SUB-SECTION 2.--STRIPED.
=Buckingham.=
BYER'S RED--FALL QUEEN (of some)--BLACKBURN (erroneously.)
This favorite southern apple, from Louisa County, Virginia, has worked its way northward into public favor at rapid rate, under the influence of railways and Pomological Societies. It was first presented to the American Society at the Philadelphia meeting, in 1860, when it was figured and reported on by the Committee on Native Fruits, to some of whom, as to thousands of others in the West, it was familiar as household words. This fruit was brought by settlers to Southern Illinois, and thence distributed, by taking up the sprouts that formed about the base of the stocks, and setting them out for an orchard. I have some of these growing, and they make nice plants.
Tree vigorous, upright, compact while young, spreading with the weight of fruit, never large; the shoots rather slender, red, dark; Leaves medium, rather narrow, wider towards the end, dark, footstalks red. The stems of these trees are characterized by curious enlargements of an irregular, mammellar form, and reddish color, and appear to be like the knaurs of the olive tree.
When this apple was first brought to the notice of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, twenty years ago, it was thought to resemble the Winter Queen of Kentucky so closely that it was considered only a variety or sport, and called the Striped Fall Queen, but it has since been deemed a distinct sort.
Fruit large to very large, variable in form, but generally conical, or oblate-conic, truncated, angular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, mixed and striped pale purplish-red; Dots scattered, prominent, yellow.
Basin deep, abrupt, wavy; Eye large, long, open.
Cavity wide, wavy, brown; Stem short.
Core large, regular, closed; Axis very short; Seeds numerous, long, pointed; Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, rich, agreeable; Quality best, or nearly so; Use, table, kitchen, drying; Season, October to December.
=Esopus Spitzenberg.=
Origin New York, on the Hudson. This fruit has changed its character in progressing westward and southward, becoming larger and more irregular, less brilliantly colored, less highly flavored, and less productive.
Tree vigorous, upright, thrifty, but in some regions subject to blight and unprofitable; Shoots slender.
Fruit medium to large, conical, ribbed, irregular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered with bright red, marbled and mixed, striped more or less distinctly; Dots numerous, large, irregular, gray, always elongated near the base.
Basin deep, ribbed or folded, often leather-cracked; Eye small, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, regular, or wavy; Stem long.
Core large, closed; Seeds long, pointed; Flesh rich, yellow, breaking, juicy at the North, more fibrous than crisp at the South; Flavor quite acid till ripe, when it is rich, saccharine, highly aromatic, giving the idea of the Spitzenberg flavor; Quality best; Use, dessert and kitchen; Season, December to February.
=Lansingburgh.=
The origin of this long-keeper has not been traced. It has been common about Cincinnati, and along the Ohio River, for many years.
Tree upright, vigorous, brushy and thorny, looking like a wilding.
Fruit medium, conical, angular, oblique, often unequal; Surface smooth, green and yellow, bronzed and blushed, becoming very rich yellow and carmine--an indistinct gray-striping makes the ripe fruit appear to be striped yellow; Dots minute, indented, gray, with green bases.
Basin deep, plaited or folded; Eye small, closed.
Cavity acute, irregular, rough with brown; Stem short.
Core small, oval, closed; Seeds numerous, large; Flesh firm, compact; Flavor mild sub-acid, negative; Quality scarcely good; Use, market, ornamental, cooking; Season in the kitchen all winter--ornamental and eatable March to May, or later.
=Late Strawberry.=
AUTUMN STRAWBERRY.
The origin of this choice fruit appears to be unknown.
Tree upright, productive, thrifty, leaves serrate.
Fruit medium, roundish, conical, angular, furrowed; Surface smooth, waxen-yellow, mixed and striped scarlet; Dots minute, indented.
Basin folded, irregular; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity acute, wavy, irregular; Stem slender, long.
Core medium, regular, closed, Seeds large; Flesh yellow, very tender, fine-grained, very juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, refreshing, vinous; Quality best; Use, dessert especially; Season, August and September.
There is another similar fruit--the Frank or Chenango Strawberry, which is by some preferred to this.
=Northern Spy.=
Origin near Rochester, New York. Tree very vigorous, large, upright, spreading, when older; shoots reddish, leaves healthy, large, dark. Tree productive when old, but not an early bearer; needs trimming to admit light and air to the fruit.
Fruit large, flattened-conical, angular; Surface smooth, yellow, mixed, and splashed, scarlet, or crimson; Dots scattered, small.
Basin abrupt, regular, or folded; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, regular or wavy, brown; Stem medium to short.
Core large, irregular, open; Seeds numerous, small, pointed, pale; Flesh yellowish-white, breaking, granular, juicy; Flavor acid, becoming sub-acid, aromatic, rich, with the spiciness of a Spitzenberg; Quality considered best, but rather coarse in texture; Use, table, kitchen and market; Season, December until May, and in the North longer.
=Red Canada.=
STEEL'S RED.
