Bohanon
Apple
Bohanon
Origin/History
The Bohanon was brought into notice by Lewis Sanders, a veteran agriculturist of Kentucky, equally remarkable as a planter of choice fruits and breeder of fine cattle. Both sources agree the variety probably originated in Virginia, and it was highly esteemed in Kentucky and the South. The fruit much resembles Maiden's Blush, though Warder (1867) notes it lacks that variety's peculiar flavor, and he considered it superior to Maiden's Blush as a dessert fruit.
Tree
Moderately vigorous and productive (Warder). An excellent regular bearer (Elliott).
Fruit
Size and Form: The two sources disagree on size: Warder (1867) describes the fruit as full medium; Elliott (1865) describes it as large. Both agree on a roundish, flattened form. Warder specifies oblate, rarely inclined to be angular, sometimes slightly conical. Elliott adds that the fruit narrows toward the eye and shows an inclination toward a ribbed surface.
Stem: Rather long (Warder); slender (Elliott).
Cavity: Acute, brown (Warder); narrow (Elliott).
Calyx/Eye: Warder describes the eye as closed, with segments reflexed. Elliott describes the calyx as partly closed — a slight discrepancy.
Basin: The two sources conflict here. Warder describes the basin as abrupt, narrow, folded, wavy, and irregular. Elliott describes it as deep and expanded.
Skin: Very smooth (Warder). Whitish or waxen in ground color (Warder), or light pale yellow (Elliott). Occasionally blushed with pale carmine, making it very beautiful (Warder); Elliott specifies a crimson blush on the sunny side, and adds russet about the stem — a detail not mentioned by Warder. Dots minute (Warder).
Flesh and Flavor: White (Warder) or yellowish white (Elliott). Breaking, fine grained, and juicy (Warder); tender and slightly aromatic (Elliott). Flavor sub-acid (both sources). Quality very good; preferred as a dessert fruit (Warder).
Core: The two sources conflict. Warder describes the core as regular, small, pyriform, and closed, clasping the eye. Elliott describes the core as open.
Seeds: Small and compressed (Warder); numerous and light brown (Elliott).
Season
September (Elliott). Not described in source (Warder).
Uses
Dessert fruit; considered superior to Maiden's Blush for this purpose (Warder). Not described in source (Elliott beyond noting it as an excellent bearer).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— 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.
— 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.