RAULES' JANET.

Paul's Gennetting, Jennette, Rock-Rimmon, Rawl's Janet, Jeniton, Neverfail, Winter Gennetting, Raules' Janette, Yellow Janette, Rock Remain, Rawle's Jenaette, Indiana Jannetting.

This variety, according to H. P. Byram, Esq., was first brought to the South-western sections, from Amherst Co., Va., near the Blue Ridge, where it was originated by Caleb Raules, who named it Janet, hence the name. According to Geo. Hoadley, Esq., Gov. Worthington had it in his orchard 40 years since, and from thence it was brought to northern Ohio. The Scriptural name of Rock-Rimmon, given it in the Sciota valley, was probably on account of its sure bearing, and long keeping qualities. The tree is tardy in Spring in leaving out, and blossoms some ten days after other varieties; thus escaping late Spring frosts. In quality it is only second rate, and at the North is not desirable, but south of Cincinnati is highly so, as it succeeds when many others often fail. In Missouri it is regarded as essential to every orchard.

Fruit, medium to large; form, roundish conical, flattened at stem end; skin, thick, tough; color, a ground of light pale yellowish green, mostly overspread, striped and stained with dull red, and with a blue or grayish shade lying within as of a bloom: small russet dots, that show most when the fruit is high colored — South, many patches of mould or fungus; stem, slender, rather long; cavity, deep, regular; calyx, nearly closed, short segments; basin, open, regular, not deep, sometimes slightly furrowed near the calyx; flesh, yellowish, tender, mild sub-acid; core, medium; seeds, angular ovate. Late Spring.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Rawle's Janet. JANETTING OR GENETON — NEVER FAIL — ROCK RIMMON, ETC., ETC.

This famous southern apple has been spread throughout the West, and even the Northwest where, however, it has not proved hardy. It also has the fault of over-bearing, when the fruit is often small and insipid. In suitable soils it is very fine and deservedly a favorite with planters, some of whom recommend fifty trees of this variety in an orchard of one hundred. Origin Virginia.

Tree thrifty, not large, spreading; Twigs brownish, foliage medium, rather whitish. Blossoms appear later than other sorts, and thus they sometimes escape a spring frost.

Fruit medium, sometimes large when thinned, flattened, conic, regular; Surface smooth, mixed and striped crimson on yellow and green; Dots numerous, small.

Basin wide, regular; Eye small, closed; Segments reflexed.

Cavity acute, deep, regular, brown; Stem long, curved.

Core regular, heart-shaped, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellowish, crisp, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, vinous, refreshing; Quality good to very good; Use, dessert, kitchen, market and cider; Season, February, March, and later.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Rawle's Janet.

Missouri Janet ? Rock Remain. Jennett. Red Neverfail ? Rock Rimmon. Neverfail. Rawle's Jannet. Yellow Janett. Indiana Jannetting. Rawle's Jannetting. Winter Jannetting. Rawle's Gennetting. Rawle's Genet. Jeniton.

Originated in Amherst Co., Va., on the farm of Caleb Rawle. Tree hardy, vigorous, spreading; it puts forth its leaves and blossoms much later than other varieties in the spring, and consequently avoids injury by late frost; it is, therefore, particularly valuable for the South and Southwest, where it is much cultivated. Young wood clear reddish brown.

Fruit rather large, oblate conic, yellowish, shaded with red and striped with crimson. Stalk short and thick, inserted in a broad open cavity. Calyx partially open, set in a rather shallow basin. Flesh whitish yellow, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good to very good. February to June. So far has not succeeded well at the North.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Ralls Genet—(Janet, Neverfail, Jeniton)—Origin, Amherst county, Virginia, on the farm of Caleb Rall; tree vigorous, spreading, very productive. It puts forth leaves and blossoms much later than other varieties and thus escapes late frosts—Fruit medium or above, oblate, conic, regular; surface smooth, yellowish green, striped thinly with dull red, mixed red on sunny side; dots distinct, many, minute, white; cavity regular, acuminate; stem medium, stout; basin wide, smooth, shallow; calyx closed, segments connivent. Core closed, clasping, small; cells axile, ovate, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds large, flattened; flesh whitish yellow, tender, juicy, sprightly subacid, very good. Late winter and spring. This is one of the hardier of the old eastern varieties, but not sufficiently so for the north; some near Vermillion, S. D., have done quite well.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

Rall's Genet.* (Rawle's Jenneting. Neverfail, Rockremain.) Medium in size, roundish, approaching oblong or obtuse-conical, often oblique; color pale red, distinct stripes on light yellow ground; stalk half an inch long; flesh nearly white, fine, mild, sub-acid, fine texture, crisp, juicy. Growth slow; a profuse bearer, with a portion of the crop knotty or under size. Keeps through spring. Highly esteemed in the Ohio valley; does not succeed farther North. The blossoms open ten days later than usual, thus sometimes escaping spring frosts; hence the name Neverfail. Hardy far West. Fig. 428. France.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

RALLS.

