The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26
KING EDWARD WIS APPLES.
Chance Growth on a Tree That Has Given
New Industry TO Maine,

WINsIow, Me-, Feb. 25,--Within FIVE
years the apple trade Of Maine with England
has grown from almost nothing TO 60O. 600
barrels every season.
Last week steamers smiling from Port
land took more than 10000 barrels OF apples
across tho ocean, which IA more than was
exported from the State during all of the
last century.
OF the three apple belts In the State that
running through Kennebeo and Waldo
counties Ia the most profitable. the fruit
seeming to grow larger and to keep longer
there than elsewhere. As the Maine sum
mers arc short tho apples Of the winter
vaIieties are put into the cellars In an unripe
condition and they are unfit to use until
nearly spring. This prolongs the season
and gives tho Maine fruit monopoly of
the lnte trade.
On the hills sloping toward the east along
the Kennebec River are thousands of acres
which have been turned into orchards,
many of the farmers having abandoned
all other work to devote their time to the
export trade. There are scores Of farmers
who raise 900 or more bushels every year
and who never have any fruit ft to eat
until after February.
II II htlNl tilhl llN man WHO lhhNV ~ ROo-
sible TO ship fruit to Liverpool with profit
TO the growers is John Churchill of Winslow,
a farmer, who knows nothing about the
scientific aspect of apple breeding and
made fortunes for himself and his neghbors
by accident.
In the winter of 1894 he received from
the Department of Agriculture at Washing
ton a bundle of scions from some Russian
-, - oh ma ID m
be hardy enough 70 resist the winters OF
Maine. Going to his storage pit, where he
kept small apple trees ready for grating
and setting out in the spring no inserted
ten scions In small stocks, and when spring
came placed them out in the ground along
with hundreds Of others.
Nine of the gratis lived and came into
bearing, though the fruit was OF no value
for commercial purposes. The tenth put
out few leaves and then withered and
died
In passing through bis nursery IN july
Mr. Churchill noticed that the short stem
where the graft had failed had sent up
very vigorous sprout below the stump.
IL was almost black in color and gave signs
of so much vigor that 1t was permitted to
live as an experiment.
From this side shoot from a tree whore
the graft had persisted has originated an
apple that mas Drought mlillOnS OF COLLARS
to Maine The fruit is short and bullying
at the equator. giving il a shape like pump
kin. It's color is dark red at the stem,
shading through cherry and magenta to
Ii bright pink at the blossom end.
Until tho end Of January 1t is so hard
that it will crack open Ike ball of ice If
dropped upon the floor. At this time it Ia
so unpalatable and sour that no animal
will eat IT, Later il begins TO grow mellow,
and by March il has a fragrant tartness
that IS enjoyed by every one who tastes
It, II makes excellent pies and sauceR, while
for English turnovers its quality IS OF the
best.
Not until the winter of 1900 was Mr..
Churchill able TO send any of his new fruit
to England He shipped ten barrels, and
received Il return order fox all he could
secure Since then there have not been
apples enough OF the variety to fill the
demand
Until he grated the tops OF his standard
trees to the fruit of his own originating
Mr. Churchill did not give tho new apple
a name. His friends suggested tbaN ~
name il "Churchi's Bent but he ~ n
INJURED saying that he might discoN II, ~
something better.
Last winter. when he had prepared 2 ,0oo-
barrels for shipment from his own orchard
and was securing tho country to load
steamer with this ono kind Of fruit, he
thought Of title that he believed would
tickle the fancy of the Englishmer. So
before putting his apples on the train Tor
Portland he stenClled every barrel win
this announcement: