Bowling's Sweet
AppleOrigin/History
Raised by Louis Bowling of Spottsylvania County, Virginia (Elliott, 1865). Other sources confirm the Spottsylvania County, Virginia origin without naming the originator. The original description is attributed to "H. R. Robey" (Warder, 1867; Downing, 1900) or "H. R. Koby" (Elliott, 1865) — likely the same person with a transcription or OCR discrepancy.
Tree
Very vigorous grower and very productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Dull red on a yellow ground.
Flesh/Flavor: Rich, juicy, sweet, and entirely free from acid. Rated "Good" in quality (Downing, 1900; Lowther, 1914).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October to January.
Uses
Lowther (1914) lists the use as "m" (market). The sweet, acid-free character suggests a dessert or eating apple.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther (1914) entry is a coded table row. Full row for reference:
Bowling's Sweet. Size: M. Form: r. Color: yr. Quality: G. Use: m. Season: a. N. Div.: 1*.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Bowling Sweet.
From Spottsylvania County, Virginia. Tree vigorous, very productive.
Fruit medium roundish, dull red on yellow; Flesh rich, juicy, sweet; Entirely free from acid; October to January.—[H. R. Robey, in Downing.]
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bowling's Sweet.
From Spottsylvania Co., Va. A very vigorous grower and very productive.
Fruit medium, roundish. Color dull red, on a yellow ground. Flesh rich, juicy, sweet, and entirely free from acid. Good. October to January.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Bowling's Sweet. Size: M. Form: r. Color: yr. Quality: G. Use: m. Season: a. N. Div.: 1*.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Bowling's Sweet.
Raised by Louis Bowling, Spottsylvania County, Virginia. A very vigorous grower, and very productive.
Fruit, medium, roundish ; color, dull red, on a yellow ground ; flesh, rich, juicy, sweet, and entirely free from acid. October to January. (H. R. Koby, Ms.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bowling's Sweet. Medium, roundish, dull red; rich, sweet. October to January. Va.