BISMARCK.

REFERENCES. 1. Hogg, 1884:181. 2. Rural N. Y., 55:275, 288, 321, 690, 1896. 3. Van Deman, Ib., 56:241, 503, 534, 598, 662. 1897. figs. 4. Green, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1897:32. 5. Rural N. Y., 57:786. 1898. 6. Bunyard, Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1898:356. 7. Can. Hort., 22:240. 1899. 8. Amer. Gard., 20:124, 782. 1899. figs. 9. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 58:688. 1899. 10. Beach, W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1900:35. 11. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:288. 1901. 12. Can. Hort., 25:47. 1902. 13. Rural N. Y., 61:626. 1902. 14. Budd-Hansen, 1903:49. 15. Rural N. Y., 62:809. 1903.

SYNONYMS. BISMARCK (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). BISMARK (10). PRINCE BISMARK (1). Prince Bismark (10).

Bismarck is evidently related to the Aport group of apples. In size and general appearance it somewhat resembles Alexander. Fruit large, attractive in color, suitable for kitchen and market purposes but inferior in dessert qualities. It ranks about with Alexander and Wolf River in quality. It begins to ripen in October and its season extends from October to early winter. It has not been tested enough in this country to demonstrate its market value. The tree is dwarfish, healthy, hardy, comes into bearing very young, is a reliable cropper and very productive. Even when grown as standards the trees may be planted much more closely together than ordinary commercial varieties.

Historical. Originated in the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand. Introduced into this country from England about ten years ago.

TREE.

Tree dwarfish with very short, stout, drooping branches. Form spreading, open. Twigs short, curved, moderately stout; internodes medium. Bark dull brownish, tinged with green, lightly coated with scarf-skin, pubescent. Lenticels scattering, medium to large, oval, slightly raised. Buds medium in size, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit very large or large, rather uniform in size and shape. Form roundish oblate to roundish conic, flattened at the base, pretty regular; sides often unequal. Stem short to medium, thick. Cavity usually rather large, acuminate, moderately wide to wide, deep, often compressed, greenish or russet with outspreading russet rays. Calyx large, open; lobes short, rather broad, nearly obtuse. Basin large to very large, usually symmetrical, deep, moderately wide to wide, very abrupt, sometimes broadly and irregularly furrowed and wrinkled. Skin rather thick, tough, smooth, greenish or yellow washed, mottled and striped with two shades of red becoming solid dark red on the exposed cheek, overspread with thin bloom and often marked with thin scarf-skin about the base. Dots minute and russet or large and pale gray. Prevailing effect attractive red with less of a striped appearance than Alexander. Calyx tube wide, broadly conical to somewhat funnel-form. Stamens basal. Core medium to rather small, axile to somewhat abaxile; cells closed or sometimes open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels flat, broadly ovate to nearly cordate, tufted. Seeds few, often abortive, medium size, rather wide, short, plump, obtuse to acute, medium brown. Flesh nearly white, moderately firm, coarse, rather tender, juicy, subacid, sprightly, fair to good or nearly good.

Season October to early winter.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

Bismarck. — Origin, New Zealand. As seen in 1894 by the writer in the nursery of the introducer at Erfurt, Germany, this variety fruits freely on one-year old shoots from the bud; this habit of fruiting on one-year wood, together with its large size has caused it to be boomed extensively. In Dakota and Iowa it has proved tender and subject to blight.

Fruit large, roundish oblate, slightly tapering, somewhat ribbed toward calyx; surface greenish yellow, polished, partially covered with dull red obscure splashes, some russet-net veining; dots obscure, few, whitish, minute; cavity acute, regular, with radiate russet; stem medium; basin abrupt, nearly smooth, with fine wrinkles, calyx open; segments erect convergent. Core half open; cells round, slit; tube conical; stamens basal; seeds short, plump, few; flesh whitish with green veinings, rather coarse-grained, lively, brisk subacid good only. Early winter.

