Arnold
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Arnold
Origin/History
Arnold was raised from seed of the Northern Spy, pollinated with pollen from the Wagener and Esopus Spitzenberg (Downing and Budd-Hansen give the pollen parent simply as "Spitzenberg," without the "Esopus" qualifier), by Charles Arnold of Paris, Ontario, Canada. The variety appears in Downing's 1876 appendix and passed into subsequent pomological literature under the synonym Arnold's Beauty.
Fulton, reporting in Michigan Agricultural Station Bulletins between 1899 and 1903 (as cited by Beach), observed that Arnold "is too light in color and almost too tender for market, promising for home use."
Tree
The tree is hardy (Downing), vigorous (Beach), an excellent upright grower, forming naturally a symmetrical head. All sources agree it is productive and bears abundantly.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium in size. Form oblate, slightly angular and ribbed.
Stem: Medium length, slender.
Cavity: Large and deep, with russet present. Downing notes "sometimes slight russet"; Beach says "usually slightly russeted"; Budd-Hansen says "usually russeted."
Calyx: Small, closed.
Basin: Deep. Downing describes it as "slightly plaited"; Beach as "slightly corrugated"; Budd-Hansen as "rough, slightly plaited."
Skin: Sources diverge on ground color and russet extent. Downing gives the skin as "bright yellow, occasionally a shade of bright red, and a few brown dots." Beach describes it as "yellowish-white, netted russet, sometimes with a little bright red; prevailing effect light yellow." Budd-Hansen says "bright yellow, often with a blush of brownish to bright red, usually with patches and network of russet; dots few, brown." All three agree on a predominantly yellow ground, occasional red, and some degree of russet netting or patching; Downing's description omits the russet netting noted by Beach and Budd-Hansen.
Calyx Tube: Funnel-shaped (Beach, Budd-Hansen; not mentioned by Downing).
Core: Small.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh pale yellow (Downing) to yellowish (Beach, Budd-Hansen), fine in texture, firm, juicy, slightly aromatic. Flavor subacid. Downing characterizes it as "rich subacid"; Beach as "mild subacid, very good"; Budd-Hansen as "rich, mild, pleasant subacid."
Season
Downing and Budd-Hansen give January to May. Beach gives November to March.
Uses
Regarded as promising for home use. Fulton (as cited by Beach) considered it too light in color and almost too tender for market purposes.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as Arnold (Arnold's Beauty)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Arnold's Beauty
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Arnold's Beauty.
This fine new apple was raised from seed of the Northern Spy, crossed with the Wagener and Spitzenberg, by Charles Arnold, of Paris, Ontario. Mr. Arnold states that the tree is hardy, an excellent upright grower, forming naturally a symmetric head, and bearing abundantly.
Fruit medium, oblate, slightly angular; skin bright yellow, occasionally a shade of bright red, and a few brown dots; stalk medium, slender; cavity large, deep, sometimes slight russet; calyx closed; basin, deep, round, slightly plaited; flesh pale yellow, fine, rather firm, juicy, rich subacid, and slightly aromatic; core small. January, May.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Arnold", pp. 1178–1179]
Arnold's Beauty.
This fine new apple was raised from seed of the Northern Spy, crossed with the Wagener and Spitzenberg, by Charles Arnold, of Paris, Ontario. Mr. Arnold states that the tree is hardy, an excellent upright grower, forming naturally a symmetric head, and bearing abundantly.
Fruit medium, oblate, slightly angular; skin bright yellow, occasionally a shade of bright red, and a few brown dots; stalk medium, slender; cavity large, deep, sometimes slight russet; calyx closed; basin, deep, round, slightly plaited; flesh pale yellow, fine, rather firm, juicy, rich subacid, and slightly aromatic; core small. January, May.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)ARNOLD.
References. 1. Downing, 1876: app. 43. 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234. 3. Thomas, 1897:626. 4. Mich. Sta. Bul., 177:48. 1899. 5. Ib. Bul., 187:85. 1901. 6. Ib. Bul., 194:52. 1901. 7. Ib. Bul., 205:43. 1903. 8. Budd-Hansen, 1903:40.
Synonyms. Arnold's Beauty (1, 3). Arnold's Beauty (8).
The Arnold was raised from seed produced by pollinating Northern Spy with pollen from Wagener and Esopus Spitzenberg by Charles Arnold, Paris, Ontario (1). Fulton reports (4, 5, 6) that "it is too light in color and almost too tender for market, promising for home use." Tree vigorous and productive.
Fruit.
Fruit medium in size. Form oblate, slightly ribbed. Stem medium, slender. Cavity broad, deep, usually slightly russeted. Calyx small, closed. Basin deep, slightly corrugated. Skin yellowish-white, netted russet, sometimes with a little bright red. Prevailing effect light yellow. Calyx tube funnel-shape. Core small. Flesh yellowish, firm, mild subacid, juicy, slightly aromatic, very good.
Season November to March.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Arnold (Arnold's Beauty). — Originated by the late Charles Arnold, of Paris, Ontario, Canada, from seed of Northern Spy crossed with Wagener and Spitzenburg. Tree an upright grower, symmetrical, productive.
Fruit medium, oblate, slightly angular, ribbed; surface bright yellow, often with blush of brownish to bright red, usually with patches and network of russet; dots few, brown; cavity large, deep, usually russeted; stem medium, slender; basin deep, rough, slightly plaited; calyx small, closed. Core small; tube funnel-shaped; flesh yellowish, fine, firm, juicy, rich, mild, pleasant subacid, slightly aromatic. January, May.