REFERENCES. 1. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831:22. 2. Kenrick, 1832:59. 3. Mag. Hort., 1:149. 1835. 4. Hovey, Ib., 10:207. 1844. 5. Byram, Horticulturist, 2:19. 1847. fig. 6. Springer, Ib., 2:147. 1847. 7. Ib., 2:291, 388, 483. 1847. 8. Mallinckrott, Ib., 3:369. 1848. 9. Phoenix, Ib., 4:470. 1849. 10. Cole, 1849:136. fig. 11. Thomas, 1849:170. 12. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:63. 1851. 13. Elliott, 1854:100. fig. 14. Downing, 1857:99. 15. Hooper, 1857:75. 16. Mag. Hort., 26:102. 1860. 17. Ib., 27:101. 1861. 18. Ib., 27:262. 1861. 19. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 20. Mag. Hort., 30:162. 1864. 21. Warder, 1867:517. fig. 22. Downing, 1869:321. fig. 23. Howsley, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:74. 24. Fitz, 1872:141, 143, 147, 149, 156, 165, 175, 177. 25. Leroy, 1873:713. 26. Downing, 1881:ii index, app. 27. Barry, 1883:353. 28. Wickson, 1889:248. 29. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 30. Bailey, An. Hort., 1893:242. 31. Ib., 1892:247. 32. Mathews, Ky. Sta. Bul., 50:32. 1894. 33. Taylor, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1895:198. 34. Heiges, Meehan's Monthly, 6:136. 1896. 35. Card, and For., 9:310. 1896. 36. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:95. 1902. 37. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:88. 1902. 38. Stinson, Mo. Fr. Sta. Bul., 3:27. 1902. 39. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:53. 1903. 40. Budd-Hansen, 1903:156. fig. 41. Bruner, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:27. 1903. 42. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:139. 1904. 43. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:10. 1905.

SYNONYMS. Genet (23). Geneton (21, 23). GENITON (8). Geniton (39). GENNETIN (4). Genneting (14). Gennetting (42). Ginct (23). Indiana Jannetting (13, 14, 22). JANET (30). Janet (31, 37, 40, 41, 42). Janetting (21). Jefferson Pippin (23, 26). Jeniton (22, 27, 37, 38). Jennett (14, 22). Jennette (13). Jenniton (42). MISSOURI JANET (18). Missouri Janet? (22). Never Fail (21). Neverfail (4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41, of Ohio 10). RALLS GENET (33, 35, 37, 40, 41). Ralls Genet (39, 42). RALLS JANET (36). Raule Jannet (12). RAULE'S GENET (24). RAULE'S JANET (13, 15). RAULE'S JANETT (5). RAULE'S JANETTE (10). RAULE'S JANNET (14). Raule's Jannette (13). Raule's Jannetting (14, 22). Raule's Jennetting (10). RAUL'S GENNETTING (6, 22). Raul's Gennetting (13). RAWLE'S GENET (23, 24, 26). Rawle's Genet (22). RAWLE'S JANET (9, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38). Rawle's Janet (30, 35). RAWLE'S JANETT (2, 3). RAWLE'S JANNET (11). Rawle's Jannet (22). Rawle's Jennet (8). Rawle's Jenneting (11). Rawle's Jennette (13). Rawl's Janet (13). Red Neverfail? (22). ROCKREMAIN (12). Rockremain (6, 11). Rock Remain (13, 14, 22). Rockrimmon (10). Rock Rimmon (13, 14, 21, 22). Royal Janette (33). Winter Genneting (13). Winter Jannetting (14, 22). Yellow Janette (13). Yellow Janett (14, 22).

Ralls, although a southern variety, often develops pretty good quality when grown as far north as Western New York and Southern Michigan. As grown here it seldom reaches marketable size unless it is thinned and it is rather dull in color being at the best only moderately attractive but It has the merit of being a good keeper and holds its flavor well till late in the season. In ordinary storage it is in season from December to May with April as the commercial limit (42). In districts farther south and west and, generally speaking, throughout the Ben Davis apple regions it produces fruit of superior quality, is generally held in high esteem for home use and has a recognized standing in market. It has there been cultivated extensively either under the common names of Jeniton or Ralls Janet or under some variation of these names. It has also been grown to a limited extent under the names Neverfail and Rock Rimmon. The younger trees frequently bear annually and yield fruit of fairly good size but with increasing age the trees often become biennial or occasional croppers and in bearing years are apt to be so overloaded that the fruit is small. On account of the lateness of its blooming season Ralls frequently sets a good crop of fruit when earlier blooming varieties fail on account of unfavorable weather during the blossoming season. Ralls is but little known among New York fruit growers and is not recommended for planting in this state.

