Bower's Nonpareil
Apple
Bower's Nonpareil
Origin/History
Origin supposed to be Harrisonburg, Virginia. Also known historically as Big Sweet and Big Green. Highly valued where known. (Downing, 1900)
Tree
Vigorous, upright, somewhat spreading. An early and good bearer annually, with larger crops in alternate years. (Downing, 1900)
Fruit
Size: Large. Confirmed by all three sources.
Form: Oblate, regular. (Downing, 1900; Thomas, 1903)
Stem: Short, small. (Downing, 1900)
Cavity: Rather large, sometimes with slight russet. (Downing, 1900)
Calyx: Closed. (Downing, 1900)
Basin: Large, deep, corrugated. (Downing, 1900)
Skin: Pale yellow ground, often with a shade of red; numerous russet and brown dots. (Downing, 1900; Thomas, 1903 gives "yellow and red," consistent.)
Flesh/Flavor: White, half fine, tender, juicy; flavor very mild subacid, or almost sweet, slightly aromatic. Quality rated good. (Downing, 1900; Thomas, 1903)
Core/Seeds: Core small. (Downing, 1900)
Season
October through March. (Downing, 1900; Thomas, 1903 confirms "Winter.")
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (Lowther, 1914) includes this variety in a variety-characteristic table without prose description:
Bower's Nonpareil. L | fl | yr | VG | b | a | .... | 1* | ....
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bower's Nonpareil.
Big Sweet. Big Green.
Origin supposed to be Harrisonburg, Virginia; tree vigorous, upright, somewhat spreading; an early and good bearer annually, but larger crops alternate years; a large fruit, and highly valued where known.
Fruit large, oblate, regular; skin pale yellow, often a shade of red and numerous russet and brown dots; stalk short, small; cavity rather large, sometimes slight russet; calyx closed; basin large, deep, corrugated; flesh white, half fine, tender, juicy, very mild subacid, or almost sweet, slightly aromatic; core small. October, March.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Bower's Nonpareil. L | fl | yr | VG | b | a | .... | 1* | ....
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bower's Nonpareil. Large, oblate, yellow and red. Good. Winter.