THE PROBLEM OF VARIETIES. 27 



a of the Limbertwig and the Black Twig l apples. These seeds were planted 

 and from one of them grew the tree which was later named Arkansas, though it is 

 almost universally known among apple growers by its synonym Mammoth Black Twig. 



According to Mr. G. W. Collins, of Lincoln, Ark., who assisted in making the first 

 grafts of this variety, it was not propagated until 1S69. Its fruit was exhibited among 

 other Arkansas varieties and seedlings at the Cotton Centennial Exposition which was 

 held at New Orleans in 1884-85, attracting considerable attention. Since 1885 it has 

 become widely distributed in many sections of the country. In this region it is 

 known to nearly all fruit growers. 



The tree is one of the best, making a fine, vigorous, spreading growth, but it is seldom 

 sufficiently productive to render it a profitable commercial apple, even though the 

 fruit has excellent shipping and keeping qualities. The fruit is large, highly colored, 

 and compares favorably in quality with the Winesap and others of that group, but ts 

 lack of productiveness is a serious fault. In an occasional season it appears to be 

 more productive throughout this region than in most seasons, and in the same orchard 

 different trees often vary greatly in productiveness in the same year. But a heavily 

 loaded tree is unusual. While there may be some tendency to increase in productive- 

 ness as the trees get older, this has not yet become very marked in this region. 



On account of the vigor of the tree, checking the growth by root pruning and girdling 

 have been tried in an experimental way in a number of instances with a view to in- 

 creasing its productiveness. While the results have given some promise, they do not 

 appear to offer a dependable remedy for the fault. For a similar reason, a soil not too 

 rich in nitrogen is probably to be preferred to one which is likely to induce an over- 

 abundant growth. While there may be an occasional crop sufficiently large to be 

 profitable to a satisfactory degree, the planting of this variety extensively in this 

 region for commercial purposes does not appear to be warranted at the present time. 



The original tree as it appeared in August. 1906. is shown in Plate III. figure 1. A 

 well-pruned 10-year-old tree is shown in figure 2 of the same plate. 



The Arkansas has been considerably confused with the Paragon, an apple of Ten- 

 nessee origin. Though very similar, the two varieties are undoubtedly distinct. 

 Arkansas Black. 



This variety originated on the farm of a Mr. Brathwait. 1^ miles northwest of Benton- 

 ville. Ark. It first fruited about 35 years ago. It has become of some importance in a 

 few sections of the country, but it is not popular, in the Ozark region. It is known to a 

 large proportion of the growers, but has not been planted extensively. Like the 

 Arkansas, it usually bears only very small crops. Its foliage is often badly attacked by 

 some of the leaf-blight fungi and the fruit is so susceptible to apple scab that it usually 

 becomes entirely worthless unless very thoroughly sprayed. When it is well devel- 

 oped it is a long-keeping apple and has good shipping qualities, but on account of its 

 serious faults it is of very little value in this region under usual methods of culture. 

 Arkansas Pippin. Synonym: Mammoth Pippin. 



This variety is known in this region by its synonym rather than as Arkansas Pippin. 

 It is in a comparatively small number of orchards in northwestern Arkansas and south- 

 western Missouri, but is grown to only a very limited extent. It is a large, light- 

 colored apple, ripening the last of August and early in September. Though it occa- 

 sionally produces good crops of fairly good fruit, it is not as a rule considered a heavy 

 bearer; neither is it especially prized as a commercial sort. Other varieties of about 

 the same season and well adapted to this region are doubtless more profitable. 

 Beach. Synonyms: Lady Pippin, Apple of Commerce . 



The original tree of this variety stood on the Oliver Young farm, about one-fourth 

 of a mile west of Bentonville. Ark. It was a small tree of uncertain age during t he Civil 

 ^ar; it is known, however, to have produced fruit three years after the war closed 



1 This variety was probably Win&sap, which is known in some sections as Black Twig. 



