Bower's Nonpareil

Origin/History

Origin supposed to be Harrisonburg, Virginia. The variety is highly valued where known. It is also known by the synonyms Big Sweet and Big Green (Downing, 1900).

Tree

Tree vigorous, upright, somewhat spreading. An early and good bearer annually, but larger crops occur in alternate years (Downing, 1900).

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit large, oblate, regular in form (Downing, 1900; confirmed by Thomas, 1903). Lowther (1914) similarly describes the fruit as large in size and flat in form.

Stem

Stalk short, small (Downing, 1900).

Cavity

Cavity rather large, sometimes with a slight russet (Downing, 1900).

Calyx

Calyx closed (Downing, 1900).

Basin

Basin large, deep, corrugated (Downing, 1900).

Skin

Skin pale yellow, often with a shade of red and numerous russet and brown dots (Downing, 1900). Lowther (1914) describes the skin color as yellow-red, consistent with Downing's characterization. Thomas (1903) similarly notes the fruit as yellow and red.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh white, half fine, tender, juicy, very mild subacid, or almost sweet, slightly aromatic. Core small (Downing, 1900).

Core and Seeds

Core small (Downing, 1900).

Season

Downing (1900) gives the season as October through March, indicating a fruit that ripens in autumn and keeps well into winter. Thomas (1903) places it as a winter fruit. Lowther (1914) characterizes it as early autumn. These descriptions are not fully consistent; Downing's October–March range and Thomas's "winter" designation suggest a fruit of considerable keeping ability, while Lowther's "early autumn" may refer to the harvest period rather than the storage span.

Uses

Suited for both kitchen and market use (Lowther, 1914).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Lowther (1914) records one reporting station in the Central Division with no reports from the Northern or Southern Divisions, noting the variety appeared in more than one division of whatever trial or survey was conducted.