A Missouri Apple from the Fruit Experiment Station, Mountain Grove, Missouri: WHETSTONE (Conard × Delicious)

Abstract

During the past three seasons a considerable number of Whetstone trial plantings by fruit growers in several states have come into bearing. Those growers have gained some idea as to the worth of the variety when compared in the field with other varieties. In most cases they are planting more Whetstones, because of features they like, such as: early cropping, red color, very large size, tendency to grow clean, arid ease of seiling. In addition to the large size of the fruit, the stems, leaves and twigs are large, something like the Duchess twig and leaf growth. Whetstone is a winter apple and can be harvested later than almost all other varieties if desired, as it naturally hangs on the tree without the use of hormone sprays.