This subject has not been considered very often by mainstream scholars of North American history. And yet it emerges quite clearly from recent research that, way before the Europeans arrived, the Native North Americans in what is now US and Canada had already been expert agriculturalists, who cultivated a large variety of fruit trees. Their fruit gardens were often very large, consisting of hundreds and thousands of trees.
Even now, there are quite a few places in the US that bear the name "Indian Orchard" (the towns by this name in Massachusetts, and in Pennsylvania are best known, but there are also quite a few other smaller places, such in the Town of Guilford, Connecticut; the "Old Indian Orchard", in Vigo County, Indiana; "Indian orchards" in Onondaga County, New York, etc.). It seems like there are still quite a few "old Indian orchards" that can be found all over the US and Canada; a search on "old Indian orchard" brings in quite a few results.
These names and places still remain, often only in the memory of the oldtimers and of the local historians, but it seems like nobody wants to see the larger significance of all that... The larger significance of all that seems to have vanished in the old Memory Hole.
In any case, here's some interesting material about all that. It created quite a furious discussion in Usenet at the time but, typically, there was a lot more heat there than light. The usual deniers of the Native American creativity were there in full force.
Message:
<2b61489c.0205040829.43bef3c3@posting.google.com>
From: Yuri Kuchinsky (yuku@trends.ca)
Subject: lots of Native American apples
Newsgroups: sci.archaeology, sci.anthropology
Date: 2002-05-04 09:29:13 PST
Greetings, all,
Yes, it sure looks like I've stirred up quite a hornet-nest of
Hyper-Diffusionists and worshippers of the Great White God Columbus
here...
Look at all the vitriol that they're pouring on me. In their little
"minds" anything that encroaches on the Glory of their Great White God
must be stomped out as soon as it appears. They are just so happy to
repeat their usual mantras that the Natives were "not sophisticated
enough" to domesticate apples independently.
And of course they will abase themselves to the max, and will eagerly
clamber aboard even a Hyper-Diffusionist bandwagon, in order to defend
their White God. According to them, the Indians just couldn't wait to
embrace anything that comes from the white man... so they practically
_rushed_ to borrow apple cultivation from the first European settlers.
Excuse me, but this is Hyper-Diffusionism plain and simple. The
Indians had plenty of their own food crops, so why did they have to
borrow _anything_ from anyone with "lightening speed", which is, of
course, the usual mantra of the Hyper-Diffusionism.
Instead, it's my view that ancient Native Americans domesticated
apples independently. And here's some good new information that will
go to demonstrate quite a few things. What it will demonstrate is that
the Natives had _many different types of apples_, the ones that were
unknown to European settlers. Also, that a great many types of apples
grew in the bush, in the woods of North Carolina, and so they were
fully available to be domesticated by the Native Americans, who of
course knew their own woods very well...
For example, take a look at this "Junaluskee Apple",
[quote]
Junaluskee - also called Junaliska, Junaluska
Probably discovered by McDowell. In a letter to Charles Downing,
McDowell wrote: "The original tree was owned by a Cherokee Chief of
the above name, residing in Macon or Cherokee Co., NC. I do not now
recollect which. When the state purchased of the Indians this portion
of their territory, Chief Junaluskee refused to part with his lot on
which grew his favorite tree. To induce him to part with it, the
Commissioners agreed to allow him $50 for his apple tree."
[unquote]
So here we have the Indian Chief Junaluskee who obviously had a very
strong attachment to his own brand of apples. If he got it from the
Euros, do you think he would have been so greatly attached to it? But
the Euros didn't even know of any such type of an apple!
So all this information pretty well proves that the Natives cultivated
apple trees prior to the White God Columbus. Look at all the different
and quite unusual varieties of Indian apples that are listed in this
article! Of course, genetic variability is one of those first things
that the botanists look for when deciding if a crop is native to the
land or not... Thus, judging by the great and well-demonstrated skills
of Native American agriculturalists, it surely stands to reason that
the Native Americans domesticated apples independently.
