BS: Apples on the Trackside

Subject: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: GUEST,Sapper on the TRU, still on the Chilter Line
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:34 AM

One thing very noticable on the trackside at this time of year are the number of apple trees, usually well laden with fruit.
Nearly always originating from apple cores slung in the trackside by long ago platelayers, amongst the odd few I've had the chance to sample have been some supurb varieties.
I wonder how many are actual recognised varieties and how many are not?

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:44 AM

I noticed quite a few beside the M1 last year about this time too.
I wished I could stop and harvest some.
G

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:47 AM

The overland section of the Central line between Noth Acton and Greenford has an amazing number of apple trees along it - often wish I could get out and bag a couple of pounds...

Apple cores were the one piece of rubbish my granfer would allow us to throw in the verges or hedgerows, everything else had to be taken home and disposed of, but applecores were alright. We had many minutes of fun lobbing them out of the back of the van or off the tractor, into the hedges.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: maeve
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:28 AM

Any of the apple trees you see that are grown from seed will definately not be named varieties, for each seed grows a new variety. You'd only get one of the named apple varieties if someone grafted scions from a known variety, whether the original seed-grown tree or another grafted from the original tree. Having said that, those seeded trees can be amazing new apple varieties in their own right.

Here in the eastern States we've had an amazing fruiting year, as well! I'd say it is the best in 20 years. We have been harvesting apples from ancient grafted trees as well as seed-grown trees. Even Sinsull's trees (here in Maine) were full, and she kindly offered them to me for our cider press. A neighbor has offered his old Ramsdell Sweet tree for "adoption" as well.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: maeve
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 07:12 AM

If it wouldn't be an annoying drift from the original poster's intent, I'd love to know what apple varieties you remember from years ago, as well as your favorites today. I'm happy to start a new thread for that purpose, if you'd rather.

maeve, preparing to try out our enormous cider press

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: open mike
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 12:13 AM

wow a cider press! will you do scrumpy?
here we have a good year too.
i just canned a batch (*7 quarts)
and got the apples from 4 different trees.
red, gold, green and yellow.

a rainbow of apples! i should have made seperate batches
and layered them into the jars for a special effect, but
was lucky just to get them into jars.

we have a town near here that celebrates Johnny Appleseed
days but i do not think they give full credit that the seeds
he sowed came from Cider presses--and i believe it was HARD
cider that they were making. John Chapman was a legendary
early American.
http://www.paradisedirect.com/paradise/appleday.html
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/geneology/johnnyappleseed.html

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: maeve
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 12:22 PM

Apple Day in Maine and England is this Saturday!

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 07:39 PM

My apple tree was done making fruit back in July but the crab apple lasted until September.

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Oct 07 - 11:46 PM

Went to an old farm turned into a historic museum in Southern Virginia last weekend, and watched them making apple butter the old way.
The problem was finding enough apples for the demo, as it has been way too dry this year.

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: dulcimer42
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 03:23 PM

When I was a kid in Michigan, I loved what we called "Snow" apples. I remember their thin skin and their bright white insides, with a trace of pink running through the white.   I have never seen them here in Indiana.

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:14 AM

This thread reminded me that there is a historical tree organization here in the USA that sells seedling that have been grown either from seeds or from cuttings of famous trees. You can get an apple tree that is the offspring of some of the Johnny Appleseed Apple Orchard trees as well as seedlings grown from cuttings of famous trees from Civil War battlefields, from Presidential homesteads or from trees associated with other historical persons.

The trees run about $30 each and make for unusual wedding presents or gifts to people who have just had a child or purchased a new home. We sent a Gettysburg battlefield tree to some friends of ours once and they loved it.

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:25 AM

Here it is:

Johnny Appleseed Apple Tree

>>Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman and was a very industrious man, planting millions of apple trees during his lifetime. His work was important to the new settlers moving West after the American Revolution - apples were a vital staple to many families. The last known living apple tree planted by Johnny still grows on an old farm in Nova, Ohio . The farm dates back to an original Land Grant signed by John Quincy Adams in 1837. We take soft bud cuttings from the tree, graft them to apple root stock and offer you the opportunity to sink your teeth into a piece of American history! <<

You can even request a catalog:
HistoricTrees.Org

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: mrdux
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:41 AM

are you referring to American Forests Historic Tree Co.? they're an environmental non-profit org. the website is definitely worth a visit.

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 01:56 AM

Yes Mrdux - my link should take you there

Subject: RE: BS: Apples on the Trackside
From: mrdux
Date: 23 Oct 07 - 02:04 AM

thanks (we must have cross posted there).