What Kind of Apple Trees Did Johnny Appleseed Plant?

Johnny Appleseed is a well-known American folk hero who became famous for planting apple trees across the United States during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born as John Chapman in Leominster, Massachusetts, in 1774 and later became known as Johnny Appleseed due to the large number of apple orchards he created throughout the Midwest. But what kind of apple trees did he plant?

The Origins of Johnny Appleseed's Apple Trees

According to historical records, the apple trees that Johnny Appleseed planted were not the kind of modern apples that we are familiar with today. Instead, they were a variety of wild apples known as "spitters" or "spitters and hooch" apples, which were not suitable for human consumption. These apples were sour and bitter and were mostly used to make hard cider and applejack, which were popular alcoholic drinks at the time.

Why Did Johnny Appleseed Plant Wild Apple Trees?

Despite the fact that the apples Johnny Appleseed planted were not very tasty, he believed that planting them was important for a number of reasons. First, he was a follower of the religious sect known as the Church of the New Jerusalem and believed that eating meat and drinking alcohol were sinful. So, he saw planting apple trees as a way to promote a healthier lifestyle by providing people with an alternative to alcohol. Second, he believed that planting apple trees would help settle the American frontier by providing a source of food and income for people who were moving west. Finally, he believed that planting apple trees was his mission from God and that it was his duty to improve the land and make it more productive.

The Legacy of Johnny Appleseed's Apple Trees

Although the apples that Johnny Appleseed planted were not very tasty, they did serve a valuable purpose in American history. The hard cider and applejack that were made from these apples were a popular drink among American pioneers and helped fuel the westward expansion of the country. In addition, the apple trees that Johnny Appleseed planted played an important role in the development of modern apple varieties. Some of the wild apple trees that he planted were used as rootstock for grafting, which helped create new varieties of apples that were more disease-resistant and had better fruit quality.

Conclusion

So, what kind of apple trees did Johnny Appleseed plant? He planted a variety of wild apples that were not suitable for human consumption but were valuable for making hard cider and applejack. Despite their sour and bitter taste, these apples played an important role in American history and helped shape the modern apple industry. Today, we can still see the legacy of Johnny Appleseed's apple trees in the many varieties of apples that are available in our grocery stores and in the apple orchards that continue to dot the American landscape.