Yours,
Yuri.
[quote]
http://www.rabun.net/~phillips/variety.htm
Apples and Silas McDowell
McDowell grew apple trees commercially
from 1833 or 1834 until 1858 when his
trees were severely damaged by a killing
frost. He spent more than 20 years selecting,
grafting, and growing from seedlings the
best native apples and developing an
extensive orchard of prize stock. His
orchard at its height in 1858 (the 1850
census showed that he owned 230 acres) had
at least 600 trees. He is credited with
discovering or developing at least 15 apple
varieties.
McDowell himself wrote in The North-Carolina
Planter (1858, p. 126):
"My new varieties, as I dragged
them from their secret abodes, I
wrote out the history of each,
and gave it a name, generally the
name of the stream on which it
originated; but sometimes the
name of the Indian who was the
occupant of the old field where
it grew . ."
Some of the varieties credited to McDowell
are listed below. His efforts focused
primarily on winter apples, those which
would keep well through the winter months.
He travelled throughout southwestern North
Carolina grafting apples for a number of
customers, and apparently travelled as far as
Asheville to perform these duties. He
carried on an extensive correspondence with
other apple growers in North Carolina and
Georgia including Charles Downing, Jarvis
van Buren, and others. He also sold trees and
grafts to both the public and to other
orchardists. For example, a letter from
Jarvis van Buren dated Dec. 30, 1856
contained the following request:
" Enclosed I send you two dollars
to pay some man to go forthwith
and get a bundle of grafts of the
Sol Carter or Equinally and
Junaluskee . . . I would like
enough to graft 200 trees of
each & I do not intend to sell
one of them for less than 50
cents, & if I cannot get that shall
set them out in my orchard, but I
have no fears about it."
At least two apple varieties introduced by
McDowell are still in cultivation: Callasaga
and Nickajack. The first record of these two
varieties was apparently in a letter from Mr.
Camack (Southern Cultivator,
1847:12-113, dated Dec. 1846) which
mentioned that McDowell sent him 6 apples
labelled Nick-A-Jack and one labelled
Cullahsaga. McDowell wrote those he called
Nick-a-jack were:
"...from a Cherokee seedling in
an Indian improvement on a
branch of the Sugartown called
Nick-a-jack creek or river -
hence its name. The other I have
given the Indian name of the
Sugartown River Cullahsaga,
which is in English sweet creek,
or river as they have no word to
distinguish the two. The
Nick-a-jack you will find is a
very superior apple, and with
care keeps the winter through.
But the Cullahsaga is, in my
opinion not inferior to any apple
in the Southern States. Its
firmness renders it hardy and not
easily injured by rough handling.
It will keep until midsummer. As
it ripens it becomes so highly
aromatic as to be disagreeable to
some tastes. It however suits
mine, and, as I before stated is
my favorite."
Some apple varieties introduced or developed by
McDowell :
Cullasaga - also
called Cullahsaga,
Callasaja, Callasaga,
and Winter Horse
apple
Introduced by McDowell,
whose name for this
apple was Cullahsaga.
Jarvis van Buren said this
variety was raised from
the seed of a Horse apple
by Miss Ann Bryson near
Salem Methodist Church
in Macon County, North
Carolina sometime
around 1830 (Southern
Cultivator. XI(2): 48). It
has pale yellow skin
partially covered with
dark red stripes and white
dots. The tender yellow
flesh is mildly tart to
almost sweet. It was
commonly grown in the
late 19th century and can
still be found today.
Back to top
Camack's Sweet* -
also called
Cammack's Sweet,
Camak's Sweet,
Camack's Winter
Sweet, Grape Vine
Originated in Macon
County, North Carolina,
possibly by McDowell.
This variety was named
for James Camack of
Athens, Georgia the
Editor of Southern
Cultivator (and possibly
developed by him).
Camack was the first to
advise McDowell to graft
his trees with native
seedlings which led to his
first success at
developing winter apples.
Grown throughout the
South in the late 19th
century.
