AKIN.

REFERENCES. 1. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234. 2. Riehl, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1897:137. 3. Taylor, U. S. Dept. Agr. Yr. Bk., 1903:268. col. pl. 4. Ill. State Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890.

SYNONYMS.¹ Akin Red, Akin Seedling, Akin's Seedling, Aikin's Red, Aiken, Aken—not "Aiken's Winter" of Downing which is a crab of Minnesota origin. (3). Akin's Red. (4).

When the Akin is well developed it is a beautiful, dark red, winter apple of pretty good quality. It appears to be specially adapted for fancy trade and for dessert use. Although it has not been sufficiently tested to determine its value for cultivation in New York, it promises to be hardy, healthy and reliably productive. It seems to be best suited to more southern localities, but it has usually developed well at Geneva, although in occasional seasons its fruit has not attained good color here. With ordinary care the fruit does not average much above medium size. In ordinary storage it keeps well till midwinter and in cold storage till March or later. It is sufficiently promising to be worthy of testing for commercial purposes.

Historical. Taylor gives an excellent account of the origin of the Akin (3) from which it appears that the original tree was grown from seed brought from Tennessee and planted in 1831 near Lawrenceville, Ill., on the farm now owned by W. J. Akin. It was first propagated for sale in 1868. Mr. Akin exhibited it in December, 1890, at the Cairo meeting of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, where it was awarded first premium both as a "Seedling" and a "New Variety good enough to be recommended." Taylor says (3), "It has now been fruited in several states, and is one of the most promising of the recently introduced sorts for the apple growers who desire a variety well adapted to the needs of the fancy trade in the larger cities. It succeeds well in the Middle West and in the winter apple districts of the Allegheny Mountain region, and is worthy of thorough test on rich, warm soils in the northern apple districts from New York westward."

TREE.

Tree upright, becoming somewhat spreading, dense, medium in size, moderately vigorous. Branches long, moderately stout. Twigs long, straight, stocky, with thick tips; internodes short to medium in length. Bark olive-green varying to dull purplish-brown, largely covered with a gray pubescence that becomes thicker and heavier towards the tips. Lenticels numerous, conspicuous, oblong or roundish, raised. Buds medium size, obtuse, broad appressed, quite pubescent. Leaves large, broad.

¹ Numbers in parentheses designate authors or publications cited in the preceding list. This plan is followed with all of the formal descriptions given in this report.

FRUIT.

Fruit usually medium or above, sometimes large. Form oblate to roundish oblate, often irregular, slightly ribbed, sides sometimes unequal. Fairly uniform in size and shape. Stem medium to long, slender. Cavity obtuse, broad, rather shallow to deep, often distinctly furrowed, not often russeted. Calyx small to medium, usually closed. Basin medium in width and depth, usually somewhat abrupt, somewhat furrowed and corrugated. Skin tough, smooth, rather attractive yellow, blushed and striped with bright deep red; in well colored specimens almost completely red. Dots small, whitish or with russet point, sometimes conspicuous in contrast with the dark red skin. Prevailing effect attractive bright red with contrasting clear yellow or greenish-yellow. Calyx tube conical, sometimes approaching funnel-form. Stamens median. Core abaxile, medium, open or partly closed; core lines meeting. Carpels elliptical or approaching roundish obcordate, slightly emarginate. Seeds moderately dark brown, long, rather narrow, acute, numerous. Flesh whitish, slightly tinged with yellow, rather crisp, moderately coarse, moderately tender, very juicy, sprightly subacid, aromatic, good to very good for dessert.

Season January to June.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

AKIN. Fig. 5. Akin Red.

Akin is a handsome dark red, late winter-apple of medium size and very good quality. It is adapted to southern regions, though the fruits usually mature as far north as central New York. It succeeds best in the Middle West and on rich warm soils. Akin is especially adapted to the needs of the fancy fruit trade. The variety originated from seed planted near Lawrenceville, Illinois, in 1831 by W. J. Akin.

Tree upright-spreading, dense, vigorous; branches long, stout. Leaves large, broad. Fruit medium, round-oblate, often irregular, slightly ribbed, sides sometimes unequal; stem long, slender; cavity obtuse, broad, shallow, often distinctly furrowed and corrugated; skin tough, smooth, yellow, blushed and striped with bright deep red, in well-colored specimens almost completely red; dots small, white; calyx-tube conical; stamens median; core abaxile, open or partly closed; core-lines meeting; carpels elliptical, emarginate; seeds dark brown, long, narrow, acute, numerous; flesh yellow, crisp, coarse, tender, very juicy, subacid, aromatic; good to very good; January to June.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

A yellow apple almost or entirely covered with bright red—a seedling of Milam. Flesh is yellow, firm, juicy, sub-acid, and of excellent quality; keeps well in cold storage. Tree exceedingly compact and upright in growth; is hardy, healthy, and reliable. Late coming into bearing, but bears regularly and heavily; adapted for fancy trade and for dessert. Bayard is another seedling of Milam and probably the better apple of the two—making friends everywhere. Some of the finest specimens are coming from New York. NCS

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)