

 size, season, and flavour, it is nearly the same. It is, from its un- 

 usually dark hue, a singular and interesting fruit — poor flavour. 



The true Api Etoile, or Star Lady Apple, figured and de- 

 scribed by Poiteau, in the Pomologie francaise, is another very 

 distinct variety; the fruit is of the same general character, 

 but having five prominent angles, which give it the form of 

 a star. This variety is rather scarce, the common Lady Apple 

 being frequently sent out for it by French nurserymen. It 

 keeps until quite late in the spring, when its flavour becomes 

 excellent, though in winter it is rather dry. The growth of the 

 tree resembles that of the other Apis. 



