Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties

by Tom Burford

“For all of us who cherish the apple, its utility, its flavors, and its powers of revelation and connection.” —Adrian Higgins, garden columnist, The Washington Post

The apple is one of the most iconic fruits, traditionally picked on cool fall days and used in pies, crisps, ciders, and more. And there is a vast world of varieties that goes well beyond the common grocery store offerings. With names like American Beauty, Carter’s Blue, and Fallawater, and flavors ranging from sweet to tart, this treasure trove of unique apples is ripe for discovery.
 
There is no better guide through this tasty world than Tom Burford, whose family has grown apples in the Blue Ridge Mountains since 1715. His celebratory book Apples of North America is brimming with beautiful portraits of heirloom and modern apples of merit, each accompanied by distinguishing characteristics and common uses. You will also find information on growing apples at home—with specifics on planting, pruning, grafting, and more—and instructions on how to preserve apples through pressing, fermenting, cooking, and drying.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Nature, Food, Reference, Agriculture, Food and Drink

312 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. . .never thought a book about apple varieties through history and across North America would be so mesmerizing. The photographs of the different varieties, and then those in the care and feeding of section had me flipping pages like they were the screens on my phone.

And the names! Limbertwig, Twenty Ounce, Summer Pearmain, Stump, Reverend Morgan. . . .so evocative of a time and place. Each variety page has all you need to know about that apple's sweet creation.

This was an informative and fitting read as the leaves twirl through the air outside my windows.

A sincere thank you to Tom Burford, Timber Press and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.
#ApplesofNorthAmerican #NetGalley

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a LOT of apple varieties that grow in North America, it turns out. And to be honest, it got a little overwhelming; this is probably best served as a coffee table book for the fruit lovers in your life. That said, there was a wealth of information and personal insight from the author and the photos of each variety were just astounding in the aggregate showing just how many subtle or dramatic differences apples can have.

**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully laid out, thorough and helpful guide to real apples of all kinds. There are so many thousands of apple varieties that it can only really give you a taste (so to speak) of what's available, but it covers some great ones. There's lots of information at the end about how to properly plant, care for, etc. your apple trees. I love that this includes information like how well each variety keeps, since we have kept apples in our cool basement for many months through the winter. I also appreciate that it tells what each type is good for (cider, baking, fresh eating, etc.) and some history.

I was very sad to get to the end and read the author's bio and see it written in past tense. Mr. Burford apparently passed away as this book was being published. He seems like he was a remarkable man who greatly enhanced the world of apples and the world at large. It is a lovely book to commemorate him.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burford's list skews toward the mid-Atlantic and what he can grow well in Virginia, but includes many fine Northern varieties. Lovingly detailed, with useful notes and an extensive chapter on grafting, this is a valuable reference book.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many people enjoy the crisp sweet or tart taste of an apple. Weather eaten fresh, baked in a pie, turned into cider, or made into applesauce, Americans are in love with this wonderful fruit. However, most of us find ourselves limited to a small variety, maybe five or six types offered by our local grocery store. Over the past 50 years, there has been an emphasis on breeding apples for physical beauty and sturdiness for shipping rather than taste or complexity. In this book, the author introduces us to over 100 varieties of apples with varying tastes, shapes, growing seasons, and other attributes. He provides a very helpful orchard planning primer for those who want to grow some of these apples and suggests the best uses for each variety. One thing I learned from this book is that when immigrants came from Europe, they planted apples with the primary need to make cider because the water was not safe to drink. Grapes didn’t do as well in America, so they turned to making cider as a common drink. Today’s orchards may have several purposes, growing varieties of apples to make cider, to eat for dessert, two bake as filling for pies pies, or for making applesauce or apple butter. They’re are also apples that are ornamental that are best used as food for various types of cattle or deer. Reading this book has inspired me to seek out more variety in the apples I buy, looking online for sources as well as looking around to see what is available locally. I suspect that there are wider varieties of other fruits that are available as well, and this book has sparked my curiosity to see what I can find.

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover is very pretty and it gives you a pretty good indication of what’s inside. The title is very apt but the information inside is an insane amount of knowledge.

