ARCTIC.

REFERENCES. 1. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 8:347. 1889. 2. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1896:70. 3. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bui., 61:29. 1897. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:15. 5. Beach, W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1900:34. 6. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:286. 1901. 7. Me. Sta. Rpt., 1902:83, 89, 95, 96. 8. Budd-Hansen, 1903:39. 9. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bui., 48:36. 1903.

SYNONYMS. None.

One of the most valuable characteristics of the Arctic is its ability to endure cold climates. It has probably been planted more extensively in Northern New York, New England and Canada than in any other regions. It is reported as being pretty hardy in Central Iowa where the climate is too severe for Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening and other varieties of a similar grade of hardiness. Munson (7) states that it is worthy of trial where Baldwin will not succeed. The tree is vigorous. In some districts it has the reputation of being productive, in others it is called a shy bearer. The fruit is very attractive, mild subacid, good but not high in quality. It somewhat resembles Baldwin in size and color, but is more oblate, and the skin is of a somewhat lighter and brighter red than that of Baldwin. The cavity is often marked with outspreading rays of reddish or green russet as in the Baldwin. The dots are round, scattering, whitish, often areolar and not elongated in the region of the cavity as they often are on the Baldwin. It does not keep so well as the Hubbardston. In Western New York its season may extend from October to February, but when grown farther north is later (6, 7). In some parts of Northern New York it is being grafted over to other sorts. Waugh (6) states that this is also being done in the Isle La Motte region of Vermont, nevertheless he believes it will be grown there in moderate quantities for years to come.

Historical. The Arctic was introduced by Mr. O. K. Gerrish, now of Lakeville, Mass. He states that it originated as a chance seedling in a garden near Cape Vincent, N. Y., about 1862. About 1887 he bought the tree from Mr. John H. Esseltyne on whose farm it was growing. After taking propagating wood from it, he destroyed the tree to prevent theft of scions.

TREE. Tree a moderate grower with long, moderately stout branches. Form spreading and open somewhat like Tompkins King. Twigs short, stocky; internodes medium length; slightly pubescent near tips. Bark dark reddish-brown, streaked and mottled with thin scarf-skin. Lenticels scattering, conspicuous, medium to large, roundish to somewhat elongated, raised. Buds medium to large, broad, obtuse, flat, free, pubescent. Leaves large, dark green, broad and rather thick.

FRUIT. Fruit above medium to large. Form oblate, sometimes roundish conic, often faintly ribbed; pretty uniform in size and shape. Stem short and rather thick to medium. Cavity moderately shallow to rather deep, broad, usually symmetrical or slightly furrowed, and having outspreading rays of red or green russet. Calyx medium to rather large; segments broad, obtuse, closed or partly open. Basin abrupt, medium to wide and deep, often compressed or slightly furrowed and corrugated. Skin nearly smooth, slightly roughened by the light russet or whitish dots; deep yellow or greenish-yellow, often almost wholly covered with a bright red obscuring the stripes of deeper red. Calyx tube short, conical varying to funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium, axile or nearly so; cells closed or partly open; core lines clasping the cylinder of the tube. Carpels broadly roundish to nearly obcordate, emarginate, slightly tufted. Seeds often abortive; when normally developed they are medium to rather large, flat, obtuse, sometimes slightly tufted, dark. Flesh somewhat tinged with yellow, firm, moderately coarse, crisp, juicy, mild subacid, good in quality.

Uses. Adapted rather for market and culinary uses than for dessert. Season October to February or later.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

Arctic.— Origin, Cape Vincent, New York; tree a strong, upright grower and early bearer. Fruit large, regular, roundish oblate, often distinctly angular, or five-sided in large specimens; surface dark solid red, obscurely marbled and mixed, a little yellow ground-color on shady side, with delicate bloom; dots distinct, few, gray; cavity regular, wide, obtuse, with some radiating green or russet; stem short, stout; basin rather shallow, abrupt, somewhat irregular; calyx closed; segments flat convergent. Core small, closed; cells ovate, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens basal; seeds plump; flesh yellow, firm, moderately juicy, crisp, mild subacid, good. Midwinter.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

ARCTIC. Arctic, as the name implies, is an apple for cold climates, much hardier than Baldwin or Northern Spy, but not so hardy as several of the Russian apples. The trees are vigorous, healthy, and usually productive; but the fruit, while pleasing in appearance, is far from good in quality. Arctic originated as a seedling on the farm of John H. Esseltyne, Cape Vincent, New York, about 1862.

Tree a moderate grower, spreading and open, with long, stout branches. Leaves large, dark green, broad and thick. Fruit large, oblate, sometimes round-conic, often faintly ribbed, uniform in size and shape; stem short and thick; cavity shallow, broad, usually symmetrical or furrowed and having outspreading rays of red or green-russet; calyx large, segments broad, obtuse, closed; basin abrupt, wide and deep, often compressed or furrowed and corrugated; skin smooth, slightly roughened by light russet or white dots, deep yellow almost wholly covered with bright red obscuring stripes of deeper red; calyx-tube short, conical; stamens median; core medium, axile; cells closed or partly open; core-lines clasping; carpels broadly round to obcordate emarginate, tufted; seeds often abortive, large, flat, obtuse, sometimes tufted, dark; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, crisp, juicy, mild subacid; good in quality; October to February.

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