Fruitnut... I hope. These were planted last summer as espaliers. The interesting thing was that on one tree in particular, the first branches (horizontal) leafed out while the main leader and the two that will make up the second tier are still in firmly in barely swollen bud stage. On the others the first level also leafed out much earlier than the others but at least there is some awakening. Mike.

Appleseed It comes from Kyrgyzstan . (See Trees of Antiquity site) I have it growing at my home in Southern NY. This is its second year in the ground. I will take some scion and graft onto my trees in upstate NY . I have read different descriptions of the fruit. Some say its a crab apple some say the fruit is large and flavorful. So... until I see how the fruit develops in the two locations my plan is fluid. This year I left 6 only apples scattered on the tree to see if I can get some to taste. I will have to do some severe heading to keep the tree at under 7 feet. I guess it was named after the man who discovered it and brought it back to Europe. See what I found in an old Wisconsin Horticultural Society Article (1899): "In eastern Turkestan and western China I found a race of small, sweet winter apples, with flesh and skin red throughout. It is promising as the ancestor of a race of red-fleshed apples. A variety of this type of late found its way into Germany from Turkestan under the name of Pyrus Malus Niedzwetzkyana. The wood, young leaves and cambium layer also show much red. I met Mr. Niedzwetzky at Vernoe, the capital of the Semiretchinsk province; he found the apple in the mountains between Turkestan and China. The name is a trifle difficult for American tongues." Mike Here is a link that might be useful: Niedzwetzkyana - Trees of Antiquity This post was edited by mes111 on Tue, Jul 15, 14 at 8:33

OK, correction; the apples on the branch are NOT King David, but Lady Williams (that's what happens when the Belgian Fence makes tracing the branch to the tag difficult). The King David in the hand are indeed runts, but excellent-tasting runts. I picked the Lady Williams today, also very nice, very marketable, but nothing close to King David. KD is still very firm when ripe, but in a pleasant sort of way, very sweet, with a distinctly winey taste, hints of Welch's grape juice, but also very spicy, appley, sweet-tart, matching the color. KD doesn't keep nearly like Arkansas Black unfortunately, but Lady Williams is reported to keep well and improve in ordinary storage, a plus where there is no refrigeration.

Can only guess given the limited info but best guess is Blister Beetles. Look up pics of them to compare. Dave