Borsdorf Ognon
AppleBorsdorf Ognon
Origin/History
Of German origin. Hansen (1902) notes that trees were received from Russia, where the variety circulated under the name Zwiebel Borsdorfer. Downing (1900) also associates it with the names Reinette Plate and Zweibel Apfel. Hansen notes that the variety lacks in size of fruit, suggesting commercial limitations were recognized at the time of his study.
Tree
Short, stocky shoots of yellowish-brown coloration; head regular and roundish. (Downing)
Fruit
Size and Form: Small. Depressed oblate, truncated, very regular in outline. (Hansen)
Stem: Very long. (Hansen)
Cavity: Wide, regular, with a large ramifying patch of russet which often covers the entire base. (Hansen)
Calyx: Closed; segments flat, convergent. (Hansen)
Basin: Regular, very wide and shallow, almost flat. (Hansen)
Skin: The two sources describe the ground color with some variation. Downing gives the color as greenish yellow with large, distinct gray spots. Hansen describes the surface as green with a dull brownish red cheek, grayish net-veinings, and no stripes or splashes; dots few, large, russet, some areolar; the surface is roughened by the dots.
Flesh/Flavor: White, firm, subacid, perfumed, with a rich flavor. (Downing) Hansen describes the flesh as subacid and good, without further detail on texture or aroma.
Core/Seeds: Core closed, barely clasping. (Hansen)
Season
Winter (Downing); late winter (Hansen).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902) — listed as Zwiebel Borsdorfer
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)BORSDORF OGNON. Reinette Plate. Zweibel Apfel. Of German origin. Tree with short, stocky, yellowish-brown shoots, regular roundish head. Fruit small, greenish yellow, with large, distinct gray spots. Flesh white, firm, subacid, perfumed, rich flavor. Winter. (Verg.)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)(Rus. Nom. Com.) Zwiebel Borsdorfer-Of German origin; trees received from Russia. Lacks in size of fruit-Fruit small, depressed oblate, truncated, very regular; surface roughened by the dots, green with dull brownish red cheek with grayish net-veinings, no stripes nor splashes; dots few, large, russet, some areolar; cavity wide, regular, with a large ramifying patch of russet which often covers the entire base; stem very long; basin regular, very wide and shallow, almost flat; calyx closed, segments flat convergent. Core closed, barely clasping. Flesh subacid, good. Late winter.