lht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1123 
New England Apples for the Home Orchard 
T HE ORCHARD.— How well I remember the 
Pound Sweets which grew in the orchard out 
north of the house! Even now they seem to me as 
having been as large as pumpkins, and, oh, the 
flavor! Was there ever an apple as sweet and juicy? 
I've never since had one which made the impression 
of that Pound Sweet, eaten when I was a small boy. 
You recall the early apples; the tree grew, perhaps, 
down by the fence, just out of sight of 
the house, and you could feast on those 
apples without danger of anyone seeing 
you. How often we wish for an apple 
with the “flavor of youth.” Perhaps 
we ask ourselves if the flavor of the 
apples nowadays is as good as it was 
when we were young, or does the flavor 
grow less as the tree gets older, or are 
the varieties now grown of lower qual¬ 
ity than those which grew on the home 
farm or in the neighbors* yards? Con¬ 
trary to popular opinion, our varieties 
are just as good as they were years 
ago. The Baldwin is just as red, the 
Rhode Island Greening just as green, 
if grown on a heavy soil, and blushed 
if grown on a light soil. They make 
just as good pies, and cannot he beaten 
by any of the newer varieties of apples 
in this respect. 
AN AMERICAN INDUSTRY.—Fruit 
growing has boon one of the important 
industries of America ever since the 
early settlers came, and we have 
learned that certain varieties grow to 
perfection in one locality and are almost 
a failure in another. Because of this 
fact we cannot say this variety is “no 
good;” wo should modify it and state 
that under certain conditions it does 
not do as well. For example, Ben 
Davis develops to its highest perfection 
in the Southwestern States, hut here in 
New England it has no “quality” (if 
the term can he applied to a Ben Davis 
in this section). Many growers still 
claim it is a profitable variety to grow. 
Tt is true that there are thousands of 
trees growing in New England and 
New York, hut the variety should give 
place to those of higher quality, shown 
by the fact that other varieties com¬ 
mand higher prices. 
The old “Sheepnose” (Black Gilli- 
flmver) is always in demand by a few 
people. It lias an odd flavor and shape, 
and is easily remembered. It is not. 
though, an apple of high quality; it is 
rather dry and mealy and does not 
keep well. It could not be sold if 
grown in quantity, hut it should he 
maintained in the home orchard. 
Roxbury Russet is crisp and juicy 
late in the Winter after most of the 
other apples are gone, and to those 
who know tin* apple, where color is not 
the deciding factor, it finds a ready sale. 
Too many people overlook this variety, 
and select one of inferior quality lie- 
cause of its higher and more attractive 
coloring. The demand for this old 
variety should he maintained by grow¬ 
ing and marketing Roxbury Russets 
when they are in condition for use late 
in the Winter. 
Seek-No-Further (Westfield). Why 
is it we do not find this old variety on 
the market? It certainly was a very 
popular apple. Do you remember 
“snapping” each others’ apples, then 
counting the seeds to see what your 
future would he? This variety lias 
more seeds than almost any other. 
The color is not particularly attractive, 
the fruit tends to shrivel and loses flavor in a short 
time, hut no other variety can quite takes its place 
in the home orchard. 
The Northern Spy is the standard of quality in 
■apples, and to those who know the variety when 
grown under good conditions this statement will not 
he questioned. One disadvantage which has been 
attributed to the growing of this variety is that the 
tiees do not come into hearing until they are 10. 12 
or 15 years of age. This lateness of hearing is being 
overcome, in many cases, by giving the young trees 
good care and inducing a vigorous growth with little 
or no pruning. Some commercial growers have had 
Spy trees hearing at seven years of age. 
Although the Northern Spy is inclined to make a 
high tree, it can he pruned into low-down spreading 
trees. Note the shape and size of the Northern Spy 
tree in Fig. 470. This is an old tree which was 
growing in a neglected orchard. It has been pruned 
and sprayed, and with cultivation and fertilization 
has produced wonderful fruit—20 barrels in one 
season—and fruit from this tree was selected for 
the New England Fruit Show and for the State 
Bornological exhibit. 
