The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-05
A Purpose of Its Own

Different varieties of apples have po- Inological Bertillion marks that serve as Identification guides 10 the initiated. Those who know apples understand that in many cases an unattractive skin covers flesh of most delicious flavor while on the other hand many a fair ap- bearing apple leaves the consumer with the conviction that he does not like ap- ples as well as he used to. Buy ng an apple because it's skin is red or because it appears attractice-if you don't know any more about it than that-is like buy ing a pig in poke. A rosy apple may taste as good as it looks, but it is quite is apt not to do so. Persons not fa- miliar with the qualities of the different varieties of apples are wise, when ouyips in quantity, to stick 10 standard sorts. The racteristics of few of the ieao- ing varieties are given by the unted States Department of Agriculture as fol- lows;
 From the standpoint of quantity the most important apple to be found on lile market is the Ben Davis. It is a goou7 sized apple very attractive in appear ance. being so heavily striped with reu in well-grown specments, as to make nearly solid red color on the exposed side Ii is notoriously lacking in catlns uuaIity. but when used for cooking pur- ,,oses if has considerable merit. Because of it's good keeping and shipping quailties N is one of the most widely known oA she winter varieties.
 The Jonathan is one of the best ana aue of the most common varieties oI . ennIes in season during the fall months ana which are excellent for eating un- s1 tbis way because of it's choice dessert cooked. The Jonathan is medium sized red apple and rather small TOT culinary purposes, but it is seldot useu uualities It is usually marketed uuIIns t, she late autumn. It is not usualiy iou,le fn large quantities much later than 'ii' holidays. [.
 The Grimes. or Grimes Golden. as IL fs commonly called. is another fall apple That has a season extending about TO the Jst of January It is commonly ussu as an eating apple because of it's speciaiiy fine flavor and other dessert duailtles It is a medium sized golden yellow apple and should not be held much later tian a,l ybe holidays because it is apt to develop sannle scald." A storage trouble to when sbjs variety is susceptible, if it is held
 One of the best known apples for culi- harv nurposes. although it possesses des- eert qualities as well, is the Rhofe is- tand Greening. This is a greenish yeiiow apple of fairly large size Some or tne .nnles have a reddish blush on the eX- vosed sides. The Greening possesses good teenine qualities and is primarily a win ter apple.
 The most important commercial winter rarietv grown in the northern apple dis- tricts is the Baldwin. It is sohd reu h pple in well-colored specimens, and ls one of the most important long-Keeplhs weneral-purpose varieties. While not pos Eessing the springhtly flaver of some or ths desert varieties, it yet has Wide ,,se for eating as we'll as culinary pur- poses. 1,,
 The Yellow Newton or Albemarie Pip pin is a winter desert apple of yeilowish- green color. The crisp, juick texture oi the apple and it's very high flavor make 4his sort particulary prized for eatlns ,Irnoses during the winter months. The Mellow Newton possesses good coohlne s,,,alities but the relatively high price nj which it frequently is sold makes It dessert rather than a cooking apple.
 The Winesap and the Stayman Winesap hre important varieties widely grown III different parts of the country. Ihe StaS tnan Winesap Is a good-sized, redstripeu so nearly solid red apple which possesses excellent keeping qualities and is of much 1aaportance both for dessert purposes ana Tor cooking The Winesap has excellent dessert qualities and is regarded as one or tbe best general purpose apples on the market. although a little small for an ideal cooking apple.
 One of the staple varieties of apples grown principally in the northern apple districts is the Northern Spy. It is or good size and one of the choicest of the, drssert apples because of it's crisp tex x,1re and spicy flavor. It is not lacking N culinary uuolities but like the Jonathan bnd Crimes and some of the other choice warieties it Is predomnantly valuable for 1rssert purposes It is highly coolred, being heavily striped with red and on the exposed side it develops into nearly H solid color.
 An apple more frequently boxed than rarreIed, and grown largely in the North west, is the Arkansas Black. It is good tazed and very firm and hard until fully snautred. Solid red in color, it assumes h many speciments almost a black shade. It is in season during the winter US sase is principally culinary. It is ire ouentiy found on the fruit stands but is rot very desirable for eating in it's fresh state.
 The Banana Or Winter Banana is in eeason in the late fall and winter. This Apple can be used both for cooking and dessert, is a good-sized apple and very attractive in appearance when we'll trown. It's greenish-yellow surface has considerable blush when highly colored. Tt is widely grown and good for general purposes.
 There are many other sorts of exceI- Sence, but the majority of them have more local distribution than the ones here described