Bethel

REFERENCES. 1. Hoskins, U. S. Agr. Rpt., 1886:274. 2. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 47:249, 1888. figs. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:235. 4. An. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:15. 5. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rept., 14:288. 1901. 6. Munson, Me. Sta. Bul., 82:83. 1902. 7. Budd-Hansen, 1903:48.

This shows its kinship to the Blue Pearmain in the quality, texture, form, conspicuous dots and color of its fruit. Sometimes it has a rather dull appearance, but it may attain a bright and attractive, though dark red, color. The quality is fairly good. It will not bear rough handling, and is suitable rather for local markets than for shipping long distances. The tree shows a rather weak development of roots in the nursery, but in the orchard becomes moderately vigorous and generally quite productive. It has proved very hardy in Northern New York, and is recommended for planting for home use and local markets in that section and in the more elevated regions of the state, where varieties of the grade of hardiness of Baldwin are apt to show winter injury. In such localities some prefer to grow it on warm soil or sod, to favor the development of better color. It is locally profitable. It is healthy, long-lived and a reliable cropper, usually comes into bearing rather young and bears annually. There is apt to be considerable loss from dropping of the fruit.

Some have thought that it is identical with an apple grown in Northern New York under the name Stone. The two varieties, as we have received them, are certainly distinct, but both belong to the Blue Pearmain group.

Historical. It originated in Bethel, Vermont (1). During the last twenty-five years it has become scattered throughout Northern New York, Northern New England and portions of Canada.

TREE. Tree medium to rather large, moderately vigorous or vigorous. Form round, spreading. Twigs spreading, below medium in length, usually curved, somewhat slender; internodes medium. Bark brownish-red, exceptionally mingled with olive-green, blotched with gray; sparingly pubescent. Lenticels not very conspicuous, moderately abundant, rather small, roundish. Buds rather small, obtuse, appressed, pubescent.

FRUIT. Fruit large. Form roundish, slightly conic, somewhat angular or irregularly elliptical. Stem short, rather slender. Cavity acute to acuminate, deep, rather broad, rather symmetrical, with red russet often outspreading. Calyx pubescent, medium to rather large, partly open or closed; lobes rather narrow, acute. Basin rather shallow to moderately deep, moderately wide, slightly furrowed and wrinkled. Skin thick, tough, smooth; good deep yellow, washed and mottled with red and striped with purplish carmine, becoming very dark red in highly colored specimens. Dots numerous, conspicuous, russet or light, many small, many large and areolar. Prevailing effect somewhat striped. Calyx tube very large, wide, somewhat funnel-shaped with a short cylinder. Stamens median to basal. Core large, somewhat abaxile, open or sometimes closed; core lines somewhat clasping. Carpels broad, roundish ovate, emarginate, tufted. Seeds large, rather wide, long, acute to acuminate, tufted, medium brown. Flesh yellowish, firm, coarse, crisp, moderately tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid, fair to good. Season November to midwinter or possibly March.

Uses. Baking, dessert and local market.

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