Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-01-20
From Belle PLANE Union.
The "IrOn.Clad" Apples.


We often of la:e see in the papers
The term cir clad applied to GER
tain sorts of apples. A friend put the
question to day, what is meant by
this expression, l will state briefly,
that ten years ago we had what was
called a hardy list of apple trees tor
the prairie. 1t included Red June,
Red Astrachan, Fameuse, led Roa-
mite, Winesap, Golden Russell, Rawle's
Janet and a few others. During the
past ten years an immense stride has
been made in the way OF adding to
ard improving this Old list. This has
been docc partly by the origination o..
new varties from the seed upon our
own SOL, and partly by the introduce
ton Of new sorts from Russia and
northern Enrope and from the older
States. To a few of these, which
have proved eminently adapted to our
peculiar soil and trying clirhgtc has
been applied the name Iron clad" |
will briefly describe few of the lead
inc ones OF the strictly iron-clads:
DUCHESS OF oLpESEUEG.
This is very beautiful, large, strip,
ed apple from Russia. The wood OF
this tree Is so close in texture and
ripens up SO early that it will stand
the hardest winters OF Northern Min
neso,a, yet thousands OF these trees
fail IN Northern Iowa aud Minnesota
because grated OH tender seeding
roots. Worked on seedlings of the
Siberian or Soulard crabs it will stand
any climate, and produce heavy crops
of most beautiful apples of fair quail
ty. In our latitude it is perfectly
hardy as commonly grated, as are all
the sorts named in this connection
While all of them are perfectly hardy
at the north, when worked on strictly
hardy roots.
FED AsTRACHAN.
This is another Russian apple, OF
great beauty, fine size, extreme hard
mess and great productlveness, first
rate apple Tor culinary use and market.
Tree tolerably slow grower, but bears
moderately young.
TEToFsKI.
This is also Russian and of recent
orisit1, or rather introduction. 1t is
one OF the most snowy and beautiful
OF all apples. Its peculiarly rich bloom
and color have created a demand for
this tree wholly ahead of present sup
ply. Pedllers are taking advantage
OF this by selling spurious trees at
huge prices. Thousands of common
Siberian crabs have been sold in Ben
ton county, during the past season, at
10 cents and often at Sl.00 each, I'M
der the name OF "Russian Crab, or
Tetotski.a When first introduced, the
Ttoiski went Under the name OF "Rus-
sian Crab 1t is in no way, however,
related to the crab family, but is en-.
inen,ly fine, snowy iron clad" apple,
but in very short supply at at pres
ent
BEN. DAVIS, OR NEW YORK pIpPIN.
This apple is Of Southern origin, yet
is taking leading place among the
iron clads.' 1t rihens its wood SO
early III autumn that no extremes OF
climate seem to effect it. With our
friend Adams in extreme northern
Iowa it is the same vigorous healthy
tree that it proves in our latitude. 1t
is one OF the earliest bearers of the
whole list And its good points ex.
tend farther. 1t rarely tails of giving
good crop year after year. The
irnit is of large size, highly colored
and snowy, and Will keep in fine CON
dition until the middle OF May. True
the quality OF the fruit is not equal TO
the Baldwin, but it is crisp, tender and
juicy, and all in all is to prove bless
ing to the prairie country.
ENGLISH GOLDEN RUssEr.
Among the Russets there has been
much confusion as to name The PEG
pie generally have the opinion that
none OF them are of great value here.
The true English Golden, however, is
proving an apple eminently hardy in
tree, and OF prime quality OF fruit.
The genuine is not easy to get. The
shoots are much darker in color than
the other Russets, OF an olive shade
and peculiarly speckled. On crab
roots it is hardy at tie extreme north.
WHITNEY RUssET.
This is full Russet OF the choicest
quality. Tree extremely hardy.
FAMEUsE, OR SNOW.
Perhaps in our latitulc.-and one
hundred and fifty miles north-this is
the most profitable of all fall and early
winter apples. OF far, uniform size,
snowy color and good quality it al
ways finds a ready market l have
trees of this kind eleven years in
orchard that have produced over 20
bushels OF apples TO the tree. On