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APPLES AND PEACHES IN THE OZAEK REGION. 



Florence. 



The tree from which this variety was first propagated in this region stood on a farm 

 owned by the late W. E. Buchanan, about 3 miles south or southeast of Benton ville, 

 Ark. This particular tree is generally assumed to be the original one, but as it died 

 several years ago and has since been completely destroyed and the accounts obtainable 

 relative to it are somewhat conflicting, definite historical data are wanting. The 

 statement, however, that it was of considerable size prior to the Civil War appears to 

 be unquestioned. 



It is said to have been first propagated commercially about 1891 or 1892 by Mr. J.J. 

 Britt, of Benton ville. It has not been extensively planted, but it appears to possess 



Fig. 2.— A tree of the Florence apple in northwestern Arkansas at the age of 14 years; propagated from 

 the original tree. The low head is characteristic of Ozark apple orchards. 



much merit for the Ozark region. So far as observed, the largest orchard of it is located 

 on the Buchanan farm already mentioned. This orchard consists of 30 to 35 acres, 

 the oldest trees of which are now about 20 years old. A typical tree is shown in 

 figure 2. 



The trees are strong, vigorous growers and thus far appear to be remarkably healthy, 

 with excellent bearing tendencies. The fruit is large, roundish in form, and smooth 

 except for slight undulations of the surface and sometimes more or less ribbing; color, 

 yellow, washed over most of surface with bright mixed red, and splashed with broken 

 stripes of purplish crimson; flesh yellow, medium coarse in texture, breaking, juicy, 

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