APPLE - Malus pimula

The Oxford Book of Food Plants devotes five pages to the apple, wild and domesticated, a favor it dispenses to no other plant in the book, but then there are indeed thousands of apple varieties alive and well in the world. Not that a stroll through a typical North American supermarket would reflect this. We consumers again are offered only what the commercial apple industry deems to sell us--two indifferent "Delicious" apples, maybe some Granny Smiths and some MacIntoshes. ( And all these are identical and shiny, as if poured from a mold--is this really what we consumers demand?) Even as recent as 40 years ago a visitor to upper New York State could choose from a dozen or more varieties. Concerned seed people, home gardeners and smaller commercial growers may be bringing the old varieties and the choices of taste back to us. Even the names are enticing: May Queen, Coe's Golden Drop, American Mother, Boston Russet and on and on. For the apple is an old, cool country crop, cultivated for over 3000 years and one of the only fruits that would keep in Europe for winter use in older times. Probably originally from the Baltic region, the apple today grows throughout the world, thriving best where it has two winter months in which to rest.

Click image to enlarge.

	1910 postcard promoting the Third National Apple Show
	Early 20th c. photo of apple harvesting

Here are links to a few more delightful apple photos/cards. Click on "back" to return here after viewing the links.

APL 03 Apple Blossom Festival Pins, Washington State

APL 04 1908 postcard, "A Day in the Apple Orchard." (Barrels seem to be stamped Chicago, Ill.)

APL 05 Mechanical apple peeler and corer

APL 06 Metal apple slicer

APL 07 Apple bank--worm pops out and grabs the coin