Back to top
Chestooah* - also
called Chestoa,
Chestooa, and
Rabbit's Head
Chestooah is the name
McDowell used for this
apple; it is often referred
to by others as the
Chestoa. Jarvis van Buren
reported in the Southern
Cultivator (Vol XVI,
1858, p 28) that this was
a new variety sent to him
by Silas. Introduced in the
mid-1800s, it probably
originated in North
Carolina; trees were sold
commercially during the
1860s. A good winter
keeper that ripened in
November and could be
kept until at least January;
van Buren reported that it
kept until March.
Described in Gardening
for the South (1885) as
"somewhat distorted
about the calyx, so as to
resemble the nose of a
rabbit."
Back to top
Ducket* - also
called Duckett
McDowell mentioned
this apple in 1857
(Southern Cultivator.
Vol. XV: 123) but gave
no information about it. It
is unclear whether he
developed this variety,
and its origin is unknown.
Calhoun (Old Southern
Apples, 1995) merely
states that is was a North
Carolina apple still being
grown near Spruce Pine,
NC until about 1985.
Elarkee* - also
called Elarkie,
Alarkee, Eluskee
A juicy, yellow apple of
North Carolina origin
introduced by McDowell.
A good winter keeper
which ripened in
Oct.-Nov. and was said to
keep until June.
Gardening for the South
(1885) describes this
apple as "acid when first
gathered, but becomes of
pleasant flavor in March
and April" and states that
the tree is "thrifty and
very hardy".
Back to top
Ellijay*
A cooking apple
introduced by McDowell,
it originated sometime
before 1858 in
Clarkesville, Georgia.
Interestingly, the town of
Ellijay, Georgia today is
the center of a large apple
growing region in north
Georgia, but the apple
which is the town's
namesake is now thought
to be extinct.
Back to top
Great Unknown*
The name of this apple
comes from McDowell
who wrote in 1858 that
he didn't know where it
came from or who gave it
to him. Ripening in
September, this variety
would keep until the end
of December.
Back to top
Junaluskee* - also
called Junaliska,
Junaluska
Probably discovered by
McDowell. In a letter to
Charles Downing,
McDowell wrote: "The
original tree was owned
by a Cherokee Chief of
the above name, residing
in Macon or Cherokee
Co., NC. I do not now
recollect which. When
the state purchased of the
Indians this portion of
their territory, Chief
Junaluskee refused to
part with his lot on which
grew his favorite tree. To
induce him to part with it,
the Commissioners
agreed to allow him $50
for his apple tree."
Back to top
Kittageskee* - also
called Kittageskie,
Kettageskie
This apple is thought to
have originated with the
Cherokee Indians in
western North Carolina.
Jarvis van Buren reported
in the Southern
Cultivator (Vol XVI,
1858, p 28) that this was
a new variety sent to him
by McDowell. Calhoun
(Old Southern Apples,
1995) said this variety
was introduced into
Georgia about 1851.
Trees of this variety were
reported to be healthy,
dependable bearers of
heavy crops. Although its
apples were small, Beach
(The Apples of New
York, J.B. Lyon Co.,
Albany, 1905) said "its
quality is excellent and it
is attractive in
appearance." H.P Gould
(Orchard Fruits in the
Piedmont & Blue Ridge
Regions of Va. & the S.
Atl. States, USDA
Bull.135, 1911) stated
that this is one of the
surest bearers of any in
the southern Piedmont
with good keeping
qualities. Ripened in
Nov. through Feb., and
the fruit kept well until
April.
Back to top
Mattauga*
Jarvis van Buren reported
in the Southern
Cultivator (Vol XVI,
1858, p 28) that this was
a new variety sent to him
by Silas. It came from
near Franklin, NC and was
described as a large, dark
(nearly black) apple with
yellow flesh and a fine,
aromatic flavor. It
reportedly ripened from
Nov. to Feb.
Back to top
Maverick's Winter
Sweet*
McDowell mentioned
that he was growing this
variety in 1857
(Southern Cultivator.
