America’s (Second) Most Favorite Fruit
The
apple used to be America’s favorite fruit (it is the banana, today). But we
still love our old-fashioned Winesap, modern Fuji and Mutsu (synonym Crispin),
and newer Honey Crisp. Gourmet produce markets may offer a dozen varieties. But
a century ago, you might have been able to find 100 different cultivars. That
is still a small number considering there may be a few thousand rare and
unusual kinds still out there.
This week’s guest is
John Trexler, Executive Director of the Worcester County Horticultural Society,
which is one of the oldest such organizations in the country. We talk about
some of John’s favorites among the 119 varieties growing in the Davenport
Collection at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts. Not only
does Tower Hill grow pre-twentieth century apples, they also sell scion wood –
live twigs — in late winter. If you know how to graft, or hope to learn, you
can buy uncommon apple varieties for your own backyard orchard, as John says,
“with five different varieties on one tree.”
The Apple Scion variety
order form is available from Tower Hill.
Click on the small black arrow at the left on the bar below to start
listening, or click on the MP3 link to download the show into Windows
Media Player or iTunes: