Black Coal
AppleBlack Coal
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Also listed by Downing under the names Baltimore Red and Baltimore Red Streak.
Tree
Vigorous and very productive (Downing). Not further described in either source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Rather large, roundish (Downing); above medium, round, regular, smooth, glossy (Elliott).
Skin: Deep red, almost black, with a slight bloom and many white dots (Downing). Elliott describes it differently: rich dark red striped, mostly overspreading a lighter red ground, with numerous specks.
Stem: Short (Elliott). Not described by Downing.
Cavity: Deep, slightly russeted (Elliott). Not described by Downing.
Calyx: Closed, woolly or downy (Elliott). Not described by Downing.
Basin: Open (Elliott). Not described by Downing.
Flesh/Flavor: White, slightly tinged with red, crisp — both sources agree on this. Downing describes it as agreeable and moderately juicy, rating it Good. Elliott describes it as juicy, tender, and rather acid.
Core/Seeds: Downing gives the core as medium. Elliott describes the core as large and hollow, with loose seeds — a notable conflict with Downing's characterization.
Season
November to February (both sources agree).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Elliott identifies this as one of a group of dark-red ("Black") apples grown in the West.
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)
— 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.