THE PROBLEM OF VARIETIES. 53 



quality is desired. It should be added that its bearing proclivities have not yet been 

 sufficiently well demonstrated in this region to assure it in this particular. It should 

 therefore be planted cautiously for the present. The fruit is sometimes mistaken for 

 the Yellow Newtown Albemarle Pippin) apple. 

 Willow. Synonym: Willowtwig. 



This variety is grown in many widely separated regions of the country. In some of 

 them it has assumed considerable commercial importance. It occurs in many orchards 

 throughout the Ozark region. Though not a leading variety, it is grown in sufficient 

 quantity to be included among the commercial apples of the region. 



The tree makes a strong, spreading growth with rather slender, somewhat drooping, 

 willowy branches: hence the synonym Willowtwig, by which it is much more com- 

 monly known than by its approved name. Under favorable conditions it apparently 

 may be expected to produce abundant crops. The apple is medium to large in size; 

 color yellowish green, washed and striped with dull red; flesh yellowish, flavor mild 

 subacid, quality good; season winter. 



Many of the Ozark growers have found this variety especially subject to bitter-rot, 

 and they object to it on this account. In some cases it has been harvested early in 

 September to avoid loss from that disease. However, it is not sufficiently matuiv for 

 harvesting as early as that, and the color, which at best is apt to be somewhat deficient, 

 is usually very poor at that period. 'With these defects, therefore, the Willow is not 

 a variety that can be recommended for this region without reservations, though in 

 some cases it has been observed to reach a high degree of perfection for the variety. 

 There are, moreover, some rather strong indications that it is less well adapted to the 

 portion of this region that is south of the Missouri-Arkansas line than it is to southern 

 Missouri. 

 Wilson June. 



This is another one of the many varieties which originated in northwestern Arkansas. 

 The history of the original tree traces back to a period shortly preceding the Civil 

 War and to the Earles Holt nursery, which was located at or near Canehill. Washington 

 Co.. Ark. Earles Holt died just prior to the war, and during the war period the 

 nursery existed in what was practically an abandoned condition. Following the 

 close of the war this nursery was cleared up and many of the trees sold. In the 

 spring of 1865 about 1,000 of them were planted by Albert Wilson, then a boy 17 or 

 18 years of age, and a younger brother, A. J. Wilson, on their father's farm, the ' 'William 

 Wilson" place, located 6 or 7 miles north or slightly northeast of Lincoln, Ark. This 

 farm is still operated by Mr. Albert Wilson, by whom the early history of this variety 

 was supplied in conversation with one of the writers. 



These trees were all several years old when planted, as they had been in the nursery 

 since prior to the Civil War. Many of them bore fruit the next year after they were 

 planted on the Wilson place. In 1866 or 1867 one tree in particular attracted special 

 attention. It was the only one of its kind in the orchard. It was about this time 

 that David Moore started a nursery near Lincoln, and he obtained scions of this 

 particular tree, which he propagated. He then named the variety "Wilson June," 

 the apple now under consideration. 



To what extent Mr. Moore propagated this variety does not appear. Apparently, 

 however, it was only in a limited way. as it seems to have remained largely unknown 

 even locally until about 1894 or 1895 when it was evidently "rediscovered" on the 

 "Doufit place.'' about half a mile north of Lincoln, where it then existed as a bearing 

 tree (or trees). At this period Mr. W. M. Norwood began propagating it in his nursery, 

 located 6 or 7 miles northwest of Lincoln. Since he began its dissemination, the 

 variety has locally become quite commonly known, but the "Doufit place" is gen- 

 erally mentioned as the locality of its origin. 



