Black Coal
AppleBlack Coal
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Elliott (1865) notes it as "another of the Black apples grown West," situating it among a group of dark-skinned varieties cultivated in western regions. Downing (1900) lists it under the synonyms Welcome, Baltimore Red, and Baltimore Red Streak, suggesting regional name variation across different areas.
Tree
Vigorous, very productive. (Downing.)
Fruit
Size: Rather large (Downing); above medium (Elliott).
Form: Roundish, regular, smooth, glossy. (Both sources agree on the round, regular form; Elliott adds smooth and glossy.)
Stem: Short. (Elliott.)
Cavity: Deep, slightly russeted. (Elliott.)
Calyx: Closed, woolly or downy. (Elliott.)
Basin: Open. (Elliott.)
Skin: Deep red, almost black, with a slight bloom (Downing); rich dark red striped, mostly overspreading a lighter red (Elliott). Both sources agree on a very deep, dark red coloration; Downing emphasizes the near-black depth and bloom, while Elliott describes underlying striping of a lighter red beneath the overspreading dark red. Numerous white dots/specks. (Both sources.)
Flesh/Flavor: White, slightly tinged with red, crisp. (Both sources agree.) Agreeable, moderately juicy (Downing); juicy, tender, rather acid (Elliott).
Core/Seeds: Core medium (Downing); core large, hollow, with loose seeds (Elliott). [CONFLICT: Downing describes the core as medium; Elliott describes it as large and hollow.]
Season
November to February. (Both sources.)
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Quality rated Good. (Downing.)
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
View original book sources (2)
— 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.
— 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.