APPLES 
in Arkansas, but thev are differently col- 
ored and of different quality The Arkan- 
sas Black is the most deeply colored, most 
polished and most beautiful of the apples 
grown in this country. On account of its 
dark red color, its solid flesh and superior 
keeping and shipping qualities, it 1s desir- 
able. It looks well on exhibition, and sells 
for good prices; yet it is not a good ap- 
ple for dessert purposes nor is 1t a heavy 
bearer 
It originated in Benton county, Arkan- 
sas, about 1870; the first description is 
given by Van Deman in 1886. 
Tree moderately vigorous; branches 
long, slender. Form upright, spreading, 
rather open. Twigs short, stout; inter- 
nodes short. Bark dark reddish brown, 
mottled with scarf skin, pubescent. Fruit 
as grown in the Middle or Eastern states 
medium or rather below medium; but as 
grown in the Pacific Northwest, it is me- 
dium or above medium. Form nearly 
round, slightly elongated. Calyx tube 
conical, approaching funnel form. Sta- 
mens marginal. 
Flesh decidedly tinged with yellow, very 
firm, rather fine grained, crisp, moderately 
juicy, sprightly subacid, and by some con- 
sidered good to very good. In this par- 
ticular we would differ somewhat from 
these statements. We have already said 
‘it is not a good apple for dessert pur- 
poses.” Perhaps this may be a little over- 
stated, inasmuch as the apple is so late in 
maturing that it is seldom offered for sale 
in its proper season. Its season is said 
to be “December to April,” but our obser- 
vation is that it is never fit for use until 
April, and that its proper season is April 
to May. 
Baldwin 
The Baldwin is preeminently the lead- 
ing variety in the commercial orchards 
of New York, New England and certain 
parts of Canada. Also it is one of the 
leading varieties of Michigan and North- 
ern Ohio. In the South and Southwest 
it is not a desirable apple, because it rip- 
ens too early to be a good winter variety, 
and because it does not attain so high a 
quality and flavor as in other climates. 
It does fairly well in the Pacific North- 
207 
west, but is not one of the best varieties, 
and it seems to be conceded that it can- 
not be grown successfully in these dis- 
tricts in competition with the Northeast- 
ern states where it reaches its highest per- 
fection. 
The tree is a stiong grower, long lived 
and vigorous. It is somewhat slow in 
reaching maturity, but when mature it 
bears abundantly 
Historical. This fruit originated as a 
Chance seedling on the farm of John Ball, 
Wilmington, Massachusetts, about 1740, 
but it was given the name Baldwin be- 
cause it was largely propagated by Col. 
Baldwin. 
Tree large, veily vigorous, branches 
large, strong. Form upright, spreading, 
eventually becoming rather round and 
somewhat dense. Twigs long, straight or 
somewhat crooked, moderately stout; 
internodes medium to long. Bark brown- 
ish red, mingled with olive green 
Fruit sometimes large to very large; 
usually above medium; pretty uniform in 
size. Form roundish to conic, varying to 
roundish oblong. Skin tough, smooth, 
light yellow or greenish, blushed and mot- 
tled with bright red; sometimes approach- 
ing a deep red. Flesh yellow, firm, mod- 
erately coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, agree- 
able subacid, very good. Season March or 
April; November to December in the 
Northwest. Later in cold storage. 
Ben Davis 
The Ben Davis is perhaps as widely dis- 
tributed as any other variety of apples 
grown. It is not very successful in the 
extreme northern part of the United 
States, but from the Atlantic to the Pa- 
cific, between the parellels of 32 degrees 
and 42 degrees it is the most important 
variety grown. It is preeminently suc- 
cessful in the Virginias, Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and 
portions of the adjoining states. Its great 
popularity seems to be largely on account 
of its good keeping qualities, its good 
shipping qualities, the vigor of growth of 
the tree and its regular heavy bearing. 
Historical. The origin of this apple is 
not definitely known. It is supposed, how- 
ever, to have originated about the begin- 
