BAXTER.

REFERENCES. 1. Ont. Fr. Gr. Assn., 1881:92. 2. Ib., 1882:83. 3. Bridge, Can. Hort., 1884:59. 4. Woolverton, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1889:155. 5. Nicol, Ont. Fr. Gr. Assn., 1891:89. 6. Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:287. 1901.

SYNONYMS. BAXTER'S RED (3). La Rue (3). Red Pound (3).

A large red apple decidedly attractive in appearance. Some see in it a resemblance to Tompkins King, but there is more evidence of a relationship with the Blue Pearmain group of apples. This is seen in the form and color of the fruit, the bloom, the areolar dots and the character of the flesh. It does not rank high in quality. In the St. Lawrence valley it is said to be a strong grower, hardy, productive and not subject to the scab. It is there regarded as a desirable apple to grow for commercial purposes. At Geneva it has proved vigorous and productive, but because it is inferior in quality to other varieties of its season, such as Tompkins King, McIntosh and Hubbardston, it is doubtful whether Baxter is worthy of a place in the commercial orchards of Western and Southern New York.

Origin. It was known near Brockville, Canada, one hundred years or more ago. It gradually found its way into nurseries and within the last twentyfive years has been quite extensively propagated (3).

TREE.

Tree productive, very vigorous; branches long, medium stout. Form upright spreading, open. Twigs medium to long, straight, rather stout, thick at the tips; internodes medium, to long. Bark clear brownish-red streaked with olive-green; pubescent. Lenticels rather numerous, conspicuous, small, sometimes large, round, raised. Buds moderately prominent, imbedded in the bark, acute, appressed. Leaves large, broad.

FRUIT.

Fruit large to very large. Form roundish to conic flattened at the base or varying to somewhat oblong, often faintly ribbed, somewhat irregular, sides often unequal and also often compressed; axis sometimes oblique. Stem usually short. Cavity large, deep, acute, broad, usually partly russeted, often somewhat furrowed. Calyx small to above medium, sometimes closed or partly open. Basin often oblique, moderately shallow to rather deep, rather narrow to wide, obtuse to moderately abrupt, slightly furrowed, corrugated, sometimes compressed. Skin thick, tough, slightly roughened by russet dots; pale yellow or whitish largely mottled and blushed with rather bright red often deepening to purplish shades characteristic of the Blue Pearmain group, distinctly splashed and striped with purplish-red. Dots numerous, conspicuous, areolar, whitish or with russet point. A bluish bloom gives the skin a rather dull appearance but when polished it is bright and glossy. Highly colored specimens show but little of the yellow ground color. Prevailing effect attractive red or striped red. Calyx tube large, elongated, cone-shape or funnel-form. Stamens medium to marginal. Core medium, usually abaxile, open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels roundish varying to elongated ovate, slightly emarginate, tufted. Seeds numerous, below medium, rather wide, plump, obtuse, tufted, dark brown.

Flesh yellowish, sometimes stained with red, firm, breaking, rather coarse, tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid, slightly aromatic, fair to good.

Season November to January.

Baxter's Pearmain of Downing, p. 89 and of Hogg, p. 16 is distinct from Baxter above described.

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

BAXTER. Baxter's Red. Red Pound. The bluish bloom, large areolar dots, large size, form, color, and the flesh and flavor of the fruits of Baxter, all indicate close relationship to Blue Pearmain. In quality, the apples are only fair, but immunity to fungi and the great hardiness of the trees make the variety desirable in regions too cold for Baldwin or Northern Spy. Baxter came into local repute at Brockville, Ontario, about 1800.

Tree productive, very vigorous, upright-spreading, open; branches long, stout. Leaves large. Fruit large to very large, round-conic, faintly ribbed, sides often unequal, axis sometimes oblique; stem short; cavity large, deep, acute, partly russeted, furrowed; calyx small, closed or partly open; basin oblique, shallow to deep, narrow, obtuse, furrowed, corrugated; skin thick, tough, roughened by russet dots, pale yellow mottled and blushed with bright red deepening to darker shades, splashed and striped with purplish-red; dots numerous, conspicuous, areolar; bloom heavy; prevailing effect red or striped red; calyx-tube large, elongated, funnel-form; stamens median to marginal; core abaxile, open; core-lines clasping; carpels elongated-ovate, emarginate, tufted; seeds numerous, small, wide, plump, obtuse, tufted, dark brown; flesh yellow, sometimes stained with red, firm, breaking, coarse, tender, juicy, mild, subacid, aromatic; fair to good; November to January.

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

Planted Spring 1892. Tree a strong grower. Fruit large, oblong, tapering to eye. Skin green, nearly covered with dark red. Flesh yellowish, crisp, moderately juicy and pleasant, sub-acid, quality good. Season November.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)