Blackburn
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Blackburn
Origin/History
Found in the markets at Louisville, Kentucky; not much seen elsewhere. Origin unknown, probably Southern.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Form and Size: Large, round, somewhat flattened.
Skin: Dull looking, dull green and gray, with broken stripes of dark dull red. Dots large, gray, about the apex.
Cavity: Rather deep, acute, brown.
Stem: Medium, curved, rather stout.
Basin: Narrow, regular.
Calyx/Eye: Medium, closed.
Flesh: White, crisp, juicy.
Core: Flattened, open, clasping.
Flavor: Sub-acid, with a peculiar spicy, wild, rather astringent taste that diminishes with the maturity of the fruit. Quality considered good.
Season
September to November.
Uses
Family and market.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Blackburn is sometimes used as a synonym of Fall Queen, which is a different fruit.
Source: John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
This may be Buckingham.
View original book sources (1)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Blackburn.
Found in the markets at Louisville, Kentucky; not much seen elsewhere. Origin unknown, probably Southern.
Fruit large, round, somewhat flattened; Surface dull looking, dull green and gray, with broken stripes of dark dull red; Dots large, gray about the apex.
Basin narrow, regular; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity rather deep, acute, brown; Stem medium, curved, rather stout.
Core flattened, open, clasping; Flesh white, crisp, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, with a peculiar spicy, wild, rather astringent taste, that diminishes with the maturity of the fruit; Quality considered good; Use, family and market; Season September, November. Blackburn is sometimes used as a synonym of Fall Queen, a different fruit.