Autumn Bough

Origin / History

Origin unknown (Downing 1900); Budd & Hansen (1914) give the origin as America, and Elliott (1865) likewise classes it as American. Beach (1905) traces the variety's documentation back at least to the London Horticultural Society Catalogue of 1831 (No. 36) and notes that in 1846 Robert B. Parsons of Flushing, N.Y., described it in The Horticulturist as "a very superior fruit, ranking indeed among our best sweet apples, and worthy of extensive cultivation." Beach observes that, as of 1905, the variety was not grown commercially but was "occasionally cultivated for home use and is still listed by some nurserymen."

Tree

Vigorous, upright, round-headed, and very productive (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Elliott (1865) likewise calls the tree vigorous and productive. Thomas (1903) agrees: vigorous and productive. Beach (1905) gives a more qualified account: "medium in size, upright or roundish, moderately vigorous to vigorous, healthy, long-lived, comes into bearing fairly young and is reliably productive." The fruit hangs well to the tree (Beach 1905). Parsons, as quoted by Beach, called the tree "exceedingly productive, and of very vigorous growth."

Fruit

Size

Medium (Downing 1900; Thomas 1903; Budd & Hansen 1914); Elliott (1865) gives size as "medium, or above." Parsons (in Beach 1905) called it "rather large."

Form

Conical, angular (Downing 1900; Thomas 1903; Budd & Hansen 1914). Elliott (1865) describes the form as obtuse conical. Parsons (in Beach 1905) described it as "somewhat of a calville-shape, though with the ribs not quite so prominent as is usual with apples of that class; oblong, diminishing very much to the eye."

Stem / Stalk

Of medium length, rather slender (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914); slender, deep set (Thomas 1903); slender, curved to one side (Elliott 1865); "rather slender, set in a deep narrow cavity" (Parsons, in Beach 1905).

Cavity

Deep, narrow (Downing 1900; Parsons in Beach 1905); deep, acute, narrow (Budd & Hansen 1914); deep, regular (Elliott 1865).

Calyx

Closed, with long segments (Downing 1900; Elliott 1865; Budd & Hansen 1914). Parsons (in Beach 1905) describes the eye as "of medium size, and very deeply sunken."

Basin

Deep, corrugated (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914); deep, furrowed (Thomas 1903); ribbed or furrowed (Elliott 1865).

Skin / Surface

Smooth, pale yellow, sprinkled with a few brown dots (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) likewise gives the color as pale yellow. Elliott (1865) describes the color as "clear light yellow, with occasionally a russet blotch, and a few small russet dots." Parsons (in Beach 1905) called the skin "smooth, pale yellow, with a few scattered dots."

Flesh / Flavor

White, very tender, with a sweet, refreshing, vinous flavor; very good (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Elliott (1865) describes the flesh as "white, crisp, tender, deliciously sweet." Thomas (1903) gives flesh as white, tender, with a very good flavor. Parsons (in Beach 1905) called the flesh "white, very tender, and with a rich and sweet, yet sprightly flavor." Beach (1905) notes it is regarded as one of the best sweet apples of its season for dessert use and is esteemed also for culinary purposes.

Core / Seeds

Core small; seed cavity hollow; seed plump, full (Elliott 1865). Not described in the other sources.

Season

Last of August to first of October (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). September (Elliott 1865). Early autumn (Thomas 1903). Parsons (in Beach 1905) gives the ripening period as "from 25th of Eighth month to the 20th of Ninth month" (i.e., August 25 to September 20).

Uses

One of the very best dessert sweet apples of its season (Downing 1900); regarded by many as one of the best sweet apples of its season for dessert use, and esteemed also for culinary purposes (Beach 1905). Suitable for local market but it does not ship well; not grown commercially but occasionally cultivated for home use (Beach 1905).

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.