Vol. XV: 123). No other
information is available.
Nequassa* - also
called Nequasse,
Nequassa Sweet
Originated near Franklin,
Macon County, NC
probably by McDowell. J.
van Buren mentioned it in
several letters to
McDowell during 1855
and 1856 and kept Silas
informed as to its growth.
If McDowell is not its
discoverer, he at least
helped to promote the
variety.
Back to top
Nickajack - also
called many other
names
McDowell stated that this
variety came from near
Nickajack Creek, Macon
County, North Carolina
and that it originated with
the Cherokee Indians.
Although the first
dissemination of this
variety was by Col.
Summermour of Lincoln
Co., NC under the name
of Winter Rose, Downing
(The Fruits and Fruit
Trees of America. 1872.
John Wiley & Sons, New
York.) credits its
introduction to
McDowell. Calhoun (Old
Southern Apples, 1995)
states that it's probable
that Nickajack and Winter
Rose were two different
apples which closely
resembled each other.
Nickajack is a large apple
with greenish-yellow skin
flushed with light red and
occasional russet
patches. It is somewhat
tart, and its flavor is
reported to be only
average. A very late
season apple which ripens
from November-April, it
is a good keeper.
According to Downing
(1872), Nickajack
reproduces from seed to
be "so nearly identical as
to be impossible to
distinguish the seedling
from the parent, hence
one cause of so many
synonyms."
Back to top
Sautouchee* - also
called Panther
Another new variety from
Silas reported in the
Southern Cultivator
(Vol XVI, 1858, p 28) by
van Buren. It was a pale
yellow apple with white
flesh that ripened from
Nov.-Feb. van Buren said
that it was "without any
decided flavor" and was
too acid. Calhoun (Old
Southern Apples.
McDonald & Woodward
Pub. Co., Blacksburg, VA.
1995) lists a Santouchee
(Panther or Wildcat)
apple as a North Carolina
apple sold from 1858 to
1877 by Georgia and
North Carolina nurseries,
but describes it as having
"waxen white" skin
"sometimes flushed pink."
Calhoun further describes
the taste as subacid to
almost sweet.
Back to top
Sol Carter*
This apple is of uncertain
origin, but Jarvis van
Buren in a letter to
McDowell dated Nov. 5,
1856 requested that
McDowell find a new
name for the variety
because there was already
an apple named Carter.
The Sol Carter, like the
Equinetelee (ne
Equinally), Iola,
Batchelor, and Queen
apples (among others)
which McDowell at least
helped distribute, is
considered by some
authors to be the same as
the Buckingham apple
which is still grown
today.
Back to top
Tillaquah* - also
called Tillaqua, Big
Fruit
This is another new
variety from Silas
reported by van Buren in
the Southern Cultivator
(Vol XVI, 1858, p 28).
The variety is said to
originated with the
Cherokee Indians and was
reportedly found about
four miles from Franklin,
NC, and Tillaquah is said
to mean "big fruit" in
Cherokee. Downing (The
Fruits and Fruit Trees of
America. John Wiley,
New York. 1878) said
that the fruit was "above
medium" in size. The skin
was yellow and nearly
covered with red
marbling. The flesh was
yellow-red, and was
described as having an
"admirable flavor." This
variety ripened in Nov.
and would keep until
March.
Back to top
Other Varieties
McDowell stated in 1857
that he was growing
Yellow Crank, Green
Crank, and Vincent apples
but that he knew nothing
of their origin (Southern
Cultivator. Vol. XV:
123). Further information
awaits discovery.
[unquote]
Yuri Kuchinsky -=O=-
We found a large number of books in these characters and, as they
contained nothing in which there were not to be seen superstition and
lies of the devil, we burned them all, which they regretted to an
amazing degree === Bishop Diego de Landa on his dealings with
the Mayans.
Go to Yuri's Ancient American Fruit Trees Research.
Go to Yuri's Ancient Travellers Page.