Here we find that the famous Esopus Spitzenburg had a cousin found in Dr. Kane's orchard in the 1820's ("more than sixty years" prior to 1881). Esopus apparently won out, and Mr. Warren gives some reasons. BTW, how do we spell Spitzenburg (berg) (burgh)?
The Cultivator and Country Gentleman
Albany, NY
February 17, 1881; Vol. XLVI, No. 1464
(In a previous issue, M.H. inquires) about a Spitzenburgh apple. I think it is our old "Kane Spitzenburgh." The grafts from which it was started here were taken by Mr. John Ewalt from the orchard of Dr. Kane of New Jersey more than sixty years ago. The apple bears the description given by M. H., but has not kept its position with nurserymen from the fact that its early growth is slow; the small twigs of the nursery stocks twist around, are small and look uninviting to purchasers of nursery stock. The tree, however, when grown up and matured is a fine and well shaped tree, and the fruit (now scarce from lack of propagation by nurserymen) is considered among the best of our winter apples - better than the Esopus Spitzenburgh. F.K. Warren, Trumbull Co., O.
