NOVBMBER, 19 10 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



169 



Esopus, and Spitzenburg are pleasant to 

 linger upon and delightful to recall. 



ESOPUS (spitzenburg) 



The proper name of this variety is Esopus, 

 according to the dictum of the authorities 

 on nomenclature, but it is much more com- 

 monly known in the countryside by the name 

 of Spitzenburg. Unfortunately there are 

 other and older Spitzenburgs. Therefore, 

 in order to avoid confusion, the name 

 Spitzenburg is given to the variety to which 

 it was first applied, and the specific name 

 Esopus is used for this aristocratic member 

 of the Baldwin group. There are those who 

 look upon Baldwin as a variety of mediocre 

 quality, and there are even those who have 

 the temerity to suggest that Baldwin and 

 Ben Davis are in the same class as to quality, 

 but these people are from the South and, I 

 fear, are seriously biased. It is difficult 

 to say just where Esopus originated, but 

 Ulster county, N. Y., at any rate has been 

 given the credit, although as a matter of 

 fact Long Island was the means of bringing 

 it to the attention of the public through the 

 progressiveness of its famous and historic 

 Prince Nurseries of Flushing. 



The tree, like Jonathan and several other 

 fine varieties, is a disappointment to the 

 nurseryrnan. Were it not that the fine 

 qualities of the fruit have so impressed them- 

 selves upon the public as to make a con- 

 tinual demand for the variety, the nursery- 

 man would be inclined to throw it aside, 

 owing to unsatisfactory growth in its younger 

 years. When planted in the orchard it gains 

 vigor, but is never to be rated above mode- 

 rate in its growth. Old trees take on a 

 drooping habit, although the 

 tree as a whole should be 

 described as rather up- 

 right, but with spread- 

 ing tendencies. 



As to the fruit, 

 it is a little dif 

 ficult to say 

 what the 

 normal 



size of Esopus is, and one cannot do this 

 without associating the size with a defi- 

 nite region. In New York it does not 

 exceed medium size under ordinary systems 

 of tillage. In Oregon and Washington, 

 where it is one of the popular varieties, it 

 attains large size under irrigated conditions. 

 It is also fairly uniform in size and shape. 

 The characteristic form is oblong and rather 

 truncate, or square at the ends. The skin 

 is much smoother as grown in the West — 

 especially in the dry regions, where it is 

 quite waxy — than it is in the East. The 

 ground color scheme is rich yellow, but 

 this is mostly covered with red in varying 

 shades, laid on in rather inconspicuous 

 stripes. Our Eastern specimens are some- 

 times marked by more or less prominent 

 russet dots, not so common in the Western 

 apple. The flesh of this variety is yellow, 

 splendidly firm yet crisp, tender, and juicy — 

 with less aroma than some, but such as it pos- 

 sesses is of a penetrating and lasting char- 

 acter, associated with a pleasant, sprightly 

 sub-acidity; all of which tend to make it one 

 of the best and most satisfying apples one 

 can eat. 



The fruit of Esopus is in best condition 

 in the East in midwinter. Unfortunately, 

 both tree and fruit are susceptible to attacks 



of fusicladium, which reduce its quantity 

 and greatly lower its quality. The tree is 

 also attacked by apple canker. This all 

 means that Esopus cannot be grown as 

 cheaply as Ben Davis or Baldwin, but 

 in these days of conflict with enemies it is 

 not much more expensive to fight a good 

 fight than it is to carry on a half-hearted 

 campaign. Ideally, Esopus should be top- 

 grafted; if this is not done, plant it on strong, 

 warm soil and heavy sandy loam well drain- 

 drained and fertile, give it good cultivation, 

 prevent injury from its familiar enemies, 

 and certain reward will come to the grower. 



BLUE PEARMAIN 



A variety which unreservedly falls into 

 the restricted or amateur class. It has 

 been known long and favorably in the 

 home orchards of the New Englander. 

 While it is probably of American origin, 

 there are a number of European kinds 

 which suggest kinship. It was grown 

 and appreciated by dwellers in the vicinity 

 of Boston more than a century ago. 



The tree is one of the hardiest of the 

 old line varieties. Its hardiness has been 

 tested in the Province of Quebec, where 

 it accompanied the United Empire loyal- 

 ists in their wanderings from the New 

 England States and where it has a place 

 in many of the earlier established orchards, 

 especially in the Eastern Township section 

 of that province. The habit of the tree 

 is spreading, with peculiarly angled, stiff, 

 stubby branches. Unfortunately it is sub- 

 ject to sun-scald of stem and cankerous 

 trouble of branch. 



The fruit is large, usually oblate, some- 

 what angled, but occasionally quite regu- 

 lar in outline and of strikingly beau- 

 tiful purplish color. This is 

 varied by motthngs and 

 blotches from very 

 deep red to pur- 

 plish-red, most 

 blue. The 



Northern Spy apples are notably juicy and sub-acid in flavor, with firm yet tender flesh aud thin, smooth skin 



