Evening star., 1943-10-10

soil and climatic conditions than
ethers. OF the many hundreds of
varieties offered by nurserymen,
most gardeners remember only those
that grew in the orchard back home
No doubt these same varieties are
available today, and perhaps they
will grow in this area. However. it
is wise to inquire and so avoid dis
appointment, as it takes from 5 to
IL years for an apple tree to reach
bearing size when budded on stand
ard rootstocks.
The usual nursery catalogue
makes no reference to adaptability
Nurserymen feature those varieties
in greatest demand which are the
standard commercial varieties.
While most people have learned the
current commercial varieties based
upon experience in purchasing the
fruit In the market, that is no as
surance that the trees will do we'll
in local yards and orchards.
The Grimes Golden that we en-
Joy in the early fall is not always
free from canker, and 1t oftentimes
comes to an untimely end. The
spicy. relocated Mcintosh of New
England usually turns out to be a
dull green with insipid flavor when
grown this far south and at low
elevations. The Bellf1ower and Vel
low Newton (Albemarle Pippin)
need deep, rich soil, such as sell
dom obtains in this area.
But there are hundreds of varie-
ties to choose from. and it is rec
commended that local gardeners con-
tact the University of Maryland or
the Bureau of Plant Industry,
United States Department of Agri-
culture, to learn about their favor
tte varieties. The following varie-
ties, which are only briefly discussed,
are widely grown in local orchards.
They are mainly commercial varie-
ties.
= One of the earliest varieties, Vel
low Transparent, is an old-time IA
vorite with many because the apple
sauce and pies made from it are
tart. The apples usually picked
while still green, are used to make
those green apple" pies. However,
the Yellow Transparent is subject
to fire blight" a destructive dis
ease that seems to be beyond con-
troll. While the disease is not pres
ent every year, when it does come
1t may destroy the entire top of
tree. Similar to the Yellow Trans
parent, the Lodi. which is resistant
to the blight" should be preferred.
Another early variety that is
widely planted on the sander soils
of Maryland and seems to be taking
the place of the Transparent there
Is the Henry Clay In Delaware the
William Early Red is widely plant
ed. 1t is an early variety that is
claSsed AS an eating apple. 1t
seems to do much better than the
old standby, Gravenstein. Other
early varieties occasionally grown
IN this area are the Red Astrachan.
Red June, Starr and Melba.
Following these very early varie-
ties the Oldenburg or Duchess
duchess of Oldenburg) supplies
sauce fruit until such early des-
sert varieties as the Jonathan and
Grimes ripen. The Duchess is
prolific fruiter but is only useful
for cooking, and consequentlv most
home gardeners do not plant it.
The Wealthy is a somewhat better
type, but this seems to be about as
far SN1lth q will
here it does not compare with the
fruit produced by it in New York.
The Delicious, Jonathan and
Grimes Golden are the most COM
monty planted early fall varieties.
The Delicious does we'll here. and
while its fruit is a bit sweet for
some people it is to be found in
nearly all orchards. The Jonathan,
which does very we'll on the better
soils, is desirable variety for eat
ing and cooking. The Grimes
Golden is very popular variety in
this section, although some difficulty
is experienced with crown gall.
However, it is worth trying in the
home orchard.
The Stayman Winesap follows the
Grimes in time Of ripening and is an
excellent variety for this area.
While it is often classed as a late"
variety because it stores fairly well.
the home gardener will probably con-
slider 1t a late fall or early winter
apple. The Golden Delicious ripens
at ABOUT the same time and is an
other hlgh-quality variety. However,
1t is not so successful commercially.
because it is difficult to harvest at
the proper stage of maturity. If
picked too early, the fruit is tough
and lnsipid; when overripe, the fruit
Is mushy, but when picked at the
proper stage, it is crisp -feshed and
OF excellent flavor.
The Wlnesap, frequently called
the Old-Fashioned Winesap. is really
a winter variety. in that it stores
well. 1t is of good quality and is
widely grown both in home and COM
orchards.
The York Imperial. another wide
IMPLANTED Eastern variety, is lack
Ing IN quality and so is seldom rec
commended for the home orchard.
The fruit keeps we'll but lacks in
flavor. For the orchardist who is
in productive variety
for cooking purposes, the York I'm
perial is probably as good variety
as any.
A variety of higher quality than
the York Imperial, but not particu-
larly favored for eating, the Rome
Beauty is recommended especially
for those who want a good baking
apple. 1t keeps very well, and so
belongs in the class of winter varie-
ties.
Considerable prominence has been
given to trees bearing three, five or
more varieties of fruit While some
may consider them curiosities. it
should be noted that they usually
bear we'll due to pollenizat How
ever, unless the grating is carefully
done and some care is taken to in
sure proper growth of the CRAFTS, one
or more of them may be lost.
Standards sized trees grow to good
size and consequently are not gen.
1lv repnr,ofnonioI for o,or