This popular market apple has been in cultivation for at least a
century. It originated in what was then known as Wilmington, in the
county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, on the farm of Mr. Butters,
who gave it the name of the Woodpecker apple, because it seemed to be a
favorite with those birds, who used to frequent the tree and peck the
fruit. From this tree grafts were taken, and the variety became known in
that vicinity by the name given it by Mr. Butters, which, however, soon
became shortened into Pecker Apple, under which name it was planted by
the Vice President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, B. V.
French, at Braintree, Mass., in 1818. At an early period of its history,
about 1771, it came to the notice of Col. Baldwin, of Woburn, Mass., who
introduced it to public attention, whence it received its present name
of Baldwin. From this it has been extensively cultivated and widely
diffused, so that to-day it is probably better known and more sought
after by dealers in apples than any other variety. In the report of the
American Pomological Society for 1877, it is double starred in more
States than any other, and within the zone, where its profitable
cultivation is possible, there are probably more trees planted of the
Baldwin than of any two other kinds.
It cannot be successfully grown in all parts of Ontario, the severe cold
of our higher latitudes being too great for the health of the tree. It
is reported as doing well in the counties of Brant, Elgin, Haldimand,
Halton, Lambton, Lincoln, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Peel, Waterloo,
Welland, Wentworth, and York, and in parts of Grey, Huron, and
Wellington.
The tree is naturally vigorous and productive, coming soon into bearing,
and yielding every alternate year large crops of good sized,
well-shaped, high colored fruit, which keeps well, and bears handling
and carriage in a remarkable degree. In most markets, and especially in
the European, high colored apples sell best, hence this variety has a
preference over light colored sorts. It is ranked as “very good” in
quality, and in this climate is in use from January to May.
We are credibly informed that the part of the farm belonging to Mr.
Butters upon which the original Baldwin apple tree grew, subsequently
passed into the hands of a gentleman eminent as an agriculturist and
horticulturist, who took the pains to erect a suitable monument to the
memory of this tree, upon the spot where it stood. And surely it is well
thus to mark, that coming generations may remember the birth-place of an
apple that has had such a history, that having stood the test of a
century, is still a most popular and valuable fruit, that is sought
after in the markets of the old world as well as the new, that has
contributed so much to the comfort of the human race in so many lands
and in so many climes, and that promises to continue its beneficent
mission for centuries yet to come, gladdening alike the eye and heart of
childhood and age.
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