The Opelousas courier., 1884-09-27
Apples Among the Ameies,ss.

The ancients regarded the apple as
the king of fruits, and fully appreciate
ed its value, while we moderns gaze
upon its round, plump, and blushing
beauty with unblushing Indifference.
We pay no respect to its dignity, while
ever since the world began it has
played an important part in history
and romance. Apples are found plen
tifully in all parts of the world except
in South America, and the Pacific Is
lands. They are emdfe abundantly
disseminated than wheat. The heat
OF the equator does not dry them, nor
the colo of Siberia or Norway kill
them. Ages back the culture of the
fig was taken s aproof of a nations
prosperity. IIo4- shr glne took its
place. and now a sure index of civili-
cation and prosperity is the cultivation
OF the apple, and it is found in its
greatest perfection where morality and
intellectually are most marked.
Atheneus who lived $50, A. D., calls 1t
universal" and in the third book Of
bis Deipnosophists, tells how many
kinds were under cultivation in his
day. He makes a report that would
be highly creditable to the secretary of
any modern horticultural society. and
learnedly diseourses of the "distinc-
tive qualities of sweet and sour. sum
mer, fall. and winter apples. He men,
toned the differences attributable to
soil and cultivation" He sings the
virtues and excellence of the Mordfanr-
Jana variety found originally in Apo.
lonia. To substantiate his asser-
tons as to the beauty and luscious
ness of tbs Sidus apple, be quotes
Archytas. But although the sidus
Yves a beautiful, h~ighly-colored varie-
ty." be declares his preference for the
Mathianian, the costly and especial
favorite in the Roman markets.
Pliny. in his valuable "Historis
mentions twenty varieties
Of the apple, known in his time, two
hundred and seven years before Athe-
From those twenty varieties
we now have named In the catalogue
[aorethan $500. Where then il was
regularly cultivated only around the
basin of the Mediterranean, it is now
grown and valued the world over, so
extensively, indeed, that in the valley
II the Mississippi alone over ten mil
ions of bushels are. or have been
Produced annually. The history OF
carries US back to the days OF
Augustine Tertullian and {
African fathers mention it. !
they probably became acquainted |
With it through the Cloths and Van :
who invaded the Mediterranean J
'rovinces in their day, and impaired /
heir knowledge of this delightful :
everage as asort OF compensation for
be ruin they wrought In their fields :
nd temples. We q follow the his q
of cider from Africa into the Bis +
ayan province Of Spain, thence to {
lormandy. Historians say that it d
7as introduced into England at the :,
me OF the conquest But it is con- b
,nded that the word 4scydef" is Anglo
axon, which, with the frequent refer
in Neunius, would seem to prove
lat it was known in the time of Hen
The old romance pf Merlin,
date of AGO, tells Of the 9
lmous orchards Of Clydesdale, and an :
paper on grating and plant !
q apple trees is dated 1902. Lord $,
;udanore ambassador to Charles T O
France imported into England : :
ON Normandy ths cider apples Of
ertfordshira Of which the English h.
'ast 50 loudly.