As usual

 

The Spartan tree is covered with hundreds of small apples-- as usual, each with its own personal worm. I planted that tree over 30 years ago as a little stick from a catalog. 

This cultivar was developed in British Columbia in 1936, and it was first apple produced from a formal scientific breeding program. Genetic testing has still not revealed its exact parentage. 

According to AI, Spartans faded from production as they are prone to disease. No kidding. It's just a specialty cultivar now, primarily grown in the native region of Canada, or as a home garden "novelty." That's a nice word to keep in mind while you're raking up piles of rotting apples. 

But I picked a basket of the nicer ones to do something with this weekend. They make pretty good applesauce, but that is a ton of messy work for something we don't eat very often. 

In fact, I haven't been into canning much at all this summer, other than a small batch of chutney made with our Roma tomatoes and pears from Lone Pine.