North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

Claude, I have read that MN 447 is ready for picking in late September 
or early October (helpful for short-season areas) and that it is a good 
keeper. Can you speak to these points? Also, does it mellow and become 
of more general appeal after keeping some time? I have encountered 
several references to its "strong" flavour which it seems some people 
like and some don't.

I have also read that MN 447 is a seedling of Malinda, a hardy old 
Vermont(?) apple used for breeding in Minnesota; also that MN 447 was 
one of the parents of Sweet Sixteen and Keepsake, along with Northern Spy.

MN 447 has been sold by nurseries on the Canadian Prairies for use in 
the southern portions of those provinces in zone 3a. I don't know what 
the experience has been. I have a vague impression that it is very hardy 
in zone 4. Comments on this point would be interesting.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Niagara Peninsula


Claude Jolicoeur wrote:
> Deb,
> Is it MN 477 or 447?
> I have read sometime ago that 477 was a typing error for 447.
> Looking the Fedco catalog, I see they only list Mn 447, so this must be the
> one you want info for.
> I have a Mn447. It is a very interesting small apple. The taste is very
> peculiar. I can't say I really love it, but it certainly is a conversation
> piece. I enjoy having some, and we can use a couple of baskets of it, but I
> will have difficulty using all the apples when the tree will produce a
> couple of bushells. 
> If you can graft just a branch of it in an existing tree, this could be the
> ideal.
>
> Claude
> Quebec
>
> A 12:37 07.12.06 -0800, vous avez écrit :
> > Fedco trees lists an interesting MN 477 apple.  Anyone familiar with this
> apple?  Opinions on flavor, growth habits, and suggested pollinators would
> be welcome.
> > deb