Alexander
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Alexander
Origin / History
Alexander is of Russian origin. Elliott calls it simply foreign. The Herefordshire Pomona makes it a native of the Southern Provinces of Russia, whence it was transported to Riga, and says it was named in compliment to the Emperor Alexander the First. Beach calls it a typical representative of the class of Russian apples commonly known as the Aport group.
Beach and Bunyard give 1817 for its introduction into England, as does the George Bunyard & Co. catalog of 1914 ("Imported from Russia in 1817"). The Herefordshire Pomona says it was introduced into England by Mr. Lee, nurseryman, of Hammersmith, about the year 1805. The same source records that on January 7, 1817, Mr. Lee exhibited very fine specimens at the Horticultural Society. One of them measured five inches in diameter, four inches in depth, and sixteen inches in circumference, and weighed nineteen ounces. The plate in the Transactions (vol. II, p. 406) is called "not quite typical in shape, owing no doubt to its size." A better figure is given in Ronalds' Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, plate xxxv, figure 2. Bunyard also cites Ronalds, p. 25.
Beach says the exact date of its introduction into America is not known. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society made several importations of European varieties, which were distributed among its members. Mr. Manning exhibited what was supposed to be Alexander before the society at its meeting on September 18, 1830 (N. E. Farmer, September 24, 1830). Beach concludes that, whether or not that fruit was Alexander, the shipment of which Alexander was one had been made before that date. He calls it widely disseminated and pretty well known in the apple-growing districts from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In New York state it had thus far not been grown to any considerable extent, but its cultivation there was on the increase. Hedrick calls its cultivation "everywhere common in northern apple regions." In the West it is now largely supplanted by its Wisconsin seedling, Wolf River (Hansen; Beach). The Agassiz station planted it in spring 1890.
A very large, showy, handsome fruit. Warder calls it a Russian apple "so much admired for its size and beauty" that "is not a favorite in the orchard." The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "this beautiful apple" and "one of the most beautiful and valuable apples, both as regards its size and quality." Thomas calls its showiness "its chief recommendation." Hedrick says it "has many merits but some faults" and names the merits of the tree as vigor, hardiness, productiveness, earliness and regularity of bearing, and of the fruit as large size and handsome appearance. He says it is much used as a filler in some apple regions and as a permanent tree where hardiness is a determinant. Bunyard says it "has suffered often at the hands of re-christeners." Stark Bros. judge that "though showy, it is of little value—not so desirable as Wealthy."
Tree
Tree vigorous and spreading, with long, stout branches. Agassiz calls it a strong and spreading grower, and the Herefordshire Pomona says it grows well and vigorously. Beach gives vigorous to moderately vigorous. Size medium (Warder) to large (Beach, large to medium). Beach gives the form as upright spreading to roundish, open, and somewhat inclined to droop after bearing heavy crops. Veitch says it forms a large pyramid and is suitable for the orchard.
Twigs short, curved, stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium. Bark brown mingled with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent near the tips. Lenticels scattering, medium in size, oval, raised. Buds medium in size, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent (Beach). Leaf large, roundish, pale gray-green, down-hanging, nearly flat, very coarsely crenate (Bunyard). The Herefordshire Pomona says the leaves change in autumn to a fine red hue.
Hardy; "perfectly hardy" in the Herefordshire Pomona. Subject to blight in some localities (Beach). Hedrick calls susceptibility to blight the chief fault of the tree, and Lowther calls it more subject to blight than some other varieties. Stark Bros. say it blights and is liable to rot.
Productiveness runs from productive or a good bearer down to a poor or light bearer. Downing, Hansen, Agassiz, and Hedrick call it productive, and the Herefordshire Pomona a good bearer. Warder, Beach, and Bunyard give it as moderately productive or of moderate fertility. Elliott, Thomas ("a moderate or poor bearer"), and Stark Bros. rank it a poor or light bearer. Warder calls it an early bearer, and Hedrick counts earliness and regularity of bearing among its merits. The fruit drops prematurely, with considerable loss (Beach); Warder says it "falls badly from the tree."
