THE PROBLEM OF VARIETIES. 49 



to-day, no one cared to buy them. The labels were finally lost from the trees and Mr. 

 Granville Shannon bought the lot (only 20' at reduced prices and planted them 6 

 miles south of Boonsboro, where some of the trees at least are growing." 



The source of Mr. Gill's information, he further states, was "one J. B. Russell, of 

 Boonsboro, who had operated a nursery almost in sight of Kidds Mill since about the 

 time the trees were brought there." 



"While the above statements do not necessarily construct a clear historical account 

 of the Shannon apple, they at least suggest what appears to be a reasonable probability 

 as to its origin, so far as it relates to the Ozark region. That the trees referred to 

 above came originally from an Ohio nursery may not be capable of proof, yet these cir- 

 cumstances as recited offer a logical explanation of the manner in which a variety of 

 Ohio origin may have reached Arkansas and there received another name, in case 

 the identity of Shannon and Ohio Pippin is established at any future time. 



Apparently, the Shannon was formerly more popular in the Ozark region than 

 it is at the present time. It does not appear, however, to have been planted very 

 much in the Ozarks at any period, except in northwestern Arkansas. In that section 

 it is in a good many of the older orchards. The tree is only moderately vigorous 

 and rather spreading in form. It is said to be rather late in coming into bearing 

 and quite uniformly shy. in the experience of most growers in the section referred 

 to. In fact, this characteristic has doubtless been a large factor in eliminating it 

 from the younger plantings. 



The fruit is large: surface very smooth: yellow, occasionally faintly blushed with 

 dull overcast of whitish blotches and streaks: stem very short, often fleshy: flesh 

 yellow, rather coarse, juicy: flavor, mild subacid: quality good: 1 season fall and 

 early winter, though it is often shipped from Arkansas with the late summer varieties 

 before it is fully mature. 



In addition to its shyness of bearing, the fruit frequently scabs badly and sometimes 

 rots. On account of its short stem, the growth of the apples produces so much pres- 

 sure against the limbs on which they are borne that many are forced off. thus causing 

 serious dropping. Though it is said to bring good prices, often in excess of some 

 of the other well-known market varieties, it has too many weak points to make it a 

 profitable apple to grow in this region. 

 Shockley. 



This variety originated in Georgia and is one of the most widely grown sorts through- 

 out the southern apple districts. It is common in the Arkansas and Oklahoma 

 portions - of the Ozarks but is seldom found in the Missouri orchards . 



The tree is only moderately vigorous: it is upright in habit of growth with rather 

 long, slender branches. There are few varieties that bear more regularly than this one 

 does, though different parts of the tree often alternate, a portion of the limbs producing 

 a heavy crop each season while very little fruit is borne on the remainder of the tree. 



The fruit is usually below medium in size, unless very skillfully grown: rather pale 

 yellow, overspread with light red: flesh rather crisp; flavor very mild subacid or 

 nearly sweet; quality only good. It is one of the longest keeping varieties grown 

 in the South. As observed in the Ozarks. however, it is one of the most susceptible 

 of all varieties to cedar rust. The fruit is more often than otherwise severely attacked, 

 while not infrequently a large part of the foliage is lost as early in the season as 

 August as a result of this disease. The fruit is also very susceptible to bitter-rot and 

 apple blotch. To grow the Shockley successfully therefore it must be sprayed with 

 extreme thorough^--- 



Its chief value in this region is probably for home use in those sections where cold- 

 storage apples can not be readily obtained and where the supply of fresh fruit for 



1 A detailed description of this variety appears in the Report of the Department of Agriculture (Report 

 of the Pomologistj for lb*6, p. 269. 



7142-3°— Bui. 275—1:3 1 



