Ben Davis.

From Kentucky. Tree, vigorous grower, constant and abundant bearer. Fruit, large, roundish, striped and splashed with red and yellow ; stem, short ; cavity, narrow, deep, uneven ; calyx, closed ; basin, angular ; flesh, white, sometimes tinged with red, mild sub-acid, pleasant flavor; core, medium ; seeds, large, dark brown. Winter and Spring.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

BEN DAVIS. CLASS III.—ROUND APPLES. NEW YORK PIPPIN, &c.

This handsome Southern apple has attained a wonderful notoriety within a few years, and its culture has been greatly extended, not on account of its superlative excellence, but because of its many good qualities as an orchard tree or market fruit. It was long cultivated by Yerry Aldrich, in Bureau County, Illinois, and exhibited as New York Pippin, which name gave an idea of its eastern origin, but in other localities its relations point clearly to its source in the South. To Mr. J. S. Downer we are indebted for a knowledge of its present name, and for confirmation of its identity under its several synonyms.

This apple may be said to have succeeded as well in the northern parts of Indiana and Illinois as in their southern borders, where it has long been planted; though the northern orchards are still young, they are very promising. The fruit is modified somewhat by a cooler climate, and will keep later than that grown in the South.

Tree remarkably healthy and vigorous, an upright, rapid grower in the nursery, and has numerous short spur-branches along the stem. In the orchard the limbs are set very strongly, and the stems are marked by little mammillar projections or knobs, that are very characteristic.

Tree large, spreading, productive, bears early; Shoots long, reddish brown, smooth; Foliage large, dark green.

Fruit large, variable in form, round, often apparently oblong, tapering to the eye, truncated, regular, sometimes inclined, generally very true, as though turned in a lathe; Surface smooth, often polished, yellow covered with mixed red, splashed bright red; Dots minute, scattered.

Basin generally shallow, in large developed specimens deep, abrupt, always regular; Eye large, open; Segments reflexed.

Cavity deep, acute, wavy, brown; Stem medium to long.

Core medium, regular, clasping the eye; Seeds large, plump; Flesh whitish, breaking, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, not rich; Quality only good; Use, market, kitchen; Season, December, January and longer.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Ben Davis.

New York Pippin. Baltimore Red. Victoria Pippin. do. Pippin. Victoria Red. do. Red Streak. Red Pippin. Carolina Red Streak. Kentucky Pippin. Funkhouser.

The origin of this apple is unknown. J. S. Downer of Kentucky writes that old trees are there found from which suckers are taken in way of propagating. The tree is very hardy, a free grower, with very dark reddish brown, slightly grayish young wood, forming an erect round head, bearing early and abundantly. In quality it is not first-rate, but from its early productiveness, habit of blooming late in Spring after late frosts, good size, fair even fruit, keeping and carrying well, it is very popular in all the Southwest and West.

Fruit medium to large. Form roundish, truncated conical, often sides unequal. Color yellowish, almost entirely overspread, splashed, and striped with two shades of red, and dotted sparsely with areola dots; Stalk medium, rather slender. Cavity narrow, deep, russeted. Calyx partially open. Basin wide, abrupt, slightly corrugated. Flesh white, tender, moderately juicy, pleasant, subacid. Core medium to large. Good to very good. December to March.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Ben Davis—Origin in doubt, but probably Virginia or Tennessee, and widely distributed in the south before 1850. The leading winter market apple of Missouri, and other southern sections. Not sufficiently hardy in northern Iowa and winter-killed in 1884-85 much further south. In South Dakota it is raised successfully by E. L. Collar, Vermillion, and others along the Missouri river along the southern edge of the state. Trees do best low-headed, often as sprouts from trees killed to the ground. E. D. Cowles, from Vermillion, writes: "We have learned to grow Ben Davis as a bush, instead of as a tree." The specimens raised at its northern limits, such as shown in cut (grown in northern Iowa), are somewhat less conical than southern-grown specimens, and decidely less inferior in size, color and quality; however, the deep abrupt basin is always present. Evidently a long growing season is necessary for this variety—Fruit large, roundish conical; surface yellow, nearly covered with bright red stripes and splashes, solid on sunny side; dots distinct, numerous, russet, some large; cavity obtuse, regular, deep, with radiating patch of russet; stem short; basin wide, nearly smooth, abrupt, deep; calyx open; segments divergent. Core closed; cells axile, obovate, entire, or nearly so; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds short, plump; flesh white, moderately juicy, mild subacid, fair to good only. All winter and spring.