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

BISMARK. Gard. Chron., 1898, p. 257. Culinary, November to February, large to very large, tapering to eye and sides, flat, angular. Colour, pale yellow, almost covered with dark crimson flush. Flesh, crisp, juicy and sub-acid. Eye, closed, in a much ribbed and angular basin. Stem, short, in a wide russet lined cavity. Growth, moderate, rather spreading. Leaf, very long, soft grey-green, lax, edges very undulated, shallow serrate or nearly crenate. Origin, raised at the German settlement of Bismark, in Hobart, in Tasmania. Another account claims it to have been raised by a Mr. Fricke, of Carisbrooke, Victoria, but the first is I presume correct. It must not be confused with the Bismark of Germany, which dates from 1877. A valuable fruit, cooking excellently.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Bismarck", pp. 37–37]

BISMARK. Gard. Chron., 1898, p. 257. Culinary, November to February, large to very large, tapering to eye and sides, flat, angular. Colour, pale yellow, almost covered with dark crimson flush. Flesh, crisp, juicy and sub-acid. Eye, closed, in a much ribbed and angular basin. Stem, short, in a wide russet lined cavity. Growth, moderate, rather spreading. Leaf, very long, soft grey-green, lax, edges very undulated, shallow serrate or nearly crenate. Origin, raised at the German settlement of Bismark, in Hobart, in Tasmania. Another account claims it to have been raised by a Mr. Fricke, of Carisbrooke, Victoria, but the first is I presume correct. It must not be confused with the Bismark of Germany, which dates from 1877. A valuable fruit, cooking excellently.

Black Blenheim : see Bess Pool.

Black Blenheim : see Hambledon Deux Ans.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

BISMARCK.

Bismarck is of the type of the better-known Alexander. The quality of its fruit is so poor, that, were it not for several remarkable characters of the trees, the variety could hardly obtain standing with fruitgrowers. The trees begin bearing as soon as established, often when one or two years set, sometimes in the nursery row; they are also hardy, healthy, productive, and annual in bearing; and have a dwarf habit, scarcely attaining the dignity of a tree, a fact which fits them admirably for fillers and for close plantings. The apples are large and handsome, but too poor in quality for even a good culinary fruit. Bismarck originated in the Province of Canterbury, New Zealand, and was introduced into America from England about 1895. Its culture is restricted in America to the northern states and Canada.

Tree dwarf, spreading, open with very short, stout drooping branches. Fruit large, uniform in size and shape, round-oblate or round-conic, flattened at the base, regular, sides often unequal; stem short, thick; cavity large, acuminate, wide, deep, often compressed, green or russet with outspreading russet rays; calyx large, open, with short, broad, obtuse lobes; basin large, usually symmetrical, deep, wide, abrupt, sometimes broadly furrowed and wrinkled; skin thick, tough, smooth, yellow washed, mottled and striped with two shades of red becoming solid dark red on the exposed cheek, overspread with thin bloom and often marked with scarf-skin about the base; dots minute, russet or large and pale gray; prevailing effect red; calyx-tube wide, broadly conical; stamens basal; core small, axile to abaxile; cells closed or open; core-lines meeting; carpels flat, broadly ovate, tufted; seeds few, often abortive, wide, short, plump, obtuse, brown; flesh white, firm, coarse, tender, juicy, subacid; fair to good; October to early winter.

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

Planted Spring 1894. Tree a vigorous grower and an early and free bearer. Fruit above medium size, round, somewhat conical. Skin green, nearly covered with bright red. Flesh white, juicy, crisp, mildly acid, quality only medium. Season December and January.

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

Large; possesses the weight and texture of a Wellington, with a bronzy-red cheek, a valuable and distinct variety, a remarkably free bearer, and a hardy vigorous grower. Succeeds on Standards; a valuable market sort. F.C., R.H.S.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)

Light yellow, washed and striped crimson, resembling Alexander—quality about like Wolf River. Poor tree—blights, is a dwarf grower and an extremely young bearer. Can be planted closer than ordinary commercial varieties. Bismarck has been largely overrated and should be planted as a novelty rather than commercially. NCS

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

a large, handsome fruit, skin yellow, flushed and striped with red, very free bearing, both on the crab and paradise stocks, keeps well and retains its flavour till the end of April. F.C.C. See illustration page 15 ... Dec. to April

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)

Kitchen; Nov.-Feb. Very large, angular and rather flat, dark crimson cheek; flesh very crisp, cooks well; very free cropper especially on paradise; succeeds as a standard on many soils. Introduced from New Zealand in 1879, but raised in Australia.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)