Roxbury Russet.
BOSTON RUSSET.—PUTNAM RUSSET.
Fig. 135.—ROXBURY RUSSET.
This standard apple is perhaps as widely known and as much admired as any other in the catalogue. It was brought to the West by different routes—by the Ohio River and by the lakes—and has been universally distributed. Those brought to the mouth of the Muskingum River, and propagated by Mr. Putnam, had the name changed to that of the Marietta and the Putnam Russet; and at the same time the appearance of the fruit was so altered by increase in the russeting, that it was long thought to be a different variety, until the question was at length settled by interchange of grafts; and when these fruited the identity was proved.
It is claimed that more money has been realized from this than from any other variety, though, on the Ohio River, the Rome Beauty is considered to be equally profitable. The popularity of this Russet is on the wane, however, as it is very subject to attacks of the Codling-moth, which makes it fall, and because it is apt to ripen too early in the season in southern locations and on limestone soils. Hence its value as a keeping apple is diminished.
Tree robust, vigorous, spreading; Shoots stout, straggling, dark; Foliage gray-green.
Fruit large, oblate, often lop-sided at the West, frequently angular, sometimes conic and truncated; Surface overspread with heavy brown russet in the South, but green, often bronzed, and with partial light russet at the north of latitude 41°; Dots minute, scattered.
Basin regular or wavy, green, often folded; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity regular, pointed; Stem medium, curved.