What did I like? The book gives you background on over two hundred varieties of apples. I really enjoyed the background information on the apple’s existence and then the book merges into planting trees and uses for the apples. I do find it funny though that certain store brands of apples don’t make it in the group.

Would I recommend or buy? If your looking for background on apple’s look no further. This one is a encyclopedic wealth of information on over two hundred kinds. It is one of the most interesting look at apple’s that I’ve read. Five stars! I would buy a copy, and it’s highly recommended if your looking for background on apples.

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apples of North America is a diverse encyclopedic collection of apples. This author knows his stuff, including all the regional nicknames of various varieties, their descriptions, textures, flavors, best use. Growing up on an orchard, I was raised an apple snob, but I was often suspicious of the names my father gave to apples: was he making some of these up? Apparently not. There are few other places I've ever seen Wealthys, Tolman Sweets, Redfrees, Ben Davises, Rome Beauties, Wolf Rivers, Lodis, Twenty Ounces, and Winter Bananas besides the pages of this book (or on handwritten signs made by my father).

Aside from the great apple descriptions and short histories of each, the author describes how best to plant and care for trees and goes into a brief history of cider, apple vinegar, dried apples, and other products.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apples, apples, apples...the wonderful fruit...the more you eat them, the more you.....oh wait...wrong thing.

This cookbook is great though and I learned a lot of new apple facts which is actually a hard thing to teach me due to my partner's annoyingly vast knowledge of apples. A good read and a great tool for fall.

[Ess · Rating 5 out of 5]

To have classic tastes, you must be sufficiently educated in classical roots, i.e apple culture. Apples are endemic to American society and learning about not only the gradient and variety of each particular fruit, but where it is harvested, who it was harvested by, helps understand the answer to “why”. Tom Burford provides incredibly helpful photographs of each different variety of apple with explanations of each fruit on the page. I love apples, and learning about my favorite fruit only made me appreciate the hard work of my local orchards that much more.
Also, this is not a cookbook, more an encyclopedia of amazing apple seeds of information that will live within your mind forever.

I received an ARC from the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide to North America's apples and Tom Burford clearly has quite a bit of knowledge on apples and apple trees. I especially enjoyed that last sections on how to use them. Very good instructions for drying, cider-making, apple butter, etc. His little stories from his youth were great fun and I love the history it adds to America's apple past. Will likely need to own a copy of this.

[Raelene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fascinating. A look at almost 200 distinct varieties of apples grown all over the country. Details include history, appearance, ideal growing conditions, and notes on care, keeping, taste, and storage.

[Sparkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little reference book. Not quite a field guild, but delightful none the less, and makes you sad to wander through the grocery store produce section.
Apples! So great. I wish I had space to plant more.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably should've read this before I started filling my yard with apples trees but better late than never, right?

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5

What I know (or knew) about apples: There a many different kinds. Some I like and some I do not.
In this book, author Tom Burford has opened my eyes somewhat to a veritable cornucopia of apple varieties. So many, in fact, that this was almost overwhelming. Almost.

Burford gives a great deal of information on nearly 200 varieties of apples (this is not a complete list ... these are the 'exceptional varieties' according to the book's subtitle). This information generally includes a brief history of the variety, other names it might be known as, a description of the exterior of the apple (ie: shape, size, color), a description of the interior of the fruit (such as crispness, sweetness, etc), the productivity of the tree, the fruit's disease resistance, the ripening season, storage quality, and uses for the variety (desert, baking, cider-making, vinegar making, etc). I thought it was interesting that only five of the 200 listed mentioned that they were good for 'eating-out-of-hand.'

After the brief look at the different apple varieties, Burford also presents the reader with 'Recommended Uses of Apple Varieties,' a look at planning and planting a home orchard and tree care, and some apple products.

Burford clearly has a great deal of knowledge about and a love affair with the apple. He comes from a family that has grown apples in the United States since the early 1700's and there's probably no one better suited to give us the 411 on apples. And in many ways I feel quite prepared for a trivia night or a series of apple questions on Jeopardy after reading this book.

