BALDWIN (+2) -- Around 1900, this was the preeminent apple of the northeast. A good quality large red apple. In the North where the fruit reaches perfection, the tree is subject to cold injury. This fault along with other cultural defects caused this fine apple to nearly disappear from cultivation.

BLACK GILLIFLOWER (+2) -- An antique, medium-sized, winter dessert apple of very distinctive, tall sheepnose shape, and black-red color. Mild subacid flavor, white-fleshed, eventually becoming dry. Never crisp. Peculiarly aromatic.

CHIEFTAIN (+1) -- A Jonathan/Delicious cross merging each variety's best qualities: Jonathan's sour richness, Red Delicious' juicy sweetness. Less tart than Jonathan, more flavor than Delicious. In appearance more like Delicious.

CONNELL RED (0) -- A bud mutation of Fireside. Very productive, very hardy, large dark red high quality dessert apple. Fireside is one of the best hardy apples; Connell Red is a gorgeous Fireside mutation.

DOCTOR MATTHEWS (+2) -- An obscure nineteenth century local Indiana variety that deserves more respect. Large, faded red coat, crisp, juicy, excellent flavor. Rather short shelf life for a late maturing cultivar.

DOWNING TART (+3) -- A tart, crisp, medium-sized, round, dark red apple from the famous Ohio Downings. For folks who want a really "sour" apple.

EMPIRE (-.5) -- A Red Delicious/McIntosh cross from the Geneva N.Y. Experiment Station. Medium sized, round, dark red apple of gorgeous appearance; sweet, juicy, firm, and aromatic. At its peak, Empire "cracks" when you bite it. A great apple for kids.

ESOPUS SPITZENBERG (+3) -- A North American antique, medium-sized red apple of very good to best quality. A moderate cropper. Long considered the standard of excellence in the Baldwin class. Believed to be a parent of Jonathan.

FORTUNE (NY 429) (0) -- A Red Spy/Empire cross from the Geneva, N.Y. Experiment Station with the size and bite-back of a Northern Spy and McIntosh aromatics. Named and introduced in '95.

HARALSON (0) -- A medium-sized red apple from the Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm. Especially hardy. Tart, firm, white-fleshed, good quality.

HOLIDAY (0) -- A Macoun/Jonathan cross from the Ohio Experiment Station. Flesh quality most resembles Macoun (the best flavored of the McIntosh clan), but with Jonathan tartness. Flesh crisp, tender, white, aromatic. Deep red slightly faded skin color.

IDARED (+2) -- A cross of Jonathan and Wagener. The result is a large juicy bright red apple with a rich flavor that keeps very well. Idared is not very good at harvest. It requires some refrigerator time to reach peak quality. Idared is the longest keeping Jonathan type.

JONATHAN (-2) -- Tart, rich, real apple flavor. Offspring of Esopus Spitzenberg, first described in 1826. Many Midwesterners consider Jonathan the best flavored apple.

KEEPSAKE (+2) -- A medium-sized, blotchy mostly red coated, hardy release from the Minnesota Experiment Station. Hard, very crisp, juicy, aromatic. Keeps like rocks. A good home orchard cultivar for the brutal north. Offspring of Northern Spy. Semi-tart.

KING DAVID (+2) -- Believed to be a Jonathan/Arkansas Black cross. Medium-sized. Dark red coat. Very good quality. Distinctive flavor, a blend of its parents' strengths. Not an especially good keeper. About 80 years ago, the famous Stark Bros' Nursery predicted that King David would replace Jonathan. Didn't happen.