Black Coal
AppleBlack Coal
Origin / History
Origin unknown (Downing). "This is also another of the Black apples grown West" (Elliott, 1865).
Tree
Vigorous, very productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Above medium to rather large.
Form: Round to roundish, regular.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Deep, slightly russeted.
Calyx: Closed, woolly or downy.
Basin: Open.
Skin: Smooth, glossy; rich dark red striped, mostly overspreading a lighter red; deep red, almost black, with a slight bloom.
Dots: Numerous, specks; white (Downing).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, slightly tinged with red, crisp, moderately juicy to juicy, tender, rather acid (Elliott); agreeable (Downing). Quality "Good" (Downing).
Core and seeds: Core large, hollow, seeds loose (Elliott); core medium (Downing).
Season
November to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Possibly identical with: Hoover
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Black Coal.
Welcome.
This is also another of the Black apples grown West. Fruit, above medium, round, regular smooth, glossy, rich dark red striped, and mostly overspreading a lighter red, numerous specks : stem, short ; cavity, deep, slightly russeted ; calyx, closed, woolly or downy ; basin, open ; core, large, hollow ; seeds, loose ; flesh, white, slightly tinged with red, crisp, juicy, tender, rather acid. November to February.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Black Coal.
Welcome. Baltimore Red. Baltimore Red Streak.
Origin unknown. Tree vigorous, very productive. Fruit rather large, roundish, deep red, almost black, with a slight bloom, and many white dots. Flesh white, slightly tinged with red, crisp, agreeable, moderately juicy. Good. Core medium. November to February.