THE APPLE. ITS VARIETIES. 25 



already mentioned, and commonly called Melo Appio Rosso, because it 

 retained the scent of the Api ; this is probably the Rother Sommer-api 

 of Diel. There is another, of which he says, " Assererem tuto esse Mela- 

 pium Plinii," and which was held in such estimation as to give rise to the 

 proverb — 



" Omme malum malum prseter appium malum.'' 



7. API GROS.— Duh. 



Identification. — Duh. Arb. Fr. 1, 312. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3. 



Synonymes. — Pomme Rose, Quint TraiU, I. 203, but not of Knoop. Pomme 

 d'Api Gros. Ron. Fyr. Mai. 39. Passe-rose, Chart. Cat. 55. Grosser Api, 

 Roseuapi, Diel Kemobsi. iv., 228. Api Rose. Doppelter Api, Ace. Christ Hand- 

 worter. Rubenapfel, Ibid. Api Grand, Ihid. 



FiGDKE. — Ron. Pyr. Mai. pi. xx. f. 1. 



Fruit, below medium size, two inches and three quarters wide, and two 

 inches high ; oblate. Skin, pale green, changing as it ripens to pale yel- 

 low on the shaded side, and pale red, mottled with green, where exposed 

 to the sun. Eye, small and closed, set in a shallow and plaked basin. 

 Stalk, short, inserted in a wide, rather deep, and russety cavity. Flesh, 

 greenish, tender, crisp, very juicy, and briskly flavored. 



Suitable either for the dessert, or for culinary purposes ; it is inferior 

 to the Api and not a first-rate apple. In use from December to March. 

 The tree has much similarity to the Api in its growth, and is a good 

 bearer. 



This is a variety of the preceding, and closely resembles it in all its 

 parts, except that it is much larger. " La Pomme Rose resemble extre- 

 raement partout son exterieur a la Pomme d'Apis, mais a mon gout elle 

 ne la vaut pas quoy que puissent dire les curieux du Rhone, qui la veu- 

 lent autant elever aussi au dessus des autres, qu'ils elevent la Poire Chat 

 au dessus des autres Poires." — De Quiniinye. 



8. API ETOILLE.— Diel. 



iTENTincATioN.— Diel. Kernobst. B. iv. 31. 



Synontmes. — Pomme EtoiUee, Duh. Arb. Fr. I. 312. Pomme d'Etoille, Ibid. 



Gelber Sternfonuiger Api, Did Kernobst. B. iv. 31. Sternapfel, Christ Hand- 



worter, 106. Sort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 797. 



This is a variety of the Api, from which it is distinguished by being very 

 much flattened, and furnished with five very prominent angles on the 

 sides, which give it the appearance of a star, hence its name. It is of a 

 deep yellow on the shaded side, and redish orange next the sun. It is 

 a well-flavored apple, but only of second-rate quality. It ripens about 

 the middle or end of September. 



The variety received under this name by the London Horticultural 

 Society must have been incorrect, as in the last edition of their catalogue 

 it is made synonymous with Api Petit. 



