THE PROBLEM OF VARIETIES. 33 



subacid, aromatic; quality good to very good. Its season for harvesting is about the 

 middle of August or nearly with Jonathan. It keeps fairly well for an apple of its 

 season, but probably does not hold as well in storage as Jonathan does. On account of 

 the vigor and healthfulness of the tree and the similarity of the fruit in its more 

 general points, some growers have thought that Florence might be grown as a substitute 

 for Jonathan, its preference over that variety being primarily because of the vigor and 

 healthfulness of the tree. 



Though not yet grown widely enough for its range of adaptability to have been 

 determined, it has sufficient promise to warrant very careful consideration in future 

 plantings throughout the Ozark region. 

 Gano. 



The history of the Gano apple since this name was first applied to it is a matter of 

 definite record, but the source of the original tree of the variety is uncertain. In a 

 manuscript left by the late Charles Downing there appears, under date of February 4, 

 1884. a statement which was made to him by Mr. W. G. Gano. for whom this variety 

 was named, as follows: "The Missouri Valley Horticultural Society has named the 

 apple 'Gano.' We found it many years ago in an old orchard with many others we 

 can not name. The orchard was set out some 40 years ago by one Eli Jacks. 4 miles 

 north of Parkville, Platte Co.. Mo., planting seedling sprouts. These he grafted 

 old varieties into 10 years after. This tree, however, shows no signs of being grafted, 

 so we conclude that it is a seedling. * * * " 



It appears that this " Jacks orchard " was set out in 1844 and came into the possession 

 of Mr. Gano in 1869. x 



Concerning the Mr. Jacks who planted this orchard, it is of interest to note that he 

 formerly lived in Kentucky but emigrated to Howard County. Mo., in the early days, 

 later going to Platte County. It is stated 2 also that older trees of this variety than 

 those in Platte County are (or were) to be found in an orchard which Mr. Jacks planted 

 in Howard County. Here it was known as "Jacks Red." though this name does 

 not appear to have been published and is now practically obsolete. 



This traces the history of the Gano apple to Howard County. Mo., but the source 

 from which Mr. Jacks obtained it is still obscure. He may have brought buds or 

 scions with him from his early home in Kentucky or he might have obtained it else- 

 where. According to Mr. Gano 3 this variety was first propagated in 1871 or 1872 

 after it attracted attention in the orchard near Parkville. 



Though planted much less extensively than the Ben Davis, the Gano ranks as one 

 of the important commercial varieties in the Ozark region. A young Gano orchard 

 is shown in Plate V, figure 1. 



Its range oil-adaptability appears to be very similar to that of the Ben Davis; its 

 points of merit and its faults are also the same in essential particulars. Being solid 

 red in color, it is preferred to the Ben Davis by some growers and is considered by 

 many to be the more profitable of these two sorts. The texture of the fruit and its 

 dessert quality do not differ materially from the Ben Davis. Commercially, it may 

 be considered a Ben Davis having a solid red color, and the general comments which 

 appear under that variety are also applicable to it. though the apple buyers do not 

 yet discriminate against it as they do against the Ben Davis. 



In this connection some comments may be made with propriety regarding several 

 varieties which may be referred to as the "Gano subgroup." Reference is made to 

 Eiris. Reagan. Black Ben. or Black Ben Davis and some others less commonly known 

 which resemble Gano so closely that it is impossible to distinguish them with certainty. 

 The history of most of these sorts, if not all, ends in obscurity, as does that of Gano. 



1 Report of the Missouri State Horticultural Society for 1897, p. 355. 



2 Report of the Missouri State Horticultural Society for 1894, p. 152. 



3 Report of the Missouri State Horticultural Society for 1889, p. 181. 



71420°— Bui. 275—13 3 



