Blockley
AppleOrigin/History
Originated near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tree
Growth upright, moderate vigor, productive and a good bearer.
Fruit
Size: Large (Warder, Elliott) to medium or large (Downing); described as "rather large" by Thomas.
Form: Round-oblate or roundish oblate, flattened at the ends, five-sided and angular (Warder); ribbed (Thomas). Elliott notes it is occasionally a little uneven.
Skin: Greenish-yellow with a blush (Warder); fine yellow, sometimes with a faint blush, thinly sprinkled with brown dots (Downing); pale yellow, with occasional patches of light thin russet (Elliott); yellow (Thomas). Dots numerous, small, distinct, dark (Warder).
Stem: Quite short, rather thick (Warder); short, rather stout (Downing); short (Elliott).
Cavity: Acute, narrow, uneven, brown (Warder); deep, russeted (Downing); narrow, deep (Elliott).
Calyx: Small, closed or partly open (Warder); partially closed (Downing); with short segments (Elliott).
Basin: Wide, rather deep, wavy or folded (Warder); broad, deep, corrugated (Downing); broad, deep (Elliott).
Flesh: Yellow, compact, almost melting, fine grained, juicy (Warder); yellowish, compact (Downing, Thomas); yellowish white, crisp, tender (Elliott).
Core/Seeds: Core medium, heart-shaped; seeds numerous, angular and imperfect, dark (Warder). Core large; capsules open (Elliott).
Flavor: Rich sub-acid, sprightly; quality almost best, for table (Warder). Rich, sprightly mild subacid; rated "Good" (Downing). Sub-acid (Elliott).
Season
November to January (Warder, Downing). October to January (Elliott).
Uses
Table fruit (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Blockley. BLOCKLEY PIPPIN, O. POM. SOC.
Originated near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tree moderately vigorous, upright, productive.
Fruit large, round-oblate, flattened at the ends, five-sided, angular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, blushed; Dots numerous, small, distinct, dark.
Basin wide, rather deep, wavy or folded; Eye small, closed, or partly open.
Cavity acute, narrow, uneven, brown; Stem quite short, rather thick.
Core medium, heart-shaped; Seeds numerous, angular and imperfect, dark; Flesh yellow, compact, almost melting, fine grained, juicy; Flavor rich sub-acid, sprightly; Quality almost best, for table; Season, November to January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Blockley. Blockley Pippin. Origin, near Philadelphia. Growth upright, moderate, a good bearer. Fruit medium or large, roundish oblate. Color fine yellow, sometimes with a faint blush, thinly sprinkled with brown dots. Stalk short, rather stout, inserted in a deep russeted cavity. Calyx partially closed, set in a broad, deep, corrugated basin. Flesh yellowish, compact, rich, sprightly mild subacid. Good. November to January.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Blockley. Probably from Pennsylvania. Growth upright ; fruit, large, round flattened, occasionally a little uneven, pale yellow, with occasional patches of light thin russet; stem, short; cavity, narrow, deep; calyx, with short segments ; basin, broad, deep ; flesh, yellowish white, crisp, tender, sub-acid ; core, large ; capsules, open. October to January.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Blockley. Rather large, roundish, oblate, ribbed, yellow; flesh yellowish, compact.