
                                                                                                                                                  291

White Crab or Roanes White Virginia Crab
or Spreadmouth (vid Letter Nov. 1812)

This is a small yellow fruit not larger than the Hagloe's Crab originally cultivated from a
seedling tree on the Estate of Mr John Roane, King Williams County Virginia
who gives the following account in a letter to Thomas Newbold
Esqr. The apple was first cultivated by the father from whom the
name is derived.

The color is a pale yellow, it bears a plentiful crop every other year
regularly scattered over the Tree, of course not subject to rot like
cluster apples. Taste sweet but rough, ripens partially
from 1st September to the last of October, when the main crop
is housed or converted into Cider.

The liquor is remarkably rich and strong, fine equal
to wine, but requires great attention in fermentation being
remarkably thick when first from the Press. During that
operation it ought frequently to be passed through flannnels
to separate the pulpy particles, otherwise a bitterness
and keen acid are speedilu produced, Nothing more is 
requisite to make fine cider of this Apple, but prevention
of too great fermentation by frequently pressing through
flannel.

The tree is small, bears fruit quickly, the wood is
hard and compact.  The leaf and general appearance resemble the
Hewes's Crab of Virginia
Grafted April 9. 1813 on East orchard Sunbury 27 trees . 1. tree in front garden [illegible]
(all the grafts died except two)
Nov 4. 1813 planted 12 Trees bot[bought] from D Budd in S.E. corner of
large garden near Mr Barkers Shop - to grow large for orchard.
In 1790 The original tree a budding was discovered on Col.
John Roanes Estate of a dwarfish character.
Col. Roane informed me that the body of the Cider is so strong
that he keeps it perfectly sound through the Summer in Casks.
The Bungs with screw shape fit so tight as to exclude
air

Roanes White Crab.
[sketch of apple]

[margin insert begins][sketch of index finger pointing right]
Burtons Crab
Mr Pearce nurseryman
3 miles from Washington
informs me that [illegible] as
this Crab it is white &
longer  and larger than
the Roanes Crab
Sept 1820.[margin insert ends]
        