Spring Work

This spring,

The Central Wisconsin Apple Rediscovery Project has discovered new apple seedlings on the old farms of William Masters of the town of Weyauwega and the A.S. Bennett orchard. The Project has collected scions from the Masters orchard from 9 apple seedlings! The scions are small but numerous so there should be a few that take. The Project is working on obtaining scions from the overgrown apple trees on the property of A.S. Bennett.

The Central Wisconsin Apple Rediscovery Project has many things planned.

1. Locate any old apple tree roughly over 100 years old and collect scions from the tree(s).
2. Graft scions onto existing trees for better scions.
3. Try out root hormone growth with scions.
4. Plant 60 apple seeds from Maine.
5. Go to mapped known old apple trees and collect scions for re-propagation

Exciting news!
Dan Bussey the orchard manager and historian of the Seed Savers Exchange has been a huge help in the re-introduction of the Ratzburg apple variety. The Project sent him some scions last spring and was able to get some scions to take (8 to be exact). He has 8 trees and the Project will be receiving 4 of these trees. 1 tree will go to the current owner of the Ratzburg who has been very, very kind in letting the Project come whenever we want to collect scions or record data. 2 trees will go to the grand-daughter or great grand-daughter of the originator of the Ratzburg who originally guided the Project to the tree. Finally, the last tree will go to the orchard here at the Project where it will be expected to grow for many years.

The CWARP is in the process of writing a short book called: A History of Apple Growing in Waupaca County

The Central Wisconsin Apple Rediscovery Project's main goal is to rediscover the lost and once famous Waupaca County Seedling's and other apple varieties of Central Wisconsin. Other goals include, bringing awareness to the greater Waupaca County about how great the county used to be in apple growing, planting heirloom apple trees around the county, and also promoting diversity in plant species.

Fall Work

This past fall I have made many discoveries and have researched extensively. As a member of the University of Wisconsin Colleges, I have access to their huge collection of books and articles. I requested 3 books for my research and found much information that I have needed. I have put together a rough outline for the research I did this past fall. Also included is research that I am currently working on.
I.
1. Locating former members of the on old plat maps in the Waupaca County Horticultural Society who brought about the Waupaca County Seedlings. These members include: E.W. Wrightman, A.V. Balch, A. Bennett, J. Crocker, Mr. Gibson, C. Parker, and Mr. Mawhinney.

I have mapped all of these locations on a personal map and will scout the area out for possible old trees once I get the chance to take an all day trip. This requires going to Lind, Waupaca, Weyauwega/Fremont areas.

2. Mapping old apple trees to take cuttings from this coming spring and giving them a designated number to remember which is which.

II.

St. Lawrence No. 2 and No. 3

Weyauwega No. 1

1. The discoveries I have made this past fall are quite interesting. Outside Weyauwega, there is a really old apple tree in the middle of a field. The field used to be a fruit farm called Schoenick's Fruit Farm. This tree is either a seedling from one of his trees or one of his original trees. There is no information on his fruit farm. The apple is a pleasant apple. Thus I have named it Weyauwega No. 1. The description is as follows: small, green with red blush and some stripes. The shape is round but also ribbed. The stem is short and clubbed. The flesh is white and browns fast. The flesh is also mealy. The next apple is the St. Lawrence No. 1 also thought to be the once famed Rose apple from Waupaca Arctic Nursery as it meets it's description. This apple was a tip from someone who saw my article in the newspaper about what I am doing. The person who shall be unnamed guided me to an old orchard still alive in the middle of the woods in the township of St. Lawrence, Waupaca County. They had (luckily for me) cut down a few trees 2 years ago to let in sunlight so the trees wouldn't die. There are about 7-9 trees (I forgot to count) in a line still alive. The rest of the orchard can be seen scattered throughout the woods with skeletons of the once great trees. The description of this apple is quite long so bear with me: Large, round apple with smooth skin. Cavity is green and near the top of the apple stripes appear to only disappear in the blush; about halfway down the apple. Yellowish-pink is found on non-blushed side. Almost white. Red blush is red to dark red. White dots indicate pores. Thick skin. Basin is medium depth. Calyx is open, reflexed, and medium sized. Cavity is deep and funneled. Stem is medium to long, medium thickness and straight. Flesh is white and breaks into chucks. Somewhat crispy. Unusual texture. Flavour is possibly sub-acidic and slightly dry. Almost bitter but not. Phew, got that out of the way. In short terms, I found 2 other apple varieties with this variety. St. Lawrence No. 2 and No. 3.  No. 2 is a greenish sometimes whitish yellow apple. Russet-ting near the top. Size is small. Stem is medium to long and flesh is white. Balanced between tart and sweet. Crispy, excellent flavour. Yes I spelled flavour the British way because it is easier in my head. No. 3 is a small apple that is greenish-yellow. Stem is short and slender. Flesh is white, browns in 2-3 minutes, and is sweet. No tartness at all.

The  Ratzburg 

St. Lawerene No. 1 or possibly the Rose Apple

Same apple as above

2. I am making progress on the submission of the Ratzburg for the Slow Food USA movement. Slow Food helps preserve cultural diversity in not just plants but also unique foods as well. As a member of the Seed Savers Exhchange, I am offering the Ratzburg this year as scion wood.

Old Apple Orchard in the town of St. Lawrenece

Waupaca County "Seedlings"

The Waupaca County Seedlings were well known around the Midwest and possibly the country for their hardiness and fine qualities. The following varieties are all varieties that the Central Wisconsin Apple Rediscovery Project has researched and found short descriptions of the apples. The following were very common in Waupaca County and surrounding counties and states. Many varieties were sent to testing stations in Ames, Iowa, Minnesota, and even Maine. Two varieties that do not need saving: the Wolf River and the Northwestern Greening.

