Belmont
Apple
Origin & History
The Belmont apple originated near Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the garden of a Mrs. Beam, at her gate — hence the early names "Gate Apple" and "Mamma Beam." It was taken to Ohio by Jacob Neisley, Sen., and became very popular in Belmont County, from which it received the name Belmont. Downing at first regarded Belmont as identical with the Waxen of Coxe, but later corrected this error. Warder noted that it "is believed to be of Virginia origin, but was brought into public notice and notoriety in Belmont County, Ohio," and that it was "supposed to be the same as the Waxen of Coxe, which that author refers to Virginia." Elliott likewise noted the competing claims: "By some stated to have originated in Virginia, by others, in Pennsylvania, and, on the authority of Prof. Kirtland, Mr. Downing, in his first edition of 'Fruits and Fruit Trees,' made it synonymous with the 'Waxen' of Coxe."
Tree
Tree medium size, usually moderately vigorous, in some places rather dwarfish but on rich soils and in favorable locations it becomes large (Beach). Warder describes the tree as vigorous, spreading, productive, and not hardy. Downing calls the tree vigorous, healthy, and very productive. Elliott describes it as healthy, vigorous, spreading, a good bearer, noting it "does not succeed on the alluvial soils of the West, but on all high, warm, or limestone soils does finely, and makes a large tree." Thomas calls it a profuse bearer and notes it is "excellent in New York, Michigan, and Northern and Central Ohio — worthless at Cincinnati. Tender at the West."
Form upright spreading (Beach). Wood smooth, light reddish-brown (Downing); Elliott describes the wood as yellowish. Twigs medium in length or rather short, rather slender; light olive (Warder). Bark light reddish-brown or olive-green becoming rather dark, partly covered with gray pubescence (Beach).
Beach notes that the tree is generally hardy except in the more elevated or more northern portions of New York State, where it is sometimes injured by sunscald or canker. It usually bears biennially and yields good to heavy crops. The fruit hangs well to the tree.
Leaves crenate (Thomas).
Fruit
Size
Medium or above, sometimes large; fairly uniform in size and shape (Beach). Warder says large. Downing says medium to large. Elliott says medium to large, noting that "South it grows very large, and also West, on new rich soils in Wisconsin." Thomas says rather large.
Form
Varies from rounded oblong to oblate conic but is usually roundish, somewhat broadly and indistinctly ribbed, somewhat irregular (Beach). Warder describes it as oblate-conic, often angular. Downing says globular, a little flattened and narrower towards the eye, sometimes oblong. Elliott says irregular, usually roundish, sometimes oblong rounded. Thomas says roundish-conical or ovate-conical, apex usually narrow but sometimes quite obtuse, faintly ribbed, smooth.
Skin
Thick, tough, smooth, waxen, clear bright yellow with bright orange-red blush (Beach). Dots whitish with minute russet point, often submerged, on the blushed portion becoming red areolar; prevailing color yellow, not striped (Beach). Warder describes the surface as very smooth, waxen-yellow, often faintly blushed orange and spotted red, with dots minute and scattered. Downing says light waxen-yellow, often with a bright vermilion cheek. Elliott describes the skin as thin, smooth, glossy or oily; color rich clear light yellow; "at South with a few dark brown specks, and North with a clear vermillion red cheek, with carmine spots: South slight russet marblings, and much of mould or fungus." Thomas says smooth, clear pale yellow, with sometimes a light vermilion blush, and rarely with large thinly scattered carmine dots.
Beach calls the skin thick and tough; Elliott calls it thin — a direct conflict.
Beach notes that the fruit makes a fine appearance on the tree but appears somewhat dull in the barrel or package, shows bruises readily because of its tender skin and delicate color, and is not a good shipper.
Stem
Medium to short, often slender (Beach). Warder says long. Downing says short. Elliott says medium length, projecting slightly beyond the surface, always slender. Thomas says varying from half an inch long and stout to an inch or more long and slender.
Cavity
Rather large, acute to acuminate, rather deep, moderately broad, wavy, irregular, usually with thin brown russet, sometimes lipped (Beach). Warder says wide, wavy, brown. Downing says generally large. Elliott does not describe a distinct cavity.
Calyx
Rather small, usually closed (Beach). Warder says small, closed. Downing says usually closed. Elliott says varying from small and close to open and reflexed. Thomas does not specifically describe the calyx.
Basin
Rather shallow to deep, moderately abrupt to abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled (Beach). Warder says regular or wavy, not deep. Downing says rather deep, corrugated. Elliott says from shallow to rather deep, always furrowed. Thomas says in conical specimens narrow and shallow, in obtuse specimens narrow and deep, with an obtusely ribbed rim.
