Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-01-22
YTW 5ERES7 CHI JAMESTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY W VA s.
A6out 4Ipples.

Theexp0rtation of apples from the United
States to Europe is OF comparatively recent
date, and the time Is not tar distant when
the Eagiish markets will be flooded with an
abundance Of the golden fruit. The apple
shares with the grange the advantage OF bear
ing q long sea voyage without sustaining
damage, and there i, no reason why both
fruits should not be sold in the streets Of
European cities at an equally cheap rate
Horticulturists say that the apple Is not the
natural production of any soil or climate,
but that the infinite varieties of irait, some
two thousand in number, are all deduccd
from the gyrUs mqias or wild crab tree,
which by repeated propogationS and by
prunings and gratting' yields at last the
pippius, russetiS, greetings and other specl-
meas which are sod in COyen, garden. Ever
since the introduction into England of eat
ing apples grown in the United States, no
native or European specimen Of the fruit
has been able 10 compete popular es.ima-
ton with the Newtown Pippins and Bald
wins Of the United States. 4 story is often
told in the columns Of American journals
published in the Northwestern States that,
some twenty or thirty years ago, a famous
horticu.turst. who lived in the State Of
Michigan, had by iudiciou- gratting> raised
an apple 50 delicious in flavor that ne re-
solved toscnd couple of barrels As present
to the Queen OF Eagiaud-;he only Euro
pean sovereign for whom all American cit
zens who are not of Irish descent,
entertain unboundcd respect. The two
barrels arrived at Windsor Castle, and their
contents SO commended themselves To the
pa.a.i )f their tIstcrs that her Majesty sent
Photograph of herself to the honest Mich
igan farmer. together with instructions bid
ding him 20 supply twenty barrels OF his
apples annually iorconsumptlon in Windsor
Castle. The apple inquestion Is ssti.l known
in the ncighborhood of the locality where 1t
is raised as the Royal fav0rite,' and that il
/, deserving of the name is proved 10y the
fact that no state on the eastern side OF the
Mississippi grows finer apples than Mlchi-
gan.
Hitherto the best apples raised upon the
North American continent were supposed 70
come from the western counties Of New York
State. and especially from the Gcnessc valley,
from Michigan and Ohio, and from the Ca
madam province of Ontario. During the
last few years however two formidable rivals
have arisen in the Pacific States of Calitor-
nh ana oregon, NllNIt ~ tltH' llVul- iD''' ~
size md unequallcd in flavor, are produced
in such abundance that when they find their
way-as VIII shortly be the case-to Eurs-
pcan m,riets the old brands of American
apple viii, in homcly phrase, "hayeto take
q back seat" In the streets adjoining Co
vcnt-rarden countless barrels of apples, with
carefully selected Baldwins' branded upon
their head, may be seen any morning by
interested observers, and learn from the
New York " Tribune that these 8aldwins
are grown in Westchestcr county, close TO
the city of New York, and that vast supplies
Of the fruit have been sent this winter across
the Atlantic in barrels specially packed for
the English market But the flavor Of the
apples grown upon the Pacific slope closely
resembles that Of the pineapple, and there
is no reason why they should not be shipped
ut profit from san Francisco to England,
seeing that, when carefully packed, they are
none the worse for being at sea for two
months