The Herefordshire Pomona says the size of the fruit renders protection from the wind desirable. Veitch says that grown under glass it produces particularly handsome fruit. George Bunyard & Co. (1901) call it immense on cordons, useful for garden culture, and enormous under high culture. George Bunyard & Co. (1914) call it extra fine on paradise.
Fruit
Size: Large to enormous; very large in most accounts. Beach's technical description gives large and uniform in size and shape. George Bunyard & Co. (1914) call it enormous, and the 1901 catalog enormous under high culture. Bunyard gives 4 by 3. Mr. Lee's specimen of January 7, 1817, measured five inches in diameter, four inches in depth, and sixteen inches in circumference, and weighed nineteen ounces (Herefordshire Pomona).
Form: Conical, regular, symmetrical. Roundish conic to slightly oblate conic; Thomas gives oblate, inclined to conic. Flattened at the base (Elliott) or truncated (Warder). Regular or approaching broadly angular (Beach), sometimes obscurely angular (Warder); Bunyard describes it as round, conical, and flattened on five sides. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it heart-shaped.
Stem: Short to an inch or more in length; small, short, or medium to rather short in most accounts. Stout or moderately thick, knobbed at the base (Hansen). Downing gives it rather slender, three-fourths of an inch long. Bunyard calls it rather long, and the Herefordshire Pomona gives an inch or more.
Cavity: Rather deep to deep, regular, round, even, symmetrical; russeted or lined with russet (Herefordshire Pomona, Bunyard), with a mere trace of russet in Hansen's account and brown in Warder's. Acute to acuminate, occasionally lipped, often with broad, conspicuous, outspreading russet rays (Beach). Broad or wide (Beach, Bunyard); Warder alone calls it narrow.
Calyx: Medium to large in most accounts; Warder alone calls the eye small and long. Hansen gives it open and Beach usually open; the Herefordshire Pomona gives half open. Warder and Bunyard give it closed. Segments broad, erect, and acuminate (Herefordshire Pomona). Beach describes the lobes as medium to short, rather narrow, and acute.
Calyx tube conical (Hansen); variable, long to short, wide to medium, conical to funnel-shaped (Beach). Stamens median to basal; Hansen gives basal.
Basin: Rather deep to deep, narrow to nearly medium in width, abrupt; rather small and symmetrical (Beach), medium and regular (Warder). Even or nearly smooth (Herefordshire Pomona, Thomas, Beach), yet slightly ribbed in the Herefordshire Pomona's account and slightly corrugated in Hansen's. Bunyard describes it as plaited and topped by five angular ribs.
Skin: Smooth; moderately thick, tough, glossy, somewhat waxy (Beach).
Ground color greenish yellow or pale yellow, golden-yellow in Bunyard's account, deepening to orange or orange-yellow in the sun. The shaded side carries a few faint streaks of red. The sunny side is brilliantly streaked, striped, and splashed with bright red or carmine. Warder calls it striped and splashed distinctly bright red, sometimes shaded mixed red. Hansen describes the sunny side as almost wholly covered with bright crimson stripes and splashes, and Agassiz reports bright red over nearly the whole surface. Beach says it is often entirely overspread with lively red or handsomely striped and splashed with bright carmine, the prevailing effect red or striped. Bunyard gives broad red stripes and flush. Lowther says that in the arid regions of bright sunshine it is often of a deep red color.
Showy, fair, and handsome. Beach says it often becomes discolored where it is chafed by constantly rubbing against some twig or branch.
Dots: Minute to small, inconspicuous or obscure, few and scattering, gray (Hansen). The Herefordshire Pomona alone describes the whole surface as strewn with numerous russety dots.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white to yellowish white; nearly white with a faint yellow tinge (Beach), pale yellow (Bunyard). Coarse, crisp to rather or moderately crisp, tender, juicy. Warder calls it breaking and not fine grained, and Beach firm. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it sugary. George Bunyard & Co. (1901) describe it as melting and "of fine flavour" under high culture, though too soft for market.
Flavor subacid or mildly acid, rather pleasant. The Herefordshire Pomona gives "a pleasant and slightly aromatic flavour," and Veitch "a pleasant aromatic flavour." Bunyard calls it sweet, and George Bunyard & Co. (1914) brisk. Warder gives acid, "not rich," and Stark Bros. acidy.
Quality "good" (Downing, Thomas), "fair to good" or "medium to good" (Beach), "rather good" (Lowther). Warder rates it "scarcely good, except for cooking," and Stark Bros. "poor quality." Hedrick calls it "so poor in quality as to be suitable only for culinary purposes."
Core and seeds: Core small and usually axile (Beach), or wide and regular with a short axis (Warder). Hansen gives the core open, with ovate, slit cells. Warder calls it nearly closed and clasping. Beach gives the cells often not uniformly developed, closed or very slightly open, with the core lines slightly clasping. Carpels elliptical to slightly ovate, emarginate (Beach).
Seeds short, plump, wide; medium in size and obtuse to acute (Beach), large (Warder). Bunyard says the variety may be distinguished from Bismarck by its short, round seeds.
Season
The recorded season runs from August into January. Most authors give September or October through November or December; the briefer entries, October or late autumn, fall within that span. Warder alone gives August and September, and Rivers alone extends it to January.
It ripens continuously over a period of four to six weeks and needs more than one picking (Beach); Hedrick says it ripens unevenly and requires several pickings. It goes down quickly. Beach says it may be held in cold storage till November, but does not stand heat well before going into storage and should be shipped the day it is picked and under ice. Hedrick says it does not keep well in either common or cold storage. Stark Bros. say it deteriorates quickly and must be marketed or put in storage as soon as picked. It is apt to crack and decay about the stem and calyx.
Uses
Chiefly culinary, more adapted for cooking than for dessert. Thomas calls it "a coarse sort, only for cooking," and Rivers "a good cooking apple." The Herefordshire Pomona adds that when well colored it "presents a very noble appearance on the table." Bunyard gives culinary or dessert, and George Bunyard & Co. (1901) call it fit for dessert under high culture.
An exhibition variety. Bunyard says it is valued chiefly on the exhibition table. George Bunyard & Co. call it a "handsome exhibition variety" (1901) and "one of the handsomest of Apples" (1914).
For market, Warder says some persons have found it profitable. Beach says many fruit growers now regard it favorably as a commercial variety, since in some markets there is a strong demand for the fruit at good prices. It is used to some extent for export trade, and he recommends it for commercial orchards to a limited extent. George Bunyard & Co. (1901) call it too soft for market.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Stark Bros. entry ends with the notation "NNC." The Rivers entry carries the notation "S" before its season.
Book Sources
Described in 11 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- The Herefordshire Pomona (1876–1885)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 68 catalogs (1845–1921) from California, England, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- Joseph Breck & Co. , Boston , Massachusetts — 1855
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell Prairie, Marion County, OR (Marion Co., Ogn.) — 1864
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Fancher Creek Nursery , Fresno , California — 1886
- W.R. Strong & Co. , Capital and Orange Hill Nurseries (Robert Williamson, prop.), Sacramento , California — 1886
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Palouse Nursery and Pleasant Dale Fruit Farm , Colfax, Washington Territory (situated two miles northeast of Colfax) - undated (single-page broadside flyer; "Washington Territory" suggests pre — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- William H. Moon Co. , Morrisville, Bucks County , Pennsylvania — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Rogers Nursery Co. , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1893
- Sherwood Hall Nursery Co. , Timothy Hopkins (Menlo Park Nurseries), San Francisco / Menlo Park , California — 1893
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- The Salem Nursery (John A. Francis , Proprietor), Salem , Virginia — 1897
- Reading Nursery , Jacob W. Manning, Proprietor, Reading , Massachusetts — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- S.L. Watkins , Grizzly Flats, El Dorado County , California — 1901
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Forestville Nurseries , T.J. True, Forestville , California — 1902
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Wm. J. Corse (successor to Robert Sinclair / Sinclair Nurseries) , Baltimore , Maryland — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1910
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Samuel Fraser , Geneseo , New York — 1913
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- Fancher Creek Nurseries , George C. Roeding, Fresno , California — 1918
- Christopher Nurseries / John Stewart & Sons , Christopher , Washington — 1920
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon , Washington — 1921
- North-Western Nurseries , Walla Walla , Washington
View original book sources (17)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Alexander. Emperor Alexander. Foreign. Fruit, large, conical, flattened at base, red streaked on greenish yellow; stem, small; cavity, deep; calyx, large; basin deep; flesh, coarse, crisp; showy; poor bearer. October.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Alexander.
