Renowned dessert, culinary and cider apple. In 1817 William Coxe called it “the finest apple of our country, and probably of the world.” A hundred years later UP Hedrick: “crisp, tender, fine-grained, juicy, sprightly, with fine aromatic subacid flavor; best.” Rather large, roundish conical and lumpy in shape. Mostly light green, sometimes with a light orange-brown blush, turning clear yellow as the fall progresses. Although it may not ripen well in northern districts, the fruit I ate from Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, New Hampshire, (Zone 4) was quite good. It’s not hard to see why Ben Franklin brought a barrel to the queen.

Productive tree bears young. Needs the best soil you’ve got. Scab susceptible. Some distinguish Yellow Newtown and Green Newtown varieties. Recently most agree that there is only one Newtown. Z5.