The Apples of New York. 



67 



and fifty years since, where the old trees are still productive, and apples 

 from them are sent to St. Louis, &c. The same apple may be found in 

 France, and in London of the growth of France.' 



" It is hardly to be supposed that a seedling apple was produced in Canada 

 at so early a day as to be distributed more than a thousand miles in every 

 settlement made by the French, one hundred and fifty years since. 



" Another fact tending to suggest a European origin for Fameuse is that 

 it is usually found in the old gardens, in company with well known European 

 varieties of pears, apples and other fruits. 



" On the other hand the testimony of European poniologists is mostly against 

 the theory of a European origin. The variety is known in the larger collec- 

 tions of all the countries of Europe, just as Ben Davis is, and has been known 

 there for many years. But most European authors unhesitatingly assign a 

 Canadian origin to the variety ; and the variety seems too little known, too 

 little appreciated, and too little at home with European surroundings for us 

 to believe it originated there. Those who call it a European apple usually 

 assign its nativity to France; but Leroy (25) the greatest of all French, and 

 perhaps of all European authorities, did not know the variety. He says that 

 Le Lectier cultivated the Pomme de Neige (synonym of Fameuse) at Or- 

 leans (France) before 1628; but Leroy did not know whether or not this 

 was the same Pomme de Neige grown in Canada. In fact he says, ' I have 

 never, up to the present time, met this apple Pomme de Neige on our soil. 

 In place of it they have always sent me Calvill de Neige, ripening from Janu- 

 ary to March.' Alost of the so-called Snow apples of Europe, in fact, are 

 white skinned and totally different from the Snow, or Fameuse, of America. 



" It is agreed that, whether the Fameuse came from Europe or not, it was 

 distributed by the earliest of the French missionaries and planted by the first 

 settlers. Quebec was founded shortly before 1600 and ]\Iontreal in 1641. The 

 seigniory du Cote de Beaupre, said to be the oldest seignory in Quebec, was 

 granted in 1636 and promptly colonized. Thus we have almost a hundred 

 years of French settlement and missionary activity prior to 1700, the approxi- 

 mate date at which, according to ]\Ir. Goodrich, the Fameuse was brought 

 to Vermont. This seems to allow ample time for a Canadian origin foi 

 the variety and for its wide distribution in Quebec, Ontario and the Northern 

 states. 



" The early distribution of apples, either from Europe to Canada, or from 

 place to place on this continent, was accomplished chiefly, almost exclusively, 

 by seeds. Some of the missionaries knew the art of grafting, but there was 

 small encouragement to practice it. From these considerations, and others 

 which cannot be fully argued here, the writer is firmly convinced that the 

 Fameuse originated in Canada from seed brought from France." 



Tree. 



Tree vigorous, with long, moderately stout branches. Form upright spread- 

 ing or roundish, rather dense. Twigs medium size, curved, stout; internodes 

 short. Bark dark brown tinged with red, lightly coated with scarf-skin ; 

 pubescent. Lenticels scattering, small, round or somewhat oval, slightly raised. 

 Buds medium size, flat, obtuse, free, pubescent. 



