Bracken
Apple
Bracken
Origin / History
Introduced as a seedling from Kentucky in 1812, according to the late Dr. Barker, "one of the most intelligent fruit-growers of the country." The variety caused much discussion among Western pomologists on account of its resemblance to the Early Harvest. Elliott does not mention it in his work, but in the discussions of the Society he is reported to have declared it the same as Early Harvest, with which it agrees in peculiar growth of twigs. H. N. Gillett and others, familiar with the fruits of southern Ohio, consider it a distinct seedling of Kentucky. The specimen described was from Gillett.
Tree
Twigs of peculiar growth, agreeing with Early Harvest.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Oblate, somewhat conical, irregular and angular.
Stem: Large, knobby.
Cavity: Wide, deep, irregular, brown.
Calyx: Eye small, closed.
Basin: Abrupt, medium, folded.
Skin: Smooth, pale yellow.
Dots: Scattered, dark.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, very tender, fine grained. Flavor mild sub-acid. Quality good.
Core and seeds: Core irregular, closed, meeting the eye. Seeds angular, imperfect.
Season
June, July; earlier than Early Harvest.
Uses
Table and kitchen.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Similar to Early Harvest.
View original book sources (1)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Bracken.
This variety has caused much discussion among the Western Pomologists, on account of its resemblance to the Early Harvest. The late Dr. Barker, one of the most intelligent fruit-growers of the country, said it was introduced as a seedling from Kentucky in 1812. Elliott does not mention it in his work, but in the discussions of the Society he is reported as having declared it the same as Early Harvest, with which it agrees in peculiar growth of twigs. H. N. Gillett, and others, familiar with the fruits of southern Ohio, consider it a distinct seedling of Kentucky. The specimen described was from that gentleman.
Fruit medium, oblate, somewhat conical, irregular and angular; Surface smooth, pale yellow; Dots scattered, dark.
Basin abrupt, medium, folded; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, deep, irregular, brown; Stem large, knobby.
Core irregular, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds angular, imperfect; Flesh white, very tender, fine grained; Flavor mild sub-acid; Quality good; Use, table and kitchen; Season, June, July; earlier than Early Harvest.