ARKANSAS.

REFERENCES. 1. Van Deman, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1891:123. 2. Babcock, Amer. Gard., 1891:118. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234, 244. 4. Babcock, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1895:190. 5. Amer. Gard., 1895:419. 6. Stinson, Ark. Sta. Bul., 43:103. 1896. 7. Amer. Gard., 1896:29, 65, 146, 152, 210, 306. 8. Watts, Tenn. Sta. Bul., 9:24. 1896. fig. 9. U. S. Pom. Bul., 6:9. 1897. 10. Stinson, Ark. Sta. Bul., 49:5, 7. 1898. figs. of trees and fruit. 11. Powell, Del. Sta. Bul., 38:19. 1898. fig. 12. Stinson, Ark. Sta. Bul., 60:124. 1899. 13. N. C. Bd. of Agr. Apple Bul., 1900:9. 14. Alwood, Va. Sta. Bul., 130:127. 1901. 15. Stinson, Mo. State Fruit Sta. Bul., 3:26. 1902. 16. Budd-Hansen, 1903:39. fig. 17. Thomas, 1903:322, 690, 708.

SYNONYMS. ARKANSAW (4, 10, 12). Arkansaw (16). MAMMOTH BLACK TWIG (6). Mammoth Black Twig (9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16). PARAGON (erroneously) (1). ARKANSAS BLACK and Arkansas Black Twig (17) but erroneously.

The Arkansas is a late keeping winter apple, rather large, of good red color, and good quality. It is not a desirable variety for growing in New York state because it is not sufficiently productive and because in this northern latitude the seasons are not always favorable to the proper development of its fruit. It keeps later than the Baldwin but it is inferior to that variety in productiveness and also in the color and quality of its fruit.

During the last quarter century Arkansas has been quite extensively planted in the South and Southwest, but even as grown in these regions, the variety has not been satisfactory in commercial orchards because it is a shy bearer.

Arkansas and Paragon resemble each other so closely that at one time many regarded these two varieties as identical, and, in consequence, the stock of the two kinds became badly mixed in nurseries and orchards. Arkansas Black is decidedly distinct from Arkansas both in tree and fruit. Sometimes these two varieties have been erroneously listed as identical (17). This mistake doubtless arose because of the similarity of the two names, rather than from any marked resemblance between the varieties.

Historical. Arkansas was grown from seed (4, 10) planted about 1833 near Rhea Mills, Arkansas, where the original tree still stands. It bears a marked resemblance to the Winesap of which it is said to be a seedling (4). Nurserymen began to propagate it about 1868. In succeeding years it became pretty generally disseminated in Arkansas and surrounding states. As previously stated, this variety has been confused with the Paragon, an apple of Tennessee origin which it much resembles. It is now conceded that Paragon and Arkansas are two distinct varieties (4, 7, 8, 9, 10).

TREE. Tree rather large, vigorous; branches large, crooked, stout. Form upright spreading, rather open. Twigs medium to long, sometimes drooping, somewhat curved, thick; internodes short. Bark very dark brownish-red with some dull olive-green, thickly mottled with thin gray scarf-skin; somewhat pubescent toward the tips. Eventually it becomes almost black. Lenticels scattering, rather conspicuous, mostly roundish, medium or sometimes small, often slightly raised. Buds somewhat pubescent; towards the tip and base of the twig they are appressed and often obtuse, but on the intermediate portion they stand out prominently and are large, broad, plump, acute, free. Foliage rather dense; leaves medium to large, often broad. The mature young twigs of Arkansas much resemble those of Paragon but they are somewhat darker and stockier. The mature Paragon twigs have comparatively more of a reddish-brown tinge.

FRUIT. Fruit large to medium, pretty uniform in size. Form roundish inclined to conic, sometimes slightly oblate, broadly ribbed, pretty uniform in shape. Stem long to almost short, rather stout. Cavity acute, rather wide, medium in depth, green, often much russeted, sometimes indistinctly furrowed. Calyx small to medium, usually closed. Basin rather abrupt, rather wide, moderately deep, broadly furrowed or wavy. Skin nearly smooth, dull green, often becoming good deep yellow, largely overspread with a dull deep red, obscurely striped with darker red. Dots generally small, russet, inconspicuous; sometimes medium and whitish. Calyx tube medium, conical, sometimes funnel-form. Stamens median to nearly basal. Core usually axile, usually closed; core lines slightly clasping. Carpels broadly ovate, deeply emarginate, tufted; not always well developed. Seeds few and variable, not always well developed; if plump they are long, rather narrow, acute, tufted. Flesh tinged with yellow, very firm, moderately fine-grained, rather tender, moderately juicy, subacid, crisp, good.

Season December to May.

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

Arkansas (Arkansaw, Mammoth Black Twig).—Origin, the Wm. Crawford farm, Rhea's Mill, Arkansas, from seeds planted in 1833 or 1834. The true Paragon originated in Tennessee, and for a time the two varieties were thought to be identical.

Fruit large, very regular, roundish, conical; surface greenish yellow, mostly covered with solid dark to black red on sunny side; dots distinct, numerous, mostly minute, whitish; cavity regular, obtuse, large stellate russet patch; stem very short; basin shallow, nearly smooth; calyx closed; segments connivent. Core clasping, half open; cells obovate, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal; seeds rather few, short, plump; flesh yellow with yellow veinings, firm, juicy, subacid, very good. Winter. The cut is of an undersized specimen, but typical as to shape.

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

ARKANSAS. Mammoth Black Twig. Arkansas Black.

Arkansas is a large, dull, deep red, striped, late-keeping winter-apple of good quality, much grown in the South and Southwest. In the North the fruits are usually small, poorly colored, and otherwise undeveloped. North and South, the trees are unproductive. Arkansas was grown from a seed planted in 1833 near Rhea Mills, Arkansas. It resembles Winesap, of which it may be a seedling, and Paragon, to which it is similar. It is often confused with Arkansas Black because of similarity in name.

Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading; branches large, crooked, stout, open. Fruit large, uniform in size, round to conic, sometimes oblate, broadly ribbed, uniform in shape; stem long or short, stout; cavity acute, wide, medium in depth, green, often much russeted, sometimes indistinctly furrowed; calyx small, closed; basin abrupt, wide, deep, broadly furrowed or wavy; skin smooth, dull green, often becoming deep yellow, overspread with a dull deep red, obscurely striped with darker red; dots small, russet, inconspicuous; calyx-tube conical; stamens median; core axile, closed; core-lines clasping; carpels broadly ovate, deeply emarginate, tufted; seeds few, variable, long, narrow, acute, tufted; flesh yellow, very firm, fine-grained, tender, juicy, subacid, crisp; good; December to May.

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