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

Ben Davis. (New York Pippin, Kentucky Streak, Carolina Red Streak, Victoria Red.) Large, roundish-ovate, slightly oblique, regular, smooth, striped red on yellow; stalk long, deep set; basin deep, wrinkled; flesh whitish, tender, with a mild, good, but not rich, sub-acid flavor. Fig. 409. Succeeds well at the West, where it proves one of the most profitable winter apples for market; does not mature well at the extreme North. An early and abundant bearer. The leading commercial variety of America to-day. Kentucky.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

BEN DAVIS.

REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1857:119. fig. 2. Elliott, 1859:124. 3. Adair, Horticulturist, 15:226. 1860. 2 figs. 4. Downing, Horticulturist, 16:40. 1861. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 6. Warder, 1867:585. fig. 7. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1869:40. 8. Downing, 1872:93. fig. 9. Leroy. 1873:126. fig. 10. Barry, 1883:343. 11. Thomas, 1885:230. 12. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:288. 13. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:235. 14. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Gr. Assn., 26:170. 1894. 15. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 3:4. 1896. fig. 16. Watts, Tenn. Sta. Bul., 1896:7. 17. Amer. Gard., 18:746. 1897. 18. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:30. 1897. 19. Taylor, U. S. Div. Pom. Bul., 7:35. 1898. 20. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 6:36. 1899. 21. Waugh, Gardening, 7:278. 1899. 22. Alwood, Va. Sta. Bul., 130:130. 1901. fig. of tree. 23. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:288. 1901. 24. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:29. 1902. fig. 25. Stinson, Mo. State Fruit Sta. Bul., 3:24. 1902. 26. Ont. Fr. Gr. Assn. An. Rpt., 34:108. 1902. 27. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:38. 1903. 28. Budd-Hansen, 1903:45. fig. 29. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:112. 1904.

SYNONYMS. Baltimore Pippin (8, 9). Baltimore Red (8, 9). Baltimore Red Streak (8, 9). Carolina Red Streak (8, 9, 11). Funkhouser (8). Kentucky Pippin (8). Kentucky Streak (11). NEW YORK PIPPIN (3, 4, 5). New York Pippin (6, 8, 9, 10, 11). Pepin de New-York (9). Red Pippin (8). Victoria Pippin (8, 9). Victoria Red (8, 11).

The Ben Davis reigns over a much greater extent of country than does the Baldwin. It is unquestionably the leading commercial sort and the most popular apple grown south of the Baldwin region. Generally speaking, it is the most important variety known in the apple districts of the vast territory which stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific between parallels 32 and 42. It is preeminently successful in the Virginias, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and portions of adjoining states. In the more elevated and more northern portions of New York it is not usually regarded with favor, but in Southeastern New York the planting of it for commercial purposes has extended until, in many sections, it now ranks in importance next to Baldwin and Rhode Island Greening. It is grown to a considerable extent in various other parts of the state, but in many cases less successfully because too often the seasons are less favorable to the best development of the fruit. Some find it acceptable for home use after the Baldwin season has closed, but here it is generally regarded as not good enough in quality for home use. It is often criticised disparagingly on the point of quality. When grown in the South or Southwest, at its best it is but of second rate quality, and unquestionably in most portions of New York state the seasons are usually too short to mature the variety properly. When grown in the South, the period when it is at its best is comparatively short. As fruited in New York, it ripens later and keeps later than when grown farther south. It often keeps here in ordinary storage till May, and in cold storage till June, or often till July. In the Ben Davis belt the fruit becomes large and handsomely colored, but in many portions of New York state it does not range much above medium in size and color. The fruit is thick-skinned, does not show bruises easily, and presents a good appearance in the package after being handled and shipped in the ordinary way. Nurserymen like it because of its free-growing habit and the ease and rapidity with which trees of marketable size can be grown. In the orchard the tree is very hardy, healthy and vigorous. Although it does not appear to be as long-lived as Baldwin, it comes into bearing at an early age, and usually bears annually and abundantly. Often it makes a good growth, even while bearing good crops. The top is rather dense, and in pruning, particularly in the case of young trees, especial care should be taken to keep it open and spreading so as to give the best possible opportunity for the fruit to color well. Its habit of blossoming late in the spring is an advantage in some regions because the weather is then more apt to be favorable during the pollinating period, and the result is that Ben Davis in such cases often bears good crops, when with other varieties there is more or less of a crop failure.