But...

The bulk of the book is the look at the different varieties, most of which I've never heard of or seen in any of my local stores or markets (I live in the upper Midwest). If I wanted an Early Joe or Westfield Seek-No-Further apple, where would I find one? What does it mean when one of the best apples I've eaten in a long time (an Envy) isn't even listed? This is a wonderful list with some great insight, but it is not very practical from my standpoint.

I have thought it might be nice to have an apple tree in my yard (until I have to mow the yard, of course) and to that end, the information about planting and tree care is quite helpful even though I'm unlikely to take any action in this regard.

Something I didn't see here, but rather expected, was a growing zone. For the 200 varieties listed, am I likely to find them in Minnesota? In Colorado? Virginia? Florida?

There are a number of apple varieties listed here that I'd like to check out, but I'm not sure I'll ever find them.

Looking for a good book? Tom Burford's Apples of North America provides a great deal of information about nearly 200 apple varieties, as well as expert advice on planting, growing, and maintaining apple trees.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul Sutter]

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well a day reading APPLES OF NORTH AMERICA A CELEBRATION OF EXCEPTIONAL VALUES, will definitely keep the boredom away. This is a fascinating read by Tom Buford, who certainly knew more than knew his apples. The author died in 2020, but his books on one of the most popular fruits, were definitely a joy to read.
There are two hundred varieties of apples noted in the book, with many, people likely have never heard of. Living in Canada I can honestly say there are barely twenty that I am familiar with, and have tried over the years, but the book certainly lets you know how one fruit can have so many offspring so to speak.
Burford offers a history of the apple, noting that it began in Asia Minor in the region of Kazakhstan. The apple soon found favor around the world. The Roman Empire advanced the art and science of fruit growing according to the author. Roman writer Pliny the Elder in 79 CE, noted there were more than twenty varieties of apples at that time. It evolved from there, and by the 1800’s cider Bruford says, was the national beverage, and became a sort of currency and product that people used for barter.
The book lists the apples in alphabetical order, not only with the name, but mentioning other names the apples are known under. He also lists description of the apple on the exterior and interior, along with tree characteristics, disease resistance, season of ripening, uses, and storage quality. Pictures of the apple gives readers visual recognition and recollection if the apple was ever sampled by them.
Since apple production took off into the 1800’s, a high number of the apples had their origins then, likely from crossing certain varieties. The Lodi apple for example was created with a cross of Yellow Montgomery and Transparent.
Personally speaking my favorite apple is the Northern Spy which is said to have originated with seeds that were brought from Connecticut and planted around 1800 near East Bloomfield New York. The variety of apples here is astounding with such types as Rainbow, Stayman, Wolf River, Keepsake, Melba, Fallawater, Spokane Beauty, Hidden Rose, Lowry, Gilpin, Garden Royal and so many more.
In the book there are sections on the Home Orchard, Apple Tree Planting and Care, plus apple products you can make yourself. This is truly the apple loving dream come true book, so pick up a copy and make if the apple of your eye.

[Desiree M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Netgalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC.

Reader, I confess: I'm a little obsessed with rare apples. I happened when I ran across a post on tumblr posted by the blog "mildlyinteresting-blog," showing a photo of a man sitting behind a table full of apples with a sign behind him that said "Heritage Apples. My hobby finding "lost" apple varieties." This man's name was Tom Brown, not Tom Buford, and he runs applesearch.org. I became fascinated with little known and hard to find apple varieties, and the "apple mages," as some people on tumblr called them. Tom Buford was easy enough to learn about once I started going down this rabbit hole of apples - a man who knew more about apples than I could have ever imagined.

Needless to say, I was very excited to request the Apples of North America as an ARC. It's warm and funny. It's very real - none of the apples look pristine and uncanny. It's a niche little history and botanical survey of apples in the United States (not so much Mexico or Canada), but it's deeply enjoyable. It reminds me of my own late-grandmother, who would've probably enjoyed exactly this type of book, and who I so desperately wish I could share my thoughts about it with her. The book is jammed with information (pardon the pun), and gives me everything from characters and shelf stability to historical facts, to folk names of various apples. I would've liked to see more apple photos (some of them cut open, for example, on the entry pages, especially when the flesh was a unique color!).