Williams (Williams Favorite. Early Williams), has 
a place in every home orchard because of its attrac¬ 
tive appearance, prolific hearing and good size of 
the fruit. While the quality is not high, the fruit 
ripens over a long period, and it commands a high 
price when marketed in good condition. Note the 
spreading shape of the young tree in Fig. 471. which 
is loaded with fruit. It was photographed July 22, 
1021. in a commercial orchard in Con¬ 
necticut. 
The two most commonly planted 
varieties of early apples are Red As- 
trachan and Yellow Transparent. The 
former is, in my opinion, the one to he 
preferred, especially if there is room 
for hut one tree. The fruit ripens over 
a long period, and for home use this is 
a valuable point. Most people select a 
red apple, as they consider it more at¬ 
tractive than a yellow one. The tree 
shown in Fig. 472 is a Red Astrachan 
growing in sod. It has had no particu¬ 
lar attention except, that it is sprayed, 
hut the tree is fully as large as any 
25-year-old tree, which is the age of 
this one. 
Some of the more recent varieties of 
apples which are being rather exten¬ 
sively planted in Connecticut and New 
England are McIntosh. Delicious, 
Wealthy and to a lesser extent Opal¬ 
escent and Winter Banana. 
McIntosh is one of the best, if not 
the best, seller in Connecticut. The 
public has learned the name, and has 
had enough of the fruit to whet its 
appetite, so that it calls for McIntosh 
almost the year around. The fruit is 
attractive, and just as good as it looks, 
either eaten out of hand or cooked as 
sauce or pies. “Hot McIntosh apple 
sauce, bread and butter, cake and tea” 
—who can ask for a better supper? 
Then end the working day by sitting 
down in front of an open fire with 
your hook or paper, and with a basket 
of nice McIntosh within reach. Another 
factor which contributes to the popu¬ 
larity of this variety is that it can he 
grown with profit. The trees grow 
well, hear young and almost annually, 
and with proper spraying the crops are 
clean and attractive. 
Delicious is being grown quite ex¬ 
tensively. The name is “catchy.” the 
fruit is attractive and the flavor is 
peculiar, being a combination fla’vor of 
apple, pear, banana and melon. The 
tree is a vigorous grower, hears young, 
and indications are that if will do well 
under a variety of conditions and over 
a wide area here in Connecticut and 
New England. See Fig. 47.”». 
Wealthy is grown very extensively 
as a “filler,” hut has not been set .o 
any extent in permanent orchards. The 
trees bear heavily when young, the 
fruit comes on the market at a time 
when there are no other varieties, and 
because of its attractive size and color 
commands a good price, hut the later 
pickings are in competition with the 
McIntosh, an applewliich in my opinion 
is of far superior quality. As the 
Wealthy trees become older the size of 
the apples decreases, and consequently 
the returns from an old Wealthy or¬ 
chard grow less and less. Some grow¬ 
ers are practicing severe heading back 
of the branches to get new bearing 
wood. 
Opalescent is a vigorous grower, 
bears when rather young. The fruit is 
very attractive; we might even call it. conspicuous. 
The very large specimens of bright dark red catch 
the eye of tlfe prospective buyer. The quality is 
good, but cannot he called high. It is in season 
late in the Fall. 
Winter Banana ti’ees are easily detected by the 
long, rather scrawly, vigorous growth, producing 
heavy crops af attractive, large-sized yellow fruit. 
Fir/. 470. Northern Spit. An old tree which was neglected, hut is now producing 
choice fruit. Note the loir spreading branches 
Fig. 471. Williams (Williams Favorite). Note the open type of tree carrying 
a heavy crop of fruit, just ripening when photographed, July 22, 1021 
Fig. 412- Red Astrachan. A well-developed 24-year-old tree growing in sod 
with, a well-shaped head 
