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Barker

Apple

Barker

Origin and History

Originated by Mrs. Barker, Story County, Iowa, from seed brought from New York, about 1870. Several hundred seedlings were raised approximately 11 miles west of Ames, Iowa. The orchard was badly wrecked by the root-killing winter of 1898–99. Specimens described in N.E. Hansen's study (1902) were sourced from M. D. L. Parsons, Algona, Iowa.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium, round, regular, somewhat tapering.

Skin: Waxen, yellowish white. Dots obscure, numerous, minute, suffused, white.

Stem: Short.

Cavity: Acuminate, regular, wide, with stellate russet.

Basin: Shallow, corrugated.

Calyx: Closed; segments connivent.

Core and Seeds: Core wide open; cells ovate, slit, large, roomy. Tube funnel-shaped. Stamens marginal. Seeds small, plump.

Flesh and Flavor: Snow white, fine grained, rather dry, acid.

Season

Fall.

Uses

Good for cooking.

Subtypes and Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

View original book sources (1)

Barker-Fruit medium, round, regular, somewhat tapering; surface waxen, yellowish white; dots obscure, numerous, minute, suffused, white; cavity acuminate, regular, wide, with stellate russet; stem short; basin shallow, corrugated; calyx closed, segments connivent. Core wide open; cells ovate, slit, large, roomy; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal; seeds small, plump; flesh snow white, fine grained, rather dry, acid; good for cooking. Fall. Specimens from M. D. L. Parsons, Algona, Iowa. Originated by Mrs. Barker, Story County, Iowa, from seed brought from New York, about 1870. Several hundred seedlings were raised (about 11 miles west of Ames) but the orchard was badly wrecked by the root-killing winter of 1898-99.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)