The major flaw here is mostly if you go into buying this book expecting a practical apple-growing guide for an orchard or gardener, a cookbook, or a regional apple "finding" guide. It's not really meant to be any of those things. I like it for what it is, though, which is a man who knows a ton about apples explaining about 200 of them to me in a warm and opinionated way. It's a beautiful coffee table book - an ode to apple heirlooms and what they look like and a little bit about how they grow, but there's no keys or maps for easy reference to locating where certain apples are. Oh, Buford will tell you where they're often found, but so many of these are vanishing quickly and only findable if you hunt for them. Still, I enjoyed this book, all the apples within, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great book on apple lore.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley.

When I initially requested a review copy of this book, I did not realize I had read it a couple years ago in its earlier edition. While I was surprised to realize it was a book I'd read before, I wasn't disappointed! This is a lovely introduction to a wide range of apples grown in North America, and when I first read it, was in many ways my introduction to the great diversity of apple varieties still grown today.

The majority of the book is a guide to different varieties, arranged in alphabetical order. Of course, many of these varieties do have more than one name--so it is possible that an entry will not be found where you expect it to be, though in those cases the index will help. Each one-page entry includes a photograph of the apple, a brief introductory paragraph, and neatly arranged information on other names, history, descriptions of the interior and exterior of the fruit, important characteristics of the tree, information on disease resistance and vulnerability, season of ripening, uses for the fruit, and storage quality.

The end of the book includes listings of varieties by usage, an overview of how to grow a home orchard and care for apple trees, harvesting and storing apples, and information on how to make cider, vinegar, apple butter, or dry apples.

Because the author's remarkable depth of experience was primarily in Appalachian Virginia, there is an emphasis on this geographical context. This is not to say that the book is of diminished value to me as a northerner--and information is included on varieties that don't grow well in the southern United States at all (including a favorite of mine, Macoun)--but more to say that it is probably of increased value to a reader who is located in that region.

All in all, I am very glad to have read this book again--and find it to be a fascinating and easily understood look into the world of apples beyond just the varieties commonly found in a 21st century grocery store. It's also interesting in helping me understand what I like in apples, and helps me identify additional varieties I might like to try--especially nice now that I've found more orchards producing heritage varieties in my area.

[Rose-Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom Burford comes by his apple expertise honestly, having grown up in an orcharding family in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. You need him to teach you how to eat an apple properly – read his description on page 220, you’ll think it’s a wine tasting!

The first part of the book is about the apples themselves. The apple descriptions include Other Names, History (year and place of origin), Exterior and Interior description, Tree Characteristics, Disease Resistance, Season (when ripe), Uses (eating, baking, cider, drying, etc), and Storage quality (how long you may expect it to keep). It is very informative, and would be useful in choosing apples for eating. His descriptions are no-nonsense, not flowery or opinionated – compare with “Apples of Uncommon Character: Heirlooms, Modern Classics, and Little-Known Wonders” by Rowan Jacobsen, which I reviewed in January 2015.

One thing I was interested in was how many varieties originated in my state. Out of the 192 apples in this book, 22 came from New York, of which 9 arose in Geneva; one of these, indeed, was named for the Empire State. Seven apples came from our good neighbor to the North.

In my view, a major drawback is that he lists so many apples that are rare or unattainable. The book describes 5 different Russet skinned apples. The Golden Russet and Roxbury (Leather Coat) Russet seem available at a few orchards in several US states, as well as a few Canadian locations. I could locate only one orchard that grows one of the 6 Pearmain varieties, and all 8 of the Limbertwig varieties appear rare as well.

