Earl. History of the Apple, 
The apple tree is included in the naturel family cf 
nilents @@ lied Reseceur, far tie race. the type of the fanily, 
comprising most of the fruits grown in the temperate zone. 
Fotanists are agreed that «11 the varieties of the apple have 
been derived from the wild crab apple of the wcods and hedge 
rows, and are therefore artificial productions, the resuit cr 
Sskiliful selection, breeding and cultivation, being succept- 
ie}) 
ble of indefinite improvement, and of an increase of variet- 
les without Limit. 
Pyrus Melus, the common name of the apple, is derived 
from the Greek aplios, the Celtic api, and the Saxon mpei, each 
signifving a Iruit. The original erab ia arrnend with smaii 
thorns, the leaves ere wsually small and serrave, the fruit 
small and exceedingly acrid, and indiginous to most parts of 
Furope. It is not known positively from whence the Europeans 
derived the cultivated apple, “ut it was probably from Asia, 
the home oF Pest of Cur Native Triate, 
“here can be little doubt that the apple was known in 
England hefore the political conquest of the Romans. Twenty 
nine varieties vere k Ttaly at the time of the Christ- 
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= 
bes 
¢jin era, and this number was greatly increased by the time of 
the Roman Conquest. Pliny makes the following statement in 
regard to the apple industry, "there are many apple trees in 
the villages near Rome, that let for the yearly sum edch, of 