Calyx Tube
Long, elongated cone-shape or funnel-form. Stamens marginal (Beach).
Flesh & Flavor
Tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine, crisp, tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid, very good (Beach). Warder describes the flesh as yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy, with flavor mild sub-acid, refreshing, very agreeable; quality nearly best. Downing says yellowish, crisp, tender, juicy, sometimes almost melting, of a mild agreeable flavor; very good. Elliott says yellowish white, fine-grained, very tender, juicy, sprightly, sub-acid; noting that "grown South its delicacy, fine grain, and flavor are lost." Thomas says yellowish white, compact, crisp, becoming quite tender, with a mild, rich, sub-acid, fine flavor.
Core & Seeds
Core medium to rather large, axile, sometimes closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish, pointed cordate, tufted. Seeds rather long, acute, tufted (Beach). Warder says core wide, regular, somewhat open, clasping; axis short; seeds numerous, large, flat. Elliott says core rather large; seeds ovate pointed, abundant, brownish red.
Season
October to February (Beach, Downing). Warder says October to December. Elliott says November to February, October to January in South-Western States. Thomas says early winter.
Beach notes the fruit has not always kept well.
Uses
Cooking, dessert, and local market (Beach). Warder says table, kitchen, market. Beach notes that the fruit is excellent either for dessert or cooking, is handled satisfactorily in local markets, but is not a good shipper and is grown to a limited extent in New York commercial orchards. When trees are overloaded, a good deal of the fruit is either too small for market or grades second class in size.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Elliott observes a regional quality difference: the Belmont grown in the South loses its "delicacy, fine grain, and flavor," though it grows to very large size there and also in the West on new rich soils in Wisconsin.
Beach notes that there are other commercial sorts larger in tree and fruit, more reliable croppers and less subject to scab, which limits Belmont's commercial adoption despite its quality.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1892–1912) from Missouri, Washington
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)CLASS II.—CONICAL APPLES.
ORDER II.—IRREGULAR.
SECTION 2.—SOUR.
SUB-SECTION 1.—SELF-COLORED OR BLUSHED.
Belmont.
GATE—MAMMA BEAN, ETC.
This beautiful apple is believed to be of Virginia origin, but was brought into public notice and notoriety in Belmont County, Ohio, whence its name. It is supposed to be the same as the Waxen of Coxe, which that author refers to Virginia.
Tree vigorous, spreading, productive, not hardy; Twigs light olive.
Fruit large, fair, oblate-conic, often angular; Surface very smooth, waxen-yellow, often faintly blushed orange, and spotted red; Dots minute, scattered.
Basin regular or wavy, not deep; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, wavy, brown; Stem long.
Core wide, regular, somewhat open, clasping; Axis short; Seeds numerous, large, flat; Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, refreshing, very agreeable; Quality nearly best; Use, table, kitchen, market; Season, October to December.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Belmont Gate. White Apple. Mamma Beam. Waxen of some. Golden Pippin of some. Kelley White.
Origin, near Strasburgh, Lancaster Co., Pa., in the garden of Mrs. Beam, at her gate, hence the names "Gate Apple," and "Mamma Beam." It was taken to Ohio by Jacob Neisley, Sen., and became very popular in Belmont Co., and we retain this name as being the most universal one. Tree vigorous, healthy, and very productive. Wood smooth, light reddish brown.
Fruit medium to large, globular, a little flattened and narrower towards the eye, sometimes oblong. Color light, waxen-yellow, often with a bright vermilion cheek. Stalk short. Cavity generally large. Calyx usually closed. Basin rather deep, corrugated. Flesh yellowish, crisp, tender, juicy, sometimes almost melting, of a mild agreeable flavor. Very good. November to February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)BELMONT.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1845:142. 2. Thomas, 1849:177. 3. Cole, 1849:120. 4. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:80. 1851. figs. and col. pl. No. 76. 5. Hooper, 1857:16. 6. Downing, 1857:74. 7. Elliott, 1858:69. fig. 8. Warder, 1867:529. fig. 9. Chamberlain, Country Gentleman, 1885:1054. 10. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:288. 11. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:235. 12. Barry, 1896:342. 13. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:288. 1901. 14. Thomas, 1903:337 fig. 15. Budd-Hansen, 1903:45.
SYNONYMS. BELMONT LATE (4). Belmont (1). Gate (1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12). Gait (13). Golden Pippin of some (6, 7). Kelley White (6, 7). Mamma Beam (6, 7). Mamma Bean (8). WAXEN APPLE (1, 4). Waxen of some (6, 7). White (6). White Apple (7).