Alden: Yellow-red apple that is medium to large in size. Form is conical and is a keeper. Early season apple. It is much like the Blaine but better quality.

Bessie: Resembles the Duchess or Duchess of Oldenburgh but redder. It weighs around 5-6 ounces. It is a mid to late season apple.

Casey: Green with red stripes and the size is very large. Mid to late season apple.

Crocker: Large, red-striped apple that is round-oblong is form.

Jenney: Large, white with red stripes. It's flavor in sub-acidic and is used in the market and for dessert. Late season apple.

Lind: Large, red apple with acidic flavor. Late season apple.

Lindfield: Large, yellow-greenish apple with red blush.

Martha: Medium, red apple with good quality. Dessert and market apple. Mid to late season apple.

Mary: Large, red apple that is used for desserts. Late season apple.

Ratsburg: Large dessert and keeping apple. Mid season apple.

Waupaca: Medium, yellow with red stripes. Flesh is tender and juicy and is yellow. Flavor is sub-acidic and is a keeping apple. Late season apple.\

Waupaca Greening: Medium to Large apple. Greenish-yellow in color. Late season apple.

Wisconsin Russet: Large, green russeted apple with sub-acidic flavor. It has good quality and is a dessert apple. Mid to late season apple.

Wisconsin Spy: Medium sized yellow apple.

Wrightman or Wrightman's Blush: large, yellow blushed apple. Very good in quality and a late season apple.

There is another short list with no descriptions that were high in rankings at the 1884 New Orleans Exposition from Waupaca County. Obviously the Wolf River was the highest ranked out of all the Wisconsin seedlings but others from Waupaca County were ranked high as well.

Wrightman, Wrightman's Winter Blush, Lovejoy, Blanche, Nora, Bertha, Baker's Sweet, Bloomfield, Daniel, Vosburg, Barnard's Red Winter, Long John, Longfield, Bone's Greening, Thina, David's Seedling, Plymouth, Winter Pepper, Canada Red, Red Seek, and Feather.

This is but a handful of the hundreds of varieties that Waupaca County once proudly presented in fairs, shows, and local and state societies.

*Note that some of these varieties might be extinct. If not please, please, please contact me. If you have a really old apple tree in surrounding counties such as Portage, Waukesha, Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, and Shawano counties, also feel free to contact me.

The Ratsburg

The Ratsburg is an apple you would want. There are only a handful of people that know about this apple. The first year this tree fruited it was reported that the tree produced 23 apples that weighed 25 pounds! 

The finding of this apple is quite interesting. So one day when I was researching heirloom apple varieties, I realized that there are probably apple varieties that originated in my area. I found a historical document of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society that listed a few of these varieties. The list included the Wolf River and Northwestern Greening which are very common heirloom apples. The list also included the apple called the Ratsburg and several other apples. I remember my dad telling me about this apple because he had mentioned that I am interested in apples to a family friend. The family friend then told him that she knew of an apple called the Ratsburg. Now keep in mind that this was before all my researching had started. I pushed away this comment and kept looking at some of the common heirloom varieties. When I finally came to my senses and realized this was an ordeal. I told my dad to set up a meeting with our family friend to visit the tree and get cuttings to propagate the tree. The tree is massive and still healthy! Several people have said it looks more like an oak tree than an apple tree. The tree is 40 feet tall and still produces bushels of fruit each year. The tree is located in Fremont, WI. The day after I got the cuttings, I went to a fruit tree grafting class in Green Bay. I grafted 2 cuttings and grafted another 2 cuttings at home. Unfortunately, all of the cuttings died. A week later after the grafting class, Dan Bussey who is the Orchard Manager of Seed Savers Exchange contacted me. He said he knew that the Ratsburg existed but did not know there was a tree left. I sent him some cuttings. Later that month he told me that they cuttings got lost. I was really disappointed because he would be the one to save this variety. A week later, he contacted me again and said that he found the cuttings. The cuttings were fine and still alive (Meaning the cuttings were still green). All of the cuttings he grafted have taken and are now growing. This has pushed me into making this Project. I want to save as many local varieties as possible so future generations get the chance to be able to eat and use them. 

If you know of any really, really old apple trees please contact me. I want to preserve as many of them as I can.

Wisconsin Heirloom Apple varieties that I want to help preserve. 

Milwaukee: Yellow, red-striped apple. Ripens Sept.-Oct. Good for Cider and Cooking. 

Pewaukee: Medium to Large apple with firm white flesh. Ripens Sept.-Oct. Good for eating fresh and cooking. Keeps good for a few months. 

Oneida: Fruit is small, golden yellow and some russeting. Flesh is sweet and has good flavor. Ripens Sept.-Oct. Good for drying, eating fresh, and desserts. 

Bonnie Best: Fruits are large with red striping. Flesh is creamy and is crunchy, tender, and slightly tart. Good for desserts and for fresh eating. Keeps well. 

Plumb's Cider: Medium sized apple with yellow skin and red splashes. Greenish flesh is firm, fine, breaking, and juicy with a brisk, subacid flavor. Good for fresh eating and of course, cider. 

Iron Bridge: A medium to large apple similar to McIntosh. Crisp, sweet, and slightly tart flesh. Good for fresh eating, cider, and desserts. 

I have a Wolf River apple tree. 

Please let me know if you know of any old apple varieties you know about. Thanks!  


Sources for apples is Maple Valley Orchard for the descriptions.