44 APPLES AND PEACHES IN THE OZARK REGION. 



has been quite extensively planted throughout the Ozarks, but on the whole it has 

 proved disappointing. 



The tree makes an upright, characteristic growth, especially when young and 

 before the rather slender branches become permanently bent down from weight of 

 fruit. The leaves are also very characteristic, being quite long in proportion to the 

 width, dark green, and more glossy than most sorts. These varietal peculiarities 

 make the tree quite easily distinguished from other sorts. 



The foliage is often seriously affected by some of the leaf and other fungi, so that 

 unless thoroughly sprayed the trees are often badly defoliated early in the season. 

 The twigs as well as the blossoms are frequently badly attacked by blight. When 

 blossom-blight occurs, it is especially serious, as it prevents the fruit from setting. 

 The tree is rather shallow rooted and the root system is not very abundant in most 

 Ozark soils, so that it is blown over by the wind more often than most other varieties. 

 This is frequently apparent in orchards of mixed varieties in which this one is in- 

 cluded. Very early bearing is a characteristic, and on this account it has been in 

 the past widely planted as a "filler." The tendency is toward heavy bearing; in 

 fact, under favorable conditions, it often overbears, and the fruit is very small unless 

 thinned. The fruit is normally not above medium size, highly colored, and with a 

 beautiful finish, so that it is very attractive in appearance when well grown, though 

 it does not rank high in dessert quality. It is very subject to apple scab, apple blotch, 

 and bitter-rot. Unless very thorough spraying is done, heavy losses are apt to occur 

 from these diseases, in some cases practically the entire crop being destroyed. 



It will thus be seen that this variety, under Ozark conditions, has many serious 

 faults. On the other hand, the early and abundant bearing of the trees and the 

 attractive appearance of the fruit when well grown have given it considerable popu- 

 larity in the past, though because of the prevalence and destructiveness of the dis- 

 eases mentioned in orchards not adequately sprayed, it is not now regarded in this 

 region with as much favor as formerly. In certain other regions of the country it is 

 apparently of greater value than it is in the Ozarks. In still others where it was 

 formerly planted it has been largely dropped in recent years on account of its sus- 

 ceptibility to blight and other diseases. 

 Northern Spy. 



Few orchards contain this variety, though it is occasionally seen in this region. 

 On account of its importance in the older apple districts of- the Northern States, it is 

 mentioned in the present connection. 



In the Ozarks it is without value, so far as observed. It bears but very little; the 

 fruit rarely holds to the tree until maturity; it rots badly even before ripening, and the 

 specimens that do mature lack the size, color, and flavor which make this sort valuable 

 when grown under conditions to which it is well adapted. 

 Northwestern. Synonym: Northwestern Greening. 



In the upper Mississippi Valley, where hardiness of tree with relation to low tem- 

 peratures is an important matter, this variety is grown quite extensively and with 

 considerable satisfaction. It occurs in only a few orchards in the Ozark region. In 

 the orchards where observed it has proved very unsatisfactory, primarily on account 

 of its susceptibility to the apple-blotch fungus. In unsprayed orchards this disease 

 frequently renders the fruit nearly or entirely worthless, except for evaporating or 

 for cider. Not only is the fruit susceptible to this fungus, but the trees are also some- 

 times greatly damaged by it — in some cases the twigs, branches, and trunks becoming 

 so injured as to nearly or quite destroy the trees. 



While this disease yields to proper spraying, it is doubtful if this variety would 

 prove as satisfactory under Ozark conditions as others of its season. A winter variety 

 in the upper Mississippi Valley, it becomes a fall apple in the Ozarks. While it is 

 inclined to heavy bearing, it would be apt to drop badly even when not attacked by 

 disease. 

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