Origin New England. Tree thrifty, healthy, but slender, twiggy, productive.
Fruit medium, globular-conic, indistinctly angular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered with mixed and striped bright red; Dots numerous, gray, indented, elongated near the stem, as in Esopus.
Basin shallow, folded; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, acute, wavy; Stem long, inclined.
Core regular, closed, large; Seeds imperfect; Flesh yellowish-white, breaking, crisp, fine-grained, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, delicious; Quality best, for table; Season, December to February.
=Red Stripe.=
EARLY RED MARGARET (incorrectly)--ROCKHILL'S SUMMER QUEEN (Indiana).
This handsome and productive early apple has been extensively propagated in parts of Indiana, under the names above presented. It was introduced at Fort Wayne by Mr. Rockhill, who is reported to have "made more money from the trees of this variety than from twice as many of any other early apple." Recommended for general cultivation in that State.
Tree hardy in nursery and orchard, productive; Shoots very downy.
Fruit medium to small, long, conical, furrowed or ribbed; Surface polished, pale yellow, mixed and splashed crimson.
Basin very shallow, plaited; Eye very small, closed.
Cavity acute, regular, browned; Stem medium.
Core long, oval, embracing the eye; Flesh whitish, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor acid; Quality good; Table or kitchen; Season, July and August.
=Scalloped Gilliflower.=
This is supposed to be an old European variety. Its peculiarly irregular form makes it quite a remarkable fruit. It is sometimes called Red Gilliflower; but that name is also very commonly applied to quite another fruit--the Red Winter Pearmain, described on a previous page, in Class II., Order I., Section 2., Sub-section 2.
Fruit large, round-conic, very irregular, furrowed and ribbed; Surface yellow, marbled and splashed scarlet.
Basin abrupt, deep, folded or ribbed; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, irregular, wavy; Stem medium.
Core regular, round, very open, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellow, breaking, tender; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality scarcely good; Use, table, kitchen; Season, November, December. Chiefly grown northward.
=Seager.=
This large, handsome fruit was exhibited at the American Pomological Society's meeting at Philadelphia, in 1860, by Chas. P. Davis, of Phillipsburgh, New Jersey. The Committee reported it "Good."
Fruit large, roundish-conic, irregular; Surface smooth, yellow, striped, splashed and mixed carmine; Dots scattered, yellow.
Basin abrupt, narrow, folded, plaited; Eye medium, large, closed.
Cavity wide, wavy, brown and yellow; Stem medium, knobby.
Core roundish, open, clasping; Seeds angular, imperfect; Flesh yellowish-white, breaking, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality good to very good; Use, table, kitchen; Season, September.
=Stanard.=
From Erie County, New York, this fruit has made its way westward, by the Lakes, having been distributed by Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, and brought to the notice of his western friends by Hon. M.L. Dunlap, of Champaign, Illinois, who esteems it very highly. I quote from his account of it:
"This proves one of our most profitable winter apples; the tree bears young and constantly, but fuller on alternate years; fruit large and showy, shoots large and downy; buds prominent, fruit buds large, and the earliest in the orchard to swell; but they do not open as soon as others. Tree spreading, trunk generally crooked." Very hardy.
Fruit large, roundish, conical, ribbed, angular; Surface smooth, yellowish-green, somewhat red, mixed and striped indistinctly; Dots numerous, minute, white.
Basin medium, folded and plaited; Eye large, closed; Segments long.
Cavity wide, acute, wavy, green; Stem medium to long.
Core small, globular, regular, closed or open; Seeds numerous, brown, angular; Flesh yellow, breaking, rather coarse, tender; Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich; Quality good; Use, market and table; Season, November to February.
=Summer Queen.=
American. Tree vigorous, large, spreading, productive.
Fruit medium, round-conic, angular; Surface yellow, covered mixed red, striped, splashed scarlet; Dots minute, yellow.
Basin none or very shallow, folded or plaited; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem long, slender.
Core medium, regular, open; Seeds numerous, pointed, brown; Flesh firm, yellow, breaking; Flavor acid, very aromatic, spicy; Quality first rate; Use, kitchen; Season, July, August.
=Winesap.=--[Coxe.]
Tree vigorous, healthy, hardy, productive, early bearer; Branches open, straggling; Shoots strong, dark reddish-brown; Foliage curled, glaucous, sparse.
Fruit medium, conical, often obscurely angular, or slightly ribbed; Surface rather smooth, bright or dark red, mixed and obscurely striped on yellow, which is mostly covered, often veined russet; Dots few, minute, indented.
Basin narrow, shallow, plaited; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, reddish brown; Stem medium.
Core regular, somewhat open; Seeds large, rather light; Flesh firm, yellow; Flavor rich, acid to sub-acid; Use, market, kitchen, cider; Season, January to March.
* * * * *
CLASS II.--CONICAL APPLES.
+ORDER II.--ANGULAR.+
American Pomology. Apples · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.