Historical. The origin of this apple will probably never be definitely known. It has been variously credited to Tennessee (16, 19), Kentucky (1), and Virginia (7, 16, 19). It is supposed to have originated about the beginning of the last century. This view is supported by the fact that before the Civil War it had spread throughout the states just mentioned, and following the routes of migration had been carried into Southern Indiana, Illinois and pretty generally disseminated throughout Missouri and Arkansas. Downing does not mention it in his first edition, but it is described in the first revision (1) of his book on The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America. Warder (6) refers to it as a comparatively new sort in Ohio and the Northwest but common in the South and Southwest. During the last quarter century it has been disseminated extensively through all the apple-growing portions of the United States.

TREE. Tree medium in size, rather rank-growing, especially when young, forming coarse strong wood which seldom breaks under heavy crops; branches strong, with numerous rather short laterals and spurs, often inclined to bend or droop. Form upright becoming roundish, and in old trees rather spreading. Twigs long or very long, straight or slightly curved, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark bright, rather dark brownish-red, continuously mottled with fine, thin scarf-skin, pubescent. Lenticels scattering, round, sometimes oblong, raised, of a clear straw color, moderately conspicuous. Buds medium to large or broad, obtuse, appressed, sunken in the bark, very sparingly pubescent. Leaves large, long, rather broad.

FRUIT. Fruit usually above medium to large. Form roundish, varying from somewhat conic to somewhat oblong, broad, rounded at the base, often somewhat elliptical or slightly irregular, sides sometimes unequal; pretty uniform in shape and in size. Stem medium to long, rather slender. Cavity acute, moderately deep to deep, of medium width, nearly symmetrical, often partly russeted or with outspreading rays of thin greenish russet. Calyx medium, closed or sometimes partly open; lobes rather short, of medium width, acute. Basin abrupt, medium in width and depth, varying to shallow and narrow and rather obtuse, sometimes furrowed, usually oblique. Skin tough, waxy, bright, smooth, usually glossy, clear yellow or greenish, mottled and washed with bright red, striped and splashed with bright dark carmine. Dots inconspicuous, small, scattering, light, whitish or brown. Prevailing effect bright deep red or red striped. Calyx tube varies from short and cone-shaped to rather wide and funnelform with rather long cylinder and frequently with fleshy projection of pistil point into its base. Stamens median to marginal. Core medium, axile, closed or partly open; core lines clasping when the tube is funnel-form, meeting or slightly clasping when it is cone-shaped. Carpels rather flat, roundish or inclined to obovate, very emarginate, mucronate. Seeds large, long, irregular, rather wide, plump, acute, dark brown. Flesh whitish, slightly tinged with yellow, firm, moderately coarse, not very crisp, somewhat aromatic, juicy, mildly subacid, good. Season January to June.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEN DAVIS. Some assert that it is possible to recognize as many as four distinct types or strains of Ben Davis. So far as we know none of these types, if such exist, is being kept separate under propagation. It is certain that Ben Davis shows great variations in fruit in different parts of the country, in some cases so much so that those unfamiliar with it would not recognize fruit of it from different regions as being of the same variety. Various seedlings of Ben Davis which have been introduced into cultivation show more or less resemblance to the parent and to each other. In the case of Gano and Black Ben Davis a notable controversy has arisen among nurserymen and fruit growers as to whether these are distinct varieties or identical. The Gano is known to some extent in New York. It resembles its parent Ben Davis very closely in the nursery, but it is unmistakably distinct from it in fruit. So far as we have tested it, it seems to be better adapted to New York conditions than is the Ben Davis. Rutledge, Arkansas Belle, Etris and Eicke also belong in the Ben Davis group.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Ben Davis.— Origin in doubt, more probably Virginia or Tennessee; widely disseminated at the South before 1850. In the Southwest and West, especially Missouri, this is the leading winter apple and is planted very extensively; tree vigorous, an early and very abundant bearer. Although not of first-rate quality the handsome appearance and long-keeping capacity of the fruit make it profitable for market. Southern-grown specimens are better matured than those grown at its northern limits, and hence of better quality. In recent years many seedlings have been raised from Ben Davis, such as Gano, Etris, and Black Ben Davis, which bear a strong resemblance to the parent and indicate that the parent sometimes reproduces itself quite closely from seed.