The second part of the book covers all sorts of information that would be useful to apple growers, and a few ways to use apples. If you want to make apple cider, vinegar, apple butter, or dried apples, the descriptions and background seem sound. You might want to learn more before you tackle such. If jellymaking and canning is your thing, find your information from a reputable canning source. He does include a handy list of which apples are best for specific purposes.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Apples of North America is a comprehensive primer of North American apple varieties collected and curated by Tom Burford. Originally published in 2013, this reformat and re-release is due out 28th Sept 2021 from Workman on their Timber Press imprint. It's 312 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The author, who was an orchardist and agrarian/historian in Virginia had a lifelong history with apple varieties, growing, use, and culture. Much of that lifelong education is contained in this encyclopedic tome. The information is accessible and easy to understand and related plainly without fanfare. The information is presented in logical order: first a primer of apple varieties listed alphabetically by name with entries pictured and described in detail, apple uses with specific varietal recommendations, tree selection planting & care, and a discussion of apple products (cider, vinegar, apple butter, and dried) and how to get started with them. Each of the varieties is listed with a picture, name, alternate common names, a short history where known, description, tree characteristics, disease resistance if any, ripening season, uses, and storage quality.

The book also contains a couple of useful appendices: a bibliography for further exploration and reading, as well as a short metric conversion chart. The index includes the varieties by name as well as other subjects contained in the book.

Five stars. This would be a superlative selection for library acquisition, smallholders, home gardeners, garden groups, heirloom foodies, community gardens, and similar groups.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Northern Canada where I live part time is not exactly known for its numerous apple varieties so reading about nearly 200 of them was an ambrosial treat! Not only does the author describe how to plant apples, grafting techniques and storage but also lists which apples are best for what type of food application (cider, butter, preserves, pickling, vinegar). Most apples described grow in America with a few in Canada and Mexico. The saliva-inducing photographs really lit my curiosity and tastebuds, so much so that I researched several varieties to learn more about this nostalgic and evocative fruit. Thank goodness for those who brought bags full of apple seeds from Europe to North America hundreds of years ago to create many hundreds of varieties.

Varieties (some common, others less common) are listed alphabetically with photographs. Explanations include other names, history, descriptions, characteristics, disease resistance, season, uses and storage. Reading "crisp", "tart and sweet" and "juicy" made my mouth water, especially those which are acidic such as Burford Redflesh and Chestnut Crab. And then there are stunning trees such as Gloria Mundi. Some of my favourite names are Esopus Spitzenburg, Fortune, Hawaii (taste reminiscent of pineapple!), Granite Beauty (whisper of cardamom), Hubbardston Nonesuch, Keepsake, Maiden Blush and Nodhead. Each has a story.

If you like apples...who doesn't?...you ought to pick up this book and plant seeds of knowledge in your mind. It is such a happy discovery.

My sincere thank you Timber Press for the privilege of reading this delicious and captivating book!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

September then October are soon approaching, and that comes apple season around these parts. This book looked lovely so I couldn't wait to preview it. (I can smell the apple pies already).

The intro starts with some interesting history about the "apples" which began in the Asia Minor region of Kazakhstan and by 2500 BC apples were being grown throughout Mesopotamia and Persia, and soon became part of the food cultures of the world.

Part 1 of the book is all about -- Apple Varieties A-Z
Part 2 is -- The Orchard Primer -- covers: Planning and Design, Planting and Cultural Management, Propagation and Apple Products
Apple Varieties section was awesome - each variety of apple has: a photo of the type of apple, other names (if any), history, exterior and interior description, tree characteristics, disease resistance, season of ripening, storage qualities, and uses (cider varieties, pie varieties etc -- did you know you could pickle and fry apples?

I really enjoyed browsing this book and came away with good information. I only wish I had enough land to plant a small orchard now.