This Russian apple, so much admired for its size and beauty, is not a favorite in the orchard, though some persons have found it profitable in the markets.
Tree medium size, spreading, moderately productive, early bearer.
Fruit large to very large, fair and handsome, conical, truncated, sometimes obscurely angular; Surface smooth, pale yellow, striped and splashed distinctly bright red, sometimes shaded mixed red; Dots minute.
Basin medium, regular; Eye small, long, closed.
Cavity rather deep, narrow, regular, brown; Stem medium to short, stout.
Core wide, regular, nearly closed, clasping; Axis short; Seeds large; Flesh whitish, breaking, not fine grained, juicy; Flavor acid, not rich; Quality scarcely good, except for cooking; Season, August and September. Fruit falls badly from the tree.
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- EMPEROR ALEXANDER. [Syn : Aporta ; Alexander ; Russian Emperor ; Kief's Koy.] This beautiful apple is a native of the Southern Provinces of Russia, whence it was transported to Riga. It is called Alexander, in compliment to the Emperor Alexander the First. It was introduced into England by Mr. Lee, nurseryman, of Hammersmith, about the year 1805. On January 7, 1817, Mr. Lee exhibited some very fine specimens at the Horticultural Society, one of which measured five inches in diameter, four inches in depth, and sixteen inches in circumference. It weighed nineteen ounces. A plate of this apple is given in the Transactions (vol. II. p. 406), but it is not quite typical in shape, owing no doubt to its size. A better figure of it is given in Ronalds' Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, plate xxxv., figure 2. Description.—Fruit, very large, heart-shaped. Skin, smooth, greenish yellow, with a few streaks of red on the shaded side, and orange, streaked with bright red next the sun ; the whole strewed with numerous russety dots. Eye, large and half open, with broad, erect, and acuminate segments ; set in a deep, even, and slightly ribbed basin. Stalk, an inch or more in length, inserted in a deep, round, and even cavity, which is lined with russet. Flesh, yellowish white, tender, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with a pleasant and slightly aromatic flavour. This is one of the most beautiful and valuable apples, both as regards its size and quality. It is more adapted for culinary than dessert use, but when well coloured it presents a very noble appearance on the table. It is in season from September to December. The tree grows well and vigorously. It is perfectly hardy, and a good bearer. The size of its fruit renders protection from the wind desirable. The leaves of the tree change in autumn to a fine red hue.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Alexander.
Emperor Alexander. Russian Emperor. Aporta. Victoria, incorrectly.
A very large, showy Russian variety. Tree vigorous, spreading, productive. Fruit very large, regularly formed, conical. Skin greenish-yellow, faintly streaked with red on the shaded side, but orange, brilliantly streaked, and marked with bright red in the sun. Calyx large, set in a deep basin. Stalk rather slender, three-fourths of an inch long, planted in a deep cavity. Flesh yellowish-white, crisp, tender, and juicy, with a rather pleasant flavor. Good. October to December.