Historical. The first that is definitely known of this variety is that trees of it were growing on the farm of Mr. Caleb Ralls in Amherst county, Virginia, something over a hundred years ago. There is no evidence to show whether it was a local seedling or an importation from some other section. Howsley (23) states that it was brought from France to President Jefferson by M. Genet at that time the minister from that country. This claim does not seem to have been made in print till about one hundred years after the time of its alleged occurrence and as there are no records to verify it, its truth seems problematical. We regard it as probably a Virginia seedling. Spreading from Virginia it has come into more or less common cultivation southward into the Carolinas and Georgia, northward into Southern Michigan and westward across the Mississippi valley to and beyond the Ozarks, but it remains practically unknown among New York fruit growers.

TREE. Tree medium in size, moderately vigorous. Form upright becoming spreading and inclined to droop, dense. Twigs short, curved, moderately stout; internodes short. Bark dull brown mingled with olive-green, lightly mottled with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels numerous, small, oblong, not raised. Buds medium in size, broad, plump, obtuse, free or nearly so, slightly pubescent.

FRUIT. Fruit below medium to above, pretty uniform in size and shape. Form roundish oblate varying to roundish inclined to conic, rather symmetrical. Stem often long and slender. Cavity obtuse to acute, deep, sometimes compressed or somewhat furrowed, often russeted. Calyx small to medium, usually somewhat open. Basin often a little oblique, wide, rather shallow to moderately deep, inclined to abrupt, wrinkled. Skin smooth, yellow or greenish blushed and mottled with pinkish red, indistinctly striped with dull carmine, overspread with a light bloom which together with broken stripes of thin whitish scarf-skin combine to give the fruit a rather dull appearance. Dots numerous, small, whitish or russet. Calyx tube broad cone-shape or frequently funnel-shape. Stamens marginal or nearly so. Core medium in size, axile or slightly abaxile; cells closed or partly open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels rather flat, broadly roundish, emarginate, slightly tufted. Seeds medium or above, narrow, plump, acute, dark. Flesh whitish, firm, moderately fine-grained, crisp, moderately tender, juicy, subacid with a slight mingling of sweet, aromatic, pleasant, very good for dessert.

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

Rawle's Genet (18). Size: large. Form: round. Color: yellow-red. Quality: good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: summer. N. Div.: 25 stations (also reported in another division). C. Div.: 26 stations (also reported in another division). S. Div.: 14 stations (also reported in another division).

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

RALLS. Genet. Geneton. Genneting. Janet. Ralls Genet. Winter Genneting. Ralls is a southern apple, but its good characters have enabled it to gain a foothold in parts of the North and West as well. The apples are not large, nor are they attractive in shape or color; but they are excellent in quality, and this has given the variety high place in the South, particularly in regions where the poorly flavored Ben Davis and York Imperial are the chief commercial apples. The young trees annually bear large crops of apples of fair size, but the old trees are biennial in bearing, and the apples, though borne in great abundance, are small. The variety is noted as one of the latest to bloom, so that it often escapes unfavorable weather at blooming time. The origin of Ralls is not known, but it first came to the notice of fruit-growers about 1800 on the farm of Caleb Ralls, Amherst County, Virginia.

Tree of medium size, vigorous, upright-spreading, inclined to droop, dense. Fruit medium in size, uniform in size and shape, round-oblate or round-conic, symmetrical; stem long and slender; cavity obtuse, deep, sometimes compressed or furrowed, often russeted; calyx small, open; basin often oblique, wide, shallow, abrupt, wrinkled; skin smooth, yellow blushed and mottled with red, indistinctly striped with carmine, overspread with light bloom which with broken stripes of thin scarf-skin gives the fruit a dull appearance; dots numerous, small, white or russet; calyx-tube broad cone-shape; stamens marginal; core axile or abaxile; cells closed or partly open; core-lines meeting or clasping; carpels flat, broadly round, emarginate, tufted; seeds narrow, plump, acute, dark; flesh white, firm, fine-grained, crisp, tender, juicy, subacid, aromatic, pleasant; very good; November to April.

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