54 APPLES AND PEACHES IN THE OZARK REGION. 



More recently it has become widely advertised, but unfortunately it has been con- 

 fused with another variety, the San Jacinto. Though these two varieties are quite 

 similar in external appearance, the latter is subacid in flavor while Wilson June is 

 sweet when fully ripe. 



Just what the source of the original tree was can not now be determined beyond the 

 statement, which appears to be authentic, that it came from the Earles Holt nursery, 

 where it was started prior to the Civil War. It may have been a seedling stock that 

 was grafted and the scion failed to grow or possibly a seedling grown for use as a stock 

 but which was never grafted. That it was of seedling origin in this nursery appears 

 certain beyond reasonable doubt. The characteristics of the fruit strongly suggest 

 that it was of Red June parentage. 



The Wilson June tree makes a moderately strong growth, apparently comes into 

 bearing fairly early, and seems to have good bearing proclivities. The fruit is medium 

 to large in size; color yellowish, covered over the entire surface with dark crimson, 

 sometimes indistinct, stripes; flesh yellowish or yellowish white; flavor sweet when 

 fully ripe; quality good to very good; season last of July and early August in north- 

 western Arkansas. 



The very attractive appearance and other desirable qualities of this variety com- 

 mend it rather highly as a summer variety for this region. It is reported to bring good 

 prices on the Kansas City market. Its sweet flavor, however, may make it less 

 generally popular than if its flavor were a mild subacid. 

 Winesap. 



Among the commercial varieties grown in the United States, this one holds a prom- 

 inent position. Its place of origin is unknown, though it is commonly conceded to 

 have come from New Jersey. The first published description of it appeared in 1817 — 

 nearly a century ago. It is widely and quite extensively grown throughout the 

 Ozarks, but with varying degrees of success. In fact, its "performance record" has 

 been such as to make it exceedingly difficult to give a fair and accurate estimate of 

 its real value and adaptability to Ozark conditions. The following discussion may 

 suggest certain general principles which underlie the modification of fruit varieties 

 by environment and their adaptability to different conditions. 



The Winesap tree is rather distinctive in manner of growth, the dark green color of 

 the bark and foliage and the drooping limbs being quite characteristic. It makes 

 only a moderately strong growth in this region; the foliage is rather susceptible to 

 diseases of various kinds and twig-blight is not uncommon, though it is rarely very 

 serious. 



The fruit is commonly rated as medium in size. Particularly well-grown speci- 

 mens may be large, though much of the Ozark fruit of this variety is small in size. 

 Its color is yellow, covered nearly entirely with crimson, and marked with a few 

 broken purplish stripes; flesh yellowish or yellowish white; flavor subacid, rich; 

 quality good to very good, being only "good " when poorly grown; season winter. 



There appear to be rather well-defined degrees of adaptability of the Winesap apple 

 within the limits of the region under consideration. For the greater part of the 

 Missouri portion and for the part in Arkansas which is north of the Boston Mountains, 

 little can be said in its favor as a commercial apple, at least when grown under the 

 usual cultural methods that largely prevail in these portions of the Ozarks. It is to 

 be found, however, in a very considerable proportion of the orchards. 



A general summary of the observations made in regard to it during a period which 

 extends over several seasons may be expressed as follows: Quite inclined to be unpro- 

 ductive, especially in the portions of Missouri and Arkansas above designated; 

 sometimes sets good crops of fruit which nearly all drops; in some cases it holds a full 

 crop, usually of inferior fruit under ordinary cultural conditions; fruit apt to be small 

 and exceedingly scabby; often poorly colored and inferior in every way. Some 

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