86 



The Apples of New York. 



have been introduced from Italy. Be this as it may, it is a common apple 

 throughout Germany and Sweden, and was received from thence into the 

 English collections. It is undoubtedly of similar origin with the Red Astra- 

 chan and Duchess of Oldenburg, possessing the peculiar habit of growth, 

 form of foliage, and texture of the fruit, which distinguish the German 

 apples. 



"At what time it was first introduced into our gardens we are not aware. 

 But as neither Coxe or Thacher describe or name it, we suppose it was some 

 time subsequent to the account given of it in the Transactions of the London 

 Horticultural Society in 1822. It is at the present time considerably culti- 

 vated, though not to the extent its merits deserve." 



In 1857 Captain DeWolfe stated that the Gravenstein was imported by 

 him from Denmark in May, 1826 (20). In a letter dated October 11, 1829, 

 published in the New England Farmer, Judge Buel, of Albany, called at- 

 tention to the importation of Gravenstein and other German apples, trees of 

 which he had presented to the members of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society. Hovey states that in view of this it appears that Gravenstein was 

 imported to the vicinity of Albany probably prior to 1826 (20). After these 

 early importations Gravenstein gradually found its way into cultivation in 

 various portions of the country. For many years it has been pretty gen- 

 erally disseminated through New York state, but in most localities it is grown 

 to a limited extent only. 



Tree. 



Tree large, vigorous. Form upright spreading to roundish, open. Twigs 

 medium to long, curved, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark brownish- 

 red, mingled with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin ; pubescent. 

 Lenticels very scattering, medium to small, oblong, not raised. Buds medium 

 in size, plump, acute, free, pubescent. 



Fruit. 



Fruit large to above medium, fairly uniform in size but not in shape. 

 Form oblate to roundish, somewhat irregular, broad at the base, slightly 

 angular about the basin. Stem short to medium, thick. Cavity rather large, 

 acute to acuminate, moderately deep to deep, rather narrow to broad, irregti- 

 larly russeted. Calyx large, open or sometimes closed ; lobes large, long, very 

 broad, acute. Basin irregular, medium in depth to deep, medium to wide, 

 obtuse to somewhat abrupt, wrinkled. 



Skin thin, tender, slightly rough, greenish-yellow to orange-yellow over- 

 laid with broken stripes of light and dark red. Dots few, small, light. Pre- 

 vailing effect yellow striped. 



Calyx tube large, conical to funnel-shape. Stamens median. 



Core medium in size, strongly abaxile ; cells open ; core lines clasping the 

 funnel cylinder. Carpels broadly ovate, emarginate. Seeds medium to 

 large, medium in width, rather long, plump, acute to acuminate, medium 

 brown. 



Flesh yellowish, firm, moderately fine, crisp, moderately tender, juicy, 

 sprightly subacid, aromatic, very good to best. 

 Season late September till early November. 



