August

Origin and History

This hybrid variety originated from seed of the Wealthy apple, produced by Peter M. Gideon of Excelsior, Minnesota. It was received at the New York Station in 1888 for testing. It has since been tested at experiment stations in various states but appears to be practically unknown to fruit growers.

Tree

The tree is moderately vigorous with an upright spreading form that is somewhat drooping and open. The twigs are short, curved, and slender with short internodes. The bark is clear brown, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, and slightly pubescent. Lenticels are scattering, medium in size, oblong, and slightly raised. The buds are medium in size, plump, acute, free, and not pubescent.

The tree is hardy, comes into bearing early, and is reliably productive.

Fruit

Size and Form. The fruit is medium to small, occasionally above medium, and uniform in size and shape. The form is roundish oblate to roundish conic, nearly symmetrical, with regular or somewhat ribbed surfaces.

Stem. The stem is rather short to medium in length and moderately slender.

Cavity. The cavity is acute approaching acuminate, medium to deep, moderately broad, symmetrical, and usually not russeted.

Calyx. The calyx is rather large and closed, with long, acute, reflexed lobes. The calyx tube is rather small, short, and conical. The stamens are median to nearly basal.

Basin. The basin is moderately shallow to rather deep, moderately wide, somewhat abrupt, and slightly furrowed and wrinkled.

Skin. The skin is pale yellow or greenish, sometimes almost entirely overspread and mottled with rather bright red, striped and splashed with carmine, and covered with bloom. Dots are whitish, small, scattering, and inconspicuous. In well-colored specimens, the prevailing color is red.

Core and Seeds. The core is medium in size to above, usually axile with often unsymmetrical cells that are usually closed but sometimes wide open. Core lines are clasping, with ovate carpels. The seeds are light brown, medium to above in size, moderately wide, plump, and acute.

Flesh and Flavor. The flesh is slightly tinged with yellow, half-fine, and moderately juicy, with a breaking texture. The flavor is mild subacid with a slight crabapple flavor. The quality is fairly good for culinary use.

Season

August and early September.

Uses

The fruit is fairly good for culinary use. The variety is not recommended for planting in New York.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

This hybrid is classed by some as an apple and by others as a crabapple. The fruit is medium to small for an apple but very large for a crabapple.