If you are looking for an all-encompassing reference book about apples, the author's background can't be beat. Tom's family has been growing apples in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia since 1715.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love apples. I love all kinds of apples. I love to eat them raw, cooked, baked, toasted, mashed; you name it, I find them delicious. I love that part of the author’s journey began in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, as that is where I spent many hours at various apple farms with my family. No wonder I felt a sense of nostalgia as I read through this book. The alphabetical guide is incredibly helpful in describing various key points of each type of apple. I had no idea there were so many varieties. There is helpful guide to tell you how to properly taste an apple as well. The book is rounded out with sections such as home orchard, tree planting and care, various apple products, and a delectable section of mouthwatering recipes. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

[Michael Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal exploration of apple varieties -- most of which you've probably never heard of. I used this as the basis for which varieties to plant in my new orchard, and was disappointed that some of the ones I was excited about weren't available from local nurseries. But quite a few trees that I'll plant this spring, and harvest for the next couple decades, I bought as a result of this book! I ordered Newtown Pippin, Winesap, Arkansas Black, Empire, and other apple trees because of Tom Burford's descriptions of their taste, storage capability, use for apphttps://www.goodreads.com/review/list... cider vinegar or (more importantly) apple cider, apple pies, etc. This is a great book with a wealth of knowledge about apples!

[k2148 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apples of North America: A Celebration of Exceptional Varieties. By Tom Burford. 2021. Timber Press (ARC eBook).

Apples of North America is an excellent reference. From American Beauty to York, the history, exterior and interior descriptions of the fruit, and tree characteristics are provided for each variety. As well as information on disease resistance (or lack thereof), the season of ripening, storage quality and the best uses for each type of apple. Once you have your apples picked, the book also provides information on
planting, pruning and rejuvenating the plants. Recipes, helpful pictures and a bibliography and index are included.

*Timber Press ARC via NetGalley

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apples of North America is a comprehensive book about all of different apples found in North America. Each apple is presented in a photograph and the known history is succinctly provided about the apple along with descriptions of how the apple looks, tastes, and characteristics of the apples. Also provided are the disease resistance, season of ripening, typical quality when stored and how the apple is best used. Very interesting read for anyone who enjoys apples, especially rare types not usually found in grocery stores. This book is a great resource for anyone wishing to identify apples on a tree long forgotten or who want to seek out rare and unusual apples from farmer's markets or other sources. Of course, if you grow or are planning on growing apple trees this book is a must read!

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides the fact I had to read this on the Netgalley shelf app... on my cell phone, this was absolutely fantastic. Despite this being read on my phone, which was tedious, I was able to enjoy every apple in full color. I love apples, probably my favorite non-berry fruit BUT I love apples even more after this book. I felt like I was right there with author as he was describing each apple. There were even some apples I have not heard of before, and I definitely want to eat all of them. There is an apple for everyone to enjoy.

I am definitely buying this at publishing!! Highly recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley, Tom Burford and Timber Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 9/14/21

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book, illustrated on every apple variety, shows the apples which were or are grown in North America, colours, shapes and sizes. We learn of the tastes and uses, and how people cooked or preserved apples when they didn't have sugar, which apples preserved well and which were best for cider. Some people, especially organic farmers, are revitalising the old heritage trees.
I recommend pairing this book with Eating To Extinction and The Wood Age/ The Age of Wood which demonstrate how we farmed different crops and trees for different places, climates and tasks, and how monocrops are dangerously taking their places.

I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction and Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the diversity of apple varieties grown in North America, and a basic introduction to their uses, defining characteristics, and how to grow them. It's not sufficient on its own to teach you to maintain an orchard (even a small one), but it certainly is interesting. The author's experience in Virginia makes it likely most relevant to those interested in growing apples in a similar soil and climate; at times I found myself wondering how much of what he says would be different here in Michigan, but I do appreciate the regional specificity of some of his information even if it wouldn't help me should I try to grow an apple tree here.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an interesting book! I loved reading about the interesting history, from the photos and descriptions of tons of nearly-lost, rare, heirloom variety apples, to the tales of how they were discovered (some centuries ago), then lost, then found again. Burford's personal tales from his life in a family growing apple orchards for generations add wonderful color to the book, and his passion and knowledge come across on every page.

[Jason Frasca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this book, bit I thoroughly enjoyed it! The author clearly has a passion for apples, and it shows throughout this read. I consider this part instructive and part reference as the author describes the origin of apples, how to plant them, the many varieties and nuances of each, and the steps to prune and support them during their growth. For anyone interested in learning more about apples or planting them, I highly recommend this book!