Fruit waxen, yellow with beautiful bright blush; excellent either for dessert or cooking. It makes a fine appearance on the tree but appears somewhat dull in the barrel or package. It is handled satisfactorily in local markets but it is not a good shipper. Because of its tender skin and delicate color it shows bruises readily, so that with ordinary methods of handling it is apt to be damaged in appearance. It has not always kept well. When the trees are overloaded, a good deal of the fruit is either too small for market or grades second class in size. For these reasons and because there are other commercial sorts larger in tree and in fruit, more reliable croppers and less subject to scab, Belmont, although it is known in various parts of the state, is grown to a limited extent only in New York commercial orchards. The tree is generally hardy except in the more elevated or more northern portions of the state. In trying locations it is sometimes injured by sunscald or canker. It usually bears biennially and yields good to heavy crops. The fruit hangs well to the tree.
Historical. Downing at first regarded Belmont as identical with Waxen of Coxe (1), but in the first revised edition this error is corrected with the statement that the variety originated in the garden of a Mrs. Beam, near Strasburgh, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from whence it was taken to Belmont county, Ohio, where it became very popular and received the name of Belmont.
TREE.
Tree medium size, usually moderately vigorous, in some places rather dwarfish but on rich soils and in favorable locations it becomes large. Form upright spreading. Twigs medium in length or rather short, rather slender. Bark light reddish-brown or olive-green becoming rather dark; partly covered with gray pubescence.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium or above, sometimes large; fairly uniform in size and shape. Form varies from rounded oblong to oblate conic but is usually roundish, somewhat broadly and indistinctly ribbed, somewhat irregular. Stem medium to short, often slender. Cavity rather large, acute to acuminate, rather deep, moderately broad, wavy, irregular, usually with thin brown russet, sometimes lipped. Calyx rather small, usually closed. Basin rather shallow to deep, moderately abrupt to abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled. Skin thick, tough, smooth, waxen, clear bright yellow with bright orange-red blush. Dots whitish with minute russet point, often submerged, on the blushed portion becoming red areolar. Prevailing color yellow, not striped. Calyx tube long, elongated cone-shape or funnel-form. Stamens marginal. Core medium to rather large, axile, sometimes closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish, pointed cordate, tufted. Seeds rather long, acute, tufted. Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine, crisp, tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid, very good. Season October to February.
Uses. Cooking, dessert and local market.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Belmont.
Gate, Golden Pippin of some, Kelly White, Mamma Beam, White Apple, Waxen of some.
American. By some stated to have originated in Virginia, by others, in Pennsylvania, and, on the authority of Prof. Kirtland, Mr. Downing, in his first edition of "Fruits and Fruit Trees," made it synonymous with the "Waxen" of Coxe.
Tree, healthy, vigorous, spreading, wood yellowish, good bearer, does not succeed on the alluvial soils of the West, but on all high, warm, or limestone soils does finely, and makes a large tree.
Size, medium to large ; form, irregular, usually roundish, sometimes oblong rounded. South it grows very large, and also West, on new rich soils in Wisconsin ; but grown South its delicacy, fine grain, and flavor are lost. Skin, thin, smooth, glossy, or oily ; color, rich clear light yellow ; at South with a few dark brown specks, and North with a clear vermillion red cheek, with carmine spots : South slight russet marblings, and much of mould or fungus ; stem, medium length, projecting slightly beyond the surface, always slender ; calyx, varying from small and close to open and reflexed ; basin, from shallow to rather deep, always furrowed ; flesh, yellowish white fine-grained, very tender, juicy, sprightly, sub-acid ; core rather large ; seeds, ovate pointed, abundant, brownish red. November to February, October to January in South-Western States.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Belmont.* Rather large, roundish-conical or ovate-conical, apex usually narrow, but sometimes quite obtuse; faintly ribbed, smooth; color clear pale yellow, with sometimes a light vermilion blush, and rarely with large thinly scattered carmine dots; stalk varying from half an inch long and stout, to an inch or more long and slender; basin in conical specimens, narrow and shallow; in obtuse specimens, narrow and deep, with an obtusely ribbed rim; flesh yellowish white, compact, crisp, becoming quite tender, with a mild, rich, sub-acid, fine flavor. Leaves crenate. Early winter. A profuse bearer. Excellent in New York, Michigan, and Northern and Central Ohio—worthless at Cincinnati. Tender at the West. Fig. 466.