On Verona Island in Maine, a couple of dozen aged apple trees mark the landscape. While these might seem like mere trees to some, apple historian John Bunker views them as repositories of the past.
Bunker notes, "Apple varieties that were grown commonly in Maine, 100, 200 to 250 years ago." Among these cultivars are Tolman Sweet, Yellow Bell Flower, and Transcendent Crabapple.
While Maine houses hundreds of heirloom apple trees, most do not appear in commercial orchards. They are remnants of the state's agricultural history, residing in secluded and forgotten locations. Recently, Bunker and fellow historians encountered one of North America's oldest apple trees.
For decades, Bunker searched for historical apples, analyzing fairs and reports, and gathering firsthand stories. "People who knew that there was something about these old varieties that represented generations of what I call baton passing," Bunker mentions.
Bunker seeks living samples matched to historical records or unnamed trees needing identification. One such mystery confronted him at the Verona Island orchard. This small, aged tree showed signs of once being larger, now with a mostly hollow trunk adorned with moss and lichen. Its branches featured new growth and light pink flowers.
A few years ago, leaf samples from this and other trees underwent genetic testing. An email revealed, "Oh my goodness, you have found the only apple of this that we know of in North America." The Drap D'Or de Bretagna, identified by Cameron Peace, a tree fruit geneticist at Washington State University, is a genetic ancestor to many modern varieties.
Peace emphasizes the rarity and historical importance of the Drap D'Or, explaining its genetic significance. Though the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association estimates the tree's age at 200 years, Peace notes that leaf samples alone cannot determine age. A grafted clone now resides at MOFGA's Heritage Orchard.
CJ Walke, orchard manager, explains the grafting method of fusing cuttings onto another tree, preserving historical traits potentially useful for climate adaptability. "(We're) hoping some resilient characteristics might help apple propagation into the future," Walke states.
Bunker also has the Drap D'or grafted in his Palermo orchard. He maintains that, with care, the Verona Island tree might endure for another century. Plans for this year's harvest involve presenting the apples at agriculture fairs for public experience.
Source: Maine Public