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Alexander—Of Russian origin; tree vigorous, spreading, productive. In the west it is now largely supplanted by its Wisconsin seedling the Wolf River—Fruit very large, regular, conical; surface greenish yellow, faintly streaked with red on shaded side, but orange on the sunny side almost wholly covered with bright crimson stripes and splashes, a showy fruit; dots obscure, few, minute, gray; cavity regular, deep, with trace of russet; stem short, knobbed at base; basin narrow, abrupt, slightly corrugated; calyx open. Core open; cells ovate, slit; tube conical; stamens basal; seeds short, plump; flesh yellowish white, crisp, tender and juicy with a rather pleasant flavor, good. October to December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Alexander. Very large, oblate, inclined to conic, regular; streaked with bright red on greenish-yellow; stalk small, cavity rather deep; calyx large, basin deep, even; flesh rather crisp, sub-acid, good; a coarse sort, only for cooking. A moderate or poor bearer. Late autumn. Very showy, its chief recommendation. Russian.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)ALEXANDER
REFERENCES. 1. Forsyth, 1824:131. 2. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831: No. 10. 3. Kenrick, 1832:65. 4. Floy-Lindley, 1833:11. 5. Mag. Hort., 1:395. 1835. 6. Downing, 1845:79. fig. 7. Thomas, 1849:146. 8. Cole, 1849:118. 9. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:32. 1851. 10. Barry, 1851:282. 11. Elliott, 1854:120. 12. Gregg, 1857:41. 13. Hooper, 1857:11. 14. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 15. Warder, 1867:510. 16. Fitz, 1872:152. 17. Leroy, 1873:333. fig. 18. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1879:538. 19. Downing, 1881:11 index, app. 20. Hogg, 1884:72. 21. Roach, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-87:27. 22. Wickson, 1889:244. 23. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:288. 24. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234. 25. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:278. 1894. 26. Gaudier, 1894: No. 14. col. pl. 27. Dempsey, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 1:24. 1894. 28. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:312. 1896. 29. Stinson, Ark. Sta. Bul., 43:102. 1896. 30. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:29. 1897. 31. Can. Hort., 20:283. 1897. 32. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 5:5. 1898. figs. 33. Bunyard, Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1898:354. 34. Craig, Cyclopedia of Amer. Hort., 3:1404. 1901. 35. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:22. 1902. 36. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1902:83, 85, 86. 37. Budd-Hansen, 1903:36. fig. 38. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:36. 1903. 39. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:111. 1904. 40. Scriber, Can. Hort., 28:248. 1905.
SYNONYMS. Albertin (17, 26). ALEXANDER (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40). Alexandre (34, 26). Alexander the First (31). Alexandre (17, 26). Aporta (3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 17, 20, 26, 31). Aporta Nalivia (26). Aubertin (17, 26). Beauty of Queen (17, 26). Belle d'Orleans (17, 26). Comte Woronzoff (17, 26). Corail (17, 26). English King (19, 26). Empereur Alexandre I (17, 26). Empereur Alexandre de Russie (17, 26). Empereur de Russie (17, 26). EMPEROR ALEXANDER (3, 4, 20, 33). Emperor Alexander (2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 26, 32). Fin d'Automne (17, 26). Grand Alexander (26). GRAND ALEXANDRE (17). Grand Alexandre (26). Gros-Alexandre (17, 26). Jolly Gentleman (26). KAISER ALEXANDER (26). Korallen Apfel (26). Phœnix (26). Phönix (17, 26). Pomona Britannica (17, 26). Président Napoleon (17, 26). Russian Emperor (2, 6, 9, 13, 20, 26). Stoke Tulip (26). Wolf River incorrectly (39). Wunderapfel (26).
