30 BULLETIN 1189, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Baldwin. 



The Baldwin variety, which is one of the leading commercial sorts in 

 northern apple regions, is frequently found in commercial orchards of both 

 regions of northern West Virginia and occasionally in all other parts of the 

 area. 



The tree is a very vigorous, spreading, open grower, and bears in alternate 

 years. The fruit is medium to large in size and usually well colored. It 

 is frequently affected by the Baldwin spot. Its quality is good, and its season 

 is September in Kentucky and October to January in the northern part of 

 West Virginia. Except in West Virginia, it matures too early to be of much 

 value. In northern West Virginia and at altitudes above 1,500 feet in all 

 regions of the State it is productive, and the high-colored fruit keeps until 

 early winter in cold storage. In all regions of this area, however, it is being 

 replaced by varieties that have proved to be more profitable. 

 Banana. 10 Synonym : Winter Banana. 



During the past few years several plantings of the Banana variety have 

 come into bearing in West Virginia and Kentucky. All plantings, however, 

 have been recent. 



The tree is a vigorous, upright, open grower, and begins to bear when very 

 young. About Henderson, Ky., it is an annual bearer, and in West Virginia 

 it is one of the best bearers. Its foliage is very susceptible to cedar rust. 

 The fruit is large in size, globose conic in shape, and the color is a clear 

 yellow, frequently with a blush of bright red covering a considerable portion 

 of the surface. The flesh is rather fine grained, crisp, and juicy. At its best it 

 is highly aromatic and is very good in dessert quality, but ordinarily the 

 period of maturity at which this highest quality is reached passes quickly, 

 and it becomes poor to only good in quality. It is liked as a cooking apple. 

 Its season in Kentucky is early September and in West Virginia October to 

 December. 



Its chief faults are (1) its susceptibility to cedar rust, ranking with Jonathan 

 in this respect, being more susceptible than the York Imperial and Rome 

 Beauty to this disease; (2) it does not retain its best dessert quality long 

 nor keep very well. In Kentucky the fruit is somewhat susceptible to blotch. 



For its season it is considered desirable in the northern part of the Alle- 

 gheny Plateau region and in the Virginia Valley and Ridge region, as the 

 tree bears when very young and the fruit is large, attractive in color, and 

 very good in dessert quality. Unless one becomes skilled in marketing this 

 variety it is not satisfactory, and it is doubtful whether it will long remain 

 a prominent variety in this area. 

 Beach. Synonym : Apple of Commerce. 



The Beach variety, which was formerly planted extensively in all parts of 

 this area, is being planted but little at the present time. Many of the older 

 trees are being grafted to more desirable sorts. 



The tree is not a large grower and is subject to blight, but is spreading, 

 open, and usually productive. The foliage is subject to leaf-spot. The fruit 

 is small, oblate, with attractive red coloring, covered with a heavy bloom, 

 and is subject to bitter-rot. Its dessert quality is poor, and its season is 

 usually early winter, though sometimes it keeps well. It is not liked because 

 of its poor quality and small size and because the tree is subject to disease. 

 It should not be planted. 

 Ben Davis. 



The Ben Davis variety is supposed to have originated either in Tennessee 

 or Kentucky. In former times it was a leading variety in all regions of this 

 area. Published reports frequently state that the Ben Davis is at its best 

 and name it as the most successful, or one of the most successful, varieties in 

 the States of this area. On the contrary, its behavior in recent years has 

 been very unsatisfactory. It is now being little planted, and the older plant- 

 ings are passing out of existence. Hundreds of acres of this variety have 

 been abandoned, and because of the poor dessert quality of the fruit many 

 growers have been unable to market their crops. 



The tree does not grow to a large size and is not generally long lived. 

 It usually bears well, though not so well as the Winesap in Kentucky and 

 Tennessee and not better than the Rome Beauty in the Allegheny Plateau 



10 For a complete history and description of this variety, see Taylor and Gould (6i, 

 )>■ 110). 



