古老的蘋果樹

貴州 石 敏

一棵蘋果樹孤零零地立在山頂附近，這是阿肯色州一種珍貴的蘋果品種，而人們認為這一品種很久以前就消失了。

An apple tree stands alone near the top of a hill.It produces the Arkansas Beauty,a fruit long believed to have disappeared from existence.Three years ago,plant experts E.J.Brandt and David Benscoter rediscovered it.They have found 13 long-lost apple varieties in an area once known as Oregon Territory in the northwestern United States, which once had 17,000 named varieties of domesticated apples,but only about 4,000 remain.

Brandt and Benscoter, both retirees,lead a non-profit called Lost Apple Project,which believes settlers planted a few hundred varieties in their part of the Pacific Northwest alone.They travel hundreds of kilometers in trucks and on foot to find orchards (果 園) planted by settlers more than a century ago.

The two are racing against time to keep the fruit from disappearing.The apple trees are old, and many are dying.Others are being ripped out for more wheat fields or housing developments.

“To me, this area is a gold mine,”says Brandt, who has found two historical varieties in the state of Idaho.“I don't want it to be lost in time.I want to give back to the people so that they can enjoy what our forefathers did.”

Joanie Cooper is a plant scientist at the Temperate Orchard Conservancy.She has helped identify many of the lost varieties found in northern Idaho and eastern Washington.The trees have value beyond their historic importance, she notes.The trees can help genetic diversity among modern-day apple crops as climate change and disease take an increasing toll.

Reading Check

What is the point of Brandt and Benscoter looking for ancient apple trees?

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