Alexander is a typical representative of the class of Russian apples commonly known as the Aport group. Fruit very large, attractive red or striped, coarse in texture, medium to good in quality, suitable for culinary rather than for dessert use. The fruit is apt to crack and decay about the stem and calyx and often becomes discolored where it is chafed by constantly rubbing against some twig or branch; there is also a considerable loss from premature dropping of the fruit. Notwithstanding these faults many fruit growers now regard Alexander favorably as a commercial variety as in some markets there is a strong demand for the fruit at good prices. It is being used to some extent for export trade (40). Its season begins in September and extends through October or into November. It may be held in cold storage till November. It goes down quickly and as it does not stand heat well before going into storage it should be shipped the day it is picked and under ice (39). As it ripens continuously during a period of from four to six weeks it should have more than one picking. The tree is hardy, vigorous and moderately productive. In some localities it is subject to blight. It can be recommended for planting in commercial orchards to a limited extent. In the West it is now largely supplanted by its Wisconsin seedling Wolf River (34, 36).
Historical. Introduced into England from Russia in 1817 (20). The exact date of the introduction of this variety into America is not known. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society made several importations of European varieties which were distributed among the members of the society. Mr. Manning exhibited what was supposed to be Alexander before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at its meeting on September 18, 1830. Whether this was Alexander or not, the shipment of varieties of which Alexander was one had evidently been made prior to that date.¹ It has been widely disseminated and is now pretty well known in the apple growing districts from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Thus far it has not been grown to any considerable extent in New York state but at the present time its cultivation is on the increase.
TREE. Tree large to medium, vigorous to moderately vigorous with long, stout branches. Form upright spreading to roundish, open and somewhat inclined to droop after bearing heavy crops. Twigs short, curved, stout with large terminal buds; internodes medium. Bark brown mingled with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels scattering, medium in size, oval, raised. Buds medium in size, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT. Fruit large, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish conic to slightly oblate conic, regular or approaching broadly angular, symmetrical. Stem medium to rather short, moderately thick. Cavity acute to acuminate, deep, broad, symmetrical, occasionally lipped, russeted, often with broad, conspicuous, outspreading russet rays. Calyx medium to large, usually open; lobes medium to short, rather narrow, acute. Basin rather small, deep, narrow to nearly medium in width, abrupt, nearly smooth, symmetrical. Skin moderately thick, tough, smooth, glossy, somewhat waxy, greenish or pale yellow deepening to orange-yellow in the sun, often entirely overspread with lively red or handsomely striped and splashed with bright carmine. Dots inconspicuous, small, scattering. Prevailing effect red or striped. Calyx tube variable, long to short, wide to medium, conical to funnel-shape. Stamens median to basal. Core small, usually axile; cells often not uniformly developed, closed or very slightly open; core lines slightly clasping. Carpels elliptical to slightly ovate, emarginate. Seeds medium in size, wide, short, rather plump, obtuse to acute. Flesh nearly white with faint yellow tinge, firm, coarse, moderately crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, fair to good.
Season September and October or early November.
¹N. E. Farmer, Sept. 24, 1830: 78.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Alexander.—Of Russian origin; tree vigorous, spreading, productive. In the West it is now largely supplanted by its Wisconsin seedling, the Wolf River. Fruit very large, regular, conical; surface greenish yellow, faintly streaked with red on shaded side, but orange on the sunny side, almost wholly covered with bright crimson stripes and splashes, a showy fruit; dots obscure, few, minute, gray; cavity regular, deep, with trace of russet; stem short knobbed at base; basin narrow, abrupt, slightly corrugated; calyx open. Core open; cells ovate, slit; tube conical; stamens basal; seeds short, plump; flesh yellowish white, crisp, tender and juicy, with a rather pleasant flavor, good. October to December.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Alexander
The Alexander originated in Russia; was introduced into England in 1817; but the exact date of its introduction into the United States we are not able to determine.
The fruit is very large, attractive, red or striped, coarse in texture, rather good in quality, better for culinary purposes than for dessert. It is large, uniform in size and shape, roundish, slightly conical, symmetrical. Skin moderately thick, tough, smooth, glossy, somewhat waxy, greenish or pale yellow deepening to orange in the sun. In the arid regions of bright sunshine, it is often of a deep red color.
