Most apples do not come true to seed, but there are several notable exceptions. Two that I know of are the snow (fameuse) apple, and the Antonovka, a Russian table apple that is also used as a rootstock. McIntosh is thought to be an offspring of the snow fameuse apple, so most likely, if you plant a seedling of McIntosh, you will get something that will be very close to McIntosh. Most of the crosses that were made with McIntosh as one of the parents generally end up very similar to McIntosh, like Spartan, empire, McCoun etc... For most other apples, the above does not apply. You will generally not get anything resembling the parent, but the likelihood that you will get a tasty backyard quality apple is pretty good. You probably won't get special traits such as the cardboard taste that seems to be required for commercial apples, and it might not be esthetically pleasing to be suitable for store shelves, but it will very likely be quite tasty. Peaches are amazingly true to seed as well, so they are worth a try. On the other hand, plums are terrible, you won't get anything decent unless you have lots of room to grow multiple trees and throw out the unwanted ones. I have not tried to many of the other fruits.

I don't know if I can find free scionwood - at least of a known variety, b/c then I'd probably have to go to an orchard and I doubt they'd give me any (competition). If any of the old trees on my uncle's property are still alive (but not bearing?) would they make suitable scionwood? Of course, I have no way of knowing what variety a tree is, besides Spies and Baldwins I think there were other kinds there. If I have to order (Maple Valley looks good, thanks for the link!), would bare root be better than bench grafts? $22 is still cheap compared to what nurseries want for (larger) trees. I want to plant these near the majority of our older trees, and not that far from my uncle's, so we have lots of chances for pollination. Plus that area's more or less clear ;-) But irrigation is a problem out there so I don't want something that really needs to be babied. Or plant bench/barewood in a large pot, or near the house where we can water it more, then transplant it later? I may "branch out" ;-) and order more varieties from Maple Valley, esp. if we go with scionwood or bench grafts. I still want to plant Spies and Baldwins for nostalgia (and taste) but Winesap and some others they are sold out of right now (at least bare root) sound good too. Is M26 a good rootstock for my area? Thanks for all the help.

Since you like adventure: Yes it is very unlikely the fruit will be worth eating. But there actually was a Granny Smith. From the variety list of Kevin Hauser: "Granny Smith Australia, 1868 Few folk realize that this is the oldest supermarket apple variety. It sprouted from a washtub of French crab apple trimmings tossed out by an actual granny, Maria Anne Smith of the Ryde District of New South Wales." She got it from a seed so there is a chance (probably at least less than 1:200) And since you like adventure and assuming this seedling is growing in your yard's native soil it will make an excellent seedling rootstock if it survives its first year or two (or five). You can practice all manner of grafting onto it with apple varieties who's scions you acquire locally or through exchange groups. Grafting: I bet you can do it! Here is a link that might be useful: Kuffel Creek Apple Varieties List

This is a great project for a five year old. From such small beginnings passionate gardeners often grow. Plus, anything that involves the actual world as opposed to the virtual/digital one is very important for all kids today. If the apple trees in question have just germinated this year, planting them out for this coming winter would be very risky. They need more size and root development to have a fighting chance of coping with cold, wind, predation from mice, voles, etc. Growing them on in containers for at least a year - 2 would better - would greatly increase their chances for survival. An allee is a double row of trees with a path - an alley - running between. They can be any length you care to make them, but would probably not look terribly allee-like if not of sufficient length. Perhaps you can make this a long term project that involves planting seeds for several years and gradually lengthening your rows. Traditionally, allees have been planted with a single species of tree, but there is no reason way species could not be mixed. Your son could try different seeds and wind up with a planting that is uniquely his. As for spacing, you could place them close together to begin with, four or five feet, say and then remove every other one as they grow to close to each other. This should probably take 20 years or so with all seed grown trees.