The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
TOMPKTNs KING APPLE.

~ tHe Apples VI view 1Ork, Dy
Beach. Booth 4 Taylor. the following
historical facts are given regarding
this popular winter apple:
Some have thought that the orig
inal tree OF Tompkins King grew at
Jacksonville, Tompkins county, New
York, but Bailey found that the tree
had been grated, and therefore 1t
could not lie the original seeding.
This variety seems to have origi-
mated near Washington. Warren
county, New Jersey. It is supposed to
have been brought from that locality
to Tompkins county, New York. b,
Jacob WyckoF in 1904 by whom it
was named King"
The Horticultural OF April. 1860.
contains an account OF an investiga-
ton made by James NJ. Madison of
Jacksonville. y. Y. to obtain the his
tory OF the King apple Of Tompkins
county. He says:
About fifty-siX years ago Jacob
I>Wyckoff brought II from Warren
county, New Jersey. Mr.. wyckor
moved 10 this county about sixty years
years ago. and finding the art Of
grating practised here procured the
CRAFTS while on visit ffty-six years
ago. Mr.. WyCkoff is now dead. hut al
ways claimed it to be a Seeding. and
1t was named by him King. The Con-
gress of Fruit Growers at Rochester
added Tompkins county to II to dis
tinguish 1t from other King apples.
On a visit this winter I undertook
tc trace its origin, and went to the
place where IL is said to have origi-
rated This Is about two miles from
Washington. n. ]. l found very old
trees that had been grated; thoy
seemed to be over fifty years old: two
aPed men, Daniel Fleet and William
Criveling. near Asbury, were both ac-
quainted with It from boyhood. 1t
originated on the north side OF the
MusconetCong Mountain, about one
mile from where these gentlemen live.
They call the apple Tona Red through
out that section. II does not appear
TO be much disseminated, being con-
fined to a small locality.
The limbs grow so very horizon
tally that the tree needs scarcely any
pruning. and one OF its good qualities
Is 1t is Il regular bearer every year and
fine, thrifty grower. The apple is
one OF those crimson red with yellow
ground that attracts the eye. and the
color will not disappoint those who
taste it. 1t wants gathering ten or
fifteen days before the Baldwin or
Greening and II carefully done will
-
The Apples OF New York" states
that the first published description
found is in the Ne,r Genesce Farmer
in 1912, and whoever found the article
in that old paper with no index de-
serves credit.
The earliest mention found OF the
propagation of that variety by nur-
serymen Is the statement made by
Ellwanger & Barry of Rochester. n.
Y, in 1915 that they had trees for
sale In 1913 T. C. Maxwell & Bro. of
Geneva, n. Y. began to propagate it
extensively. ]. ]. Thomas mentioned
1t in his Fruit CulturtSts, but does not
give its origin.
The new American Orchardlst by
William Kendrick. 1914. does not list
the King.
In 1s49 s. w. Cole in his American
Fruit Book mentions this apple under
the name OF King from Ellwanger &
J Barry
Barry's Fruit Garden, 1856, de-
scribes this variety. but does not state
where 1t originated.
In the April issue OF the Md0asinc
OF Horticulture. 1854, the following
article appears:
THE King Apple--This is the name
Of new variety, introduced to notice
by James NJ. Madison Of .Tompkins-
Vile, western New York. Mr.. Mat
tison has forwarded US specimens OF
| the fruit. 1t is very superior va
riety, somewhat resembling in gem
eral appearance the Hubbardston
Nonesuch, but even larger than that
fine variety, and keeping TIL February.
II Is we'll worthy OF very extensive
cultivation"
In the November Issue OF the same
publication Is description of va
riety called King that answers the
description of the Tompkins County
King, which the editor states was sent
TO him last spring by ]. G. Williams,
Newark. Wayne county. New York,
From the facts which can be gathered
at this time It seems as though sew
eral nurserymen were instrumental in
the introduction of the King apple.
The country was young then, and
commercial horticulture waS in its
infancy in America-and II took time
for the growing Of fruit to develop
and fine varieties to be appreciated.
James Wick and Ellwanger and Barry
wero intimately associated In bust