The tree is hardy, vigorous, moderately productive, but is more subject to blight than some other varieties. It has long branches, upright, spreading to roundish top, twigs stout with large terminal buds; bark brown mingled with olive green.
For market the fruit is in good demand from September to the first of November, although it inclines to crack at the stem and calyx, and there is considerable loss by premature dropping.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)EMPEROR ALEXANDER. Ronalds, p. 25. F., Grand Alexandre; G., Kaiser Alexander. (Aporta, English King.) Culinary or dessert, September to November, large, 4 by 3, round, conical, flattened on five sides. Colour, golden-yellow, with broad red stripes and flush. Flesh, pale yellow, tender, sweet. Eye, closed, in a rather deep and plaited basin, which is topped by five angular ribs. Stem, rather long in a deep and wide russet-lined cavity. Growth, vigorous, spreading; fertility moderate. Leaf, large, roundish, pale grey-green, down hanging, nearly flat, very coarsely crenate. Origin, Russian. Imported into England in 1817. It has suffered often at the hands of re-christeners. Valued chiefly on the exhibition table. May be distinguished from Bismarck by the short round seeds.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- Alexander. (×½)
ALEXANDER. Fig. 6. Aporta.
Alexander has many merits but some faults. Merits of the trees are vigor, hardiness, productiveness, earliness and regularity of bearing; of the fruits, large size and handsome appearance. The chief fault of the tree is susceptibility to blight. The apples fail in being coarse in texture and so poor in quality as to be suitable only for culinary purposes; in ripening unevenly and so requiring several pickings; in dropping prematurely; and in not keeping well in either common or cold storage. The variety is much used as a filler in some apple regions, and as a permanent tree where hardiness is a determinant. Its cultivation is everywhere common in northern apple regions. Alexander was introduced into England in 1817; when into America is not known.
Tree large, vigorous, with long stout branches, upright-spreading, open, somewhat drooping. Fruit large, uniform in size and shape, round-conic to oblate-conic, regular or approaching broadly angular, symmetrical; stem short, thick; cavity acute, deep, broad, symmetrical, occasionally lipped, russeted, often with broad, conspicuous outspreading russet rays; calyx large, open; lobes short, narrow, acute; basin small, deep, narrow, abrupt, smooth, symmetrical; skin thick, tough, smooth, glossy, waxen, pale yellow deepening to orange-yellow in the sun, overspread with lively red or striped and splashed with carmine; dots inconspicuous, scattering; prevailing effect red or striped; calyx-tube variable, long, wide, conical; stamens median; core small, usually axile; cells closed or slightly open; core-lines clasping; carpels elliptical, emarginate; seeds wide, short, plump, obtuse; flesh faint yellow, firm, coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid; fair to good; September to November.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1890. Tree a strong and spreading grower; productive. Fruit very large, regularly formed, conical. Skin greenish yellow, with bright red over nearly the whole surface. Flesh white, crisp, tender and juicy, mildly acid, and of pleasant flavour. Season, September and October.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Very large, handsome exhibition variety, immense on Cordons, and useful for garden culture; too soft for market. Under high culture, becomes enormous; melting, of fine flavour, and fit for dessert.
— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)A large red striped apple, acidy, poor quality; light bearer, blights and is liable to rot. Must be marketed or put in storage as soon as picked since it deteriorates quickly. Though showy, it is of little value—not so desirable as Wealthy. NNC
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)large and handsome, flesh juicy with a pleasant aromatic flavour, a variety which when grown under glass produces particularly handsome fruit, it forms a large pyramid and is suitable for the orchard ... Sept. to Dec.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)Exhibition; Oct.-Nov. Enormous, pale yellow striped with carmine; flesh tender, flavour brisk; one of the handsomest of Apples, extra fine on paradise. Imported from Russia in 1817.
— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)very large and handsome; a good cooking apple S Sept.-Jan.