Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-25
The York Imperial.


Some weeks ago the history Of tn
Baldwin apple was given In these col
umns. Perhaps the history OF SOM
other varieties may be interesting Il
Democrat readers. here is short bis
tory Of the York Imperial apple, not 81
we'll known In this section as some 0the
kinds nevertheless not unknown.
The original York Imperial apple tre'
that stood near York, Pa, is dead. Blu
In history Ii will never die. That Il
likewise true of the original tree of every
good apple variety. Fruit growers viii
not let these trees die in history
the originators of these trees.
That 10 Why fruit growers and farmeri
left their days work, crsnksd their auto
mobiles and made pilgrimage to York
Pa, the 18th day of last August; they
wanted to have Q part in erecting . mon
ument to help immortalize the original
York Imperial apple tree that was plant
ed there about 100 years ago. A large
boulder memorial marks the site of Ori.
gin on the Spring Woods farm just out.
side Of the city of York. A bronze tab
let bearing the following inscription ap.
pears on the monument:
"The York Imperial Apple was first
propagated about 1920 in this field BY
Jonathan Jessop. 1t is the most widely
known variety of Pennsylvania origin
and has contributed largely to the horti-
cultural prosperity of the state. A
tribute by The State Horticultural Asso-
citation Of Pennsylvania, 1920"
The early history Of the original tree
makes an interesting story. The variety
bearing this name originated early in the
present century on farm adjoining
what was then borough of York, Pa,
The attention of the owner, Mr.. John
son, was attracted to the tree by the
presence of schoolboys (trust them TO
discover good Variety who visited ii
in early spring to get the apples hat had
passed the winter on the ground, COW
cred by leaves. On securing some OF
the fruit he found 1t in fine condition,
and when the next crop was ripe took
specimens to Jonathan Jsssop, a local
nurserymsn, who began the propagation
Of the variety before 1880, under the
name of "Johnson's Fine Winter"
Under this name it was known until
after the middle of the century when,
after an inspection of specimens, the
late Charles Downing pronounced 1t the
"Impsrial of keepers" and suggested
that it be named "York Imperial"
Mr.. Jessop did not fiud ready sale for
trees of the variety at first, aud dumped
the surplus trees from his nursery into
q hollow beside the turnpike passing his
place. They were picked up by farmers
returning from market and taken home
for planting on their farms in the lower
end Of York county.
After it's merit as variety for market
orchards was established, IL became
widely distributed throughout Penpsyl-
vsnis, Maryland and Virginia, and soou
became a leading market variety in
those states. So far as known, the varie-
ty was first described In print by DR.. W.
D. Brinckle in 1858
Specimens of II were exhibited at the
meeting of the Ohio State Pathological
Society In 1856, but it does not seem to
have become generally popular west of
the Allegheny Mountains until much
later. Since about 1880 1t has been
widely disseminated through the Middle
Western states, aud has become one of
the leading market varieties of that
region.