Bohanon
Apple
BOHANON
Origin / History
Probably originally of Virginia (Elliott). Brought into notice by Lewis Sanders, "that veteran agriculturist of Kentucky," who was equally remarkable as a planter of choice fruits and a breeder of fine cattle (Warder). Highly esteemed in Kentucky and the South (Elliott). Much resembles Maiden's Blush (Elliott and Warder).
Tree
Moderately vigorous and productive (Warder). An excellent regular bearer (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Large (Elliott) to full medium (Warder).
Form: Regular, roundish flattened to oblate, narrowing to the eye, with inclination to a ribbed surface. Rarely inclined to be angular, sometimes slightly conical (Warder).
Stem: Slender (Elliott); rather long (Warder).
Cavity: Narrow, acute, brown.
Calyx: Partly closed (Elliott); eye closed, segments reflexed (Warder).
Basin: Deep, expanded (Elliott); abrupt, narrow, folded, wavy and irregular (Warder).
Skin: Very smooth, whitish or waxen, light pale yellow, with a crimson blush on the sunny side, or occasionally blushed with pale carmine, making it very beautiful (Warder). Russet about the stem (Elliott).
Dots: Minute.
Flesh and flavor: Yellowish white to white, tender, breaking, fine grained, juicy, sub-acid. Slightly aromatic (Elliott). Without the peculiar flavor of Maiden's Blush (Warder). Quality very good (Warder).
Core and seeds: Core open (Elliott); regular, small, pyriform, closed, clasping the eye (Warder). Seeds numerous, light brown (Elliott); small, compressed (Warder).
Season
September (Elliott).
Uses
Preferred as a dessert fruit to Maiden's Blush (Warder).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Bohannon
View original book sources (2)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)BOHANON.
A variety probably originally of Virginia, and is highly esteemed in Kentucky and South. It much resembles Maiden's Blush. Fruit, large, roundish flattened, narrowing to the eye, with inclination to the ribbed surface ; light pale yellow, crimson blush on sunny side, russet about stem ; stem, slender ; cavity, narrow ; calyx, partly closed ; basin, deep, expanded ; core, open ; seeds, numerous, light brown ; flesh, yellowish white, tender, slightly aromatic, sub-acid. September. An excellent regular bearer.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Bohanon.
This apple was brought into notice by Lewis Sanders, that veteran agriculturist of Kentucky, who was equally
Fig. 67.—BOHANON.
remarkable as a planter of choice fruits, and breeder of fine cattle. Mr. Elliott thinks this variety may have had its origin in Virginia. Tree moderately vigorous and productive.
Fruit full medium, regular, oblate, rarely inclined to be angular, sometimes slightly conical; Surface very smooth, whitish, or waxen, occasionally blushed with pale carmine, making it very beautiful; Dots minute.
Basin abrupt, narrow, folded, wavy and irregular; Eye closed; Segments reflexed.
Cavity acute, brown; Stem rather long.
Core regular, small, pyriform, closed, clasping the eye; Seeds small, compressed; Flesh white, breaking, fine grained, juicy, sub-acid; Quality very good and preferred as a dessert fruit to the Maiden's Blush, which it much resembles without having the peculiar flavor of that variety.