Promising New Fruits 1910

by William A. Taylor
Pomologist and Assistant Chief, Bureau of Plant Industry

LOWRY APPLE
(synonyms: Lowry Seedling, Dixie, Mosby’s Best, Mosby’s Best Red Winter)
PLATE XXXIII

The original tree of the Lowry apple stood on a farm owned by Mr. John Lowry, 3 miles south of Afton, VA. It appears to have been first propagated about 1880 by Mr. John Wright of Avon, VA. It was known locally at this period under the name Lowry, or Lowry Seedling. About 1890 Mr. Wright furnished scions to Mr. Elisha Robertson who operated a nursery at Yancey Mills, VA. Mr. Robertson gave it the name Dixie about 1895, and appears to have been the first to propagate it commercially. After Mr. Robertson’s death it was propagated by Mr. A.F. Mosby and by him named Mosby’s Best.

The original tree died about ten years ago, having become weakened, it is said, by the excessive cutting of grafts from it.

PAYNE PEACH
(synonym: Highland Beauty)
PLATE XXXV

The original tree of this variety developed in 1901 as a sprout from the stock of a St. John peach tree broken off below the point of budding in the orchard of E.B. Payne & Sons, near Cloverdale, Barry County, Michigan.

The tree that developed from this sprout bore its first crop when it was 3 years old. It was first called Highland Beauty in correspondence and when exhibited, but it does not appear to have been described under that name. It was described as Payne by Fletcher in 1910.

It was first propagated in 1907 by E.B. Payne & Sons for their own planting.

This variety, though not yet tested in other than its original locality, is considered promising for test in northern peach-growing districts.

FAMILY AVOCADO
PLATE XXXVIII

The original tree of the Family avocado was found by Prof. P.H. Rolfs, now director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, on a place at Buena Vista near Miami, Florida, which came into his possession in 1902. The age of the tree at that time is uncertain, but it was probably 5 or 6 years old.

It was first propagated for experimental purposes at the Subtropical Laboratory of the Bureau of Plant Industry at Miami in 1904, and has since been quite widely distributed for testing. The name “Family” was given it about the time that it was first propagated in 1904.

It has the rather unusual habit of ripening its fruit over a period of 8 to 10 weeks. It was because of this peculiarity that the name “Family” was selected for it by Professor Rolfs, it being well adapted to the supplying of fruit for family use.

CECIL MANGO
PLATE XXXIX

The interest in the mango in Florida has now continued for a sufficient time to begin to bring to light some good seedlings grown from seed of choice imported sorts. One of the most promising thus far is the Cecil, which originated at Miami, Florida.

In 1902 about 200 mango fruits of the “Philippine” type were received by Mr. S.A. Belcher of Miami, Florida, from some point in Cuba. The seeds of these fruits were planted in pots and later about 100 trees which grew there from were transplanted to permanent places on Mr. Belcher’s homestead.

The tree to which later the name “Cecil” was given bore a few fruits for the first time when it was 5 years of age. It was named in the spring of 1908, after the unusual merits of the fruit had become apparent.