(From L. H. Bailey, in The Garden Lover, 1928)

I remember my father writing to Charles Downing from what was then considered to be the western wilderness, asking for scions of the Surprise apple that he might add it to the many varieties growing on his place and offering to pay for them; and Downing sent the scions and wrote in his own hand (there were no typewriters then) that there was no charge to those who loved fruits.

I set those scions, and for many a year made pilgrimage to the tree and opened the green fruits to be surprised again and again at the pink flesh, "stained with red" as the original "Fruits and Fruit Trees of America" has it ....I have not seen this variety in any number of years. If any man grows it, will he not send me a fruit when it is ripe? And I shall not even offer to pay for it.

(Where is this apple now, if still in existence? HFJ)