Fruit large, regular, roundish conical, truncated, often unequal; surface smooth, often polished, unctuous at full maturity, yellow, almost wholly covered with brilliant mixed dark red with dark crimson splashes and stripes, a handsome, showy fruit; dots distinct, few, minute, gray; cavity deep, regular, acute, usually with much stellate russet which sometimes extends out over base; stem medium to long, rather slender; basin medium, in large specimens deep, wide, abrupt, regular or slightly corrugated; calyx partially open; segments large, divergent. Core closed, medium, regular, clasping; cells obovate, entire; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal; seeds large, long, pointed, plump; flesh white, tender, moderately juicy, pleasant subacid, not rich, good only. All winter and spring.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

The Ben Davis is perhaps as widely distributed as any other variety of apples grown. It is not very successful in the extreme northern part of the United States, but from the Atlantic to the Pacific, between the parallels of 32 degrees and 42 degrees it is the most important variety grown. It is preeminently successful in the Virginias, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and portions of the adjoining states. Its great popularity seems to be largely on account of its good keeping qualities, its good shipping qualities, the vigor of growth of the tree and its regular heavy bearing.

Historical. The origin of this apple is not definitely known. It is supposed, however, to have originated about the beginning of the nineteenth century. This view is supported by the fact that before the Civil War it had spread through the states of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, and following the routes of migration had been carried into Southern Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.

Tree medium size, rather rank grower, especially when young, forming coarse strong wood which seldom breaks under heavy crops. Branches strong with numerous rather short laterals or spurs, often inclined to bend or droop. Form upright becoming roundish, and in old trees rather spreading. Bark bright, rather dark brownish red, continuously mottled with fine scarf skin, pubescent.

Fruit usually above medium to large. Form roundish varying from somewhat conical to somewhat oblong, broad, rounded at the base, often somewhat elliptical or slightly irregular, sides somewhat unequal; rather uniform in shape and in size. Skin tough, waxy, bright, smooth, usually glossy, clear yellow or greenish. Season from January to June.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

BEN DAVIS. Fig. 8. Baltimore Pippin. Kentucky Pippin. New York Pippin. Red Pippin. Victoria Pippin. Ben Davis has the high place in the South and Middle West that Baldwin holds in the North and East, and, even in the latter regions, it ranks among the leading half-dozen commercial apples. But for the fatal fault of poor quality, Ben Davis would probably surpass Baldwin as a commercial variety, since it is least of all apples subject to local prejudices as to soils and climates, and about the latest in season, and since it stands shipping and handling better than any other standard apple. Nurserymen like the variety because the young trees make a rapid and presentable growth where those of other varieties often fail.

The trees are vigorous, thrifty, hardy, healthy, bear young, annually, and abundantly, blossom late, and are, all in all, ideal in every respect except that they are short-lived and produce small apples as they grow old. The apples are large, uniform in size and shape, and are handsomely mottled, striped and splashed with bright red on a yellow background. There are few more beautiful apples. Looks belie the taste, however, as the fruits are poor in quality, though in the late spring they are acceptable for dessert, as they are at all times for cooking. The origin of Ben Davis is not known, but it has been cultivated in parts of the South since about 1800. It seems not to have been described until the 1857 edition of Downing's great book.

Tree medium in size, very vigorous, upright-spreading; branches strong, with numerous short laterals and spurs, drooping. Leaves large. Fruit medium to large, varying from conic to oblong, broad, rounded at the base, often elliptical or irregular, sides sometimes unequal, uniform in shape and in size; stem long, slender; cavity acute, deep, symmetrical, often with rays of thin greenish-russet; calyx closed, with short, acute lobes; basin abrupt, medium in width and depth, obtuse, sometimes furrowed, usually oblique; skin tough, waxy, bright, smooth, glossy, yellow, mottled and washed with bright red, striped and splashed with carmine; dots inconspicuous, scattering; prevailing effect bright deep red, striped; calyx-tube short, cone-shaped, with a long cylinder, frequently with a fleshy projection of pistil point into its base; stamens median; core axile, closed or partly open; core-lines clasping; carpels flat, obovate, emarginate, mucronate; seeds large, long, irregular, wide, plump, acute, dark brown; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, aromatic, juicy, mild subacid; good; January to June.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

Planted Spring 1890. Tree a vigorous grower, and an early and constant bearer. Fruit large, roundish, conical, colour green, nearly covered with light and dark red. Flesh white, moderately juicy, mildly sub-acid, quality poor. Season late winter.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

We have ceased propagating these three sorts and urge orchardists everywhere to discontinue planting them, and to devote their efforts to better varieties, such as Black Ben, Champion, etc. Champion, for quick and sure profit, far surpasses Missouri Pippin; Black Ben is far the best of the Ben Davis family. While Ben Davis has in the past made money for growers, Black Ben has so far outstripped it that the former variety should no longer be considered. This year Black Ben has brought the same price as Jonathan.

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)