Brennaman

Apple

Brennaman

Origin/History

Raised by Mr. Brennaman of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The variety was reported on by the ad interim Committee of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and was brought to the attention of Warder by Dr. J. K. Eshleman, of Downingtown, in whose orchard Warder had an opportunity of studying the variety.

Tree

Vigorous and productive (all sources agree). Warder describes the tree as large and spreading, and notes it is said to be hardy. Downing, by contrast, describes the habit as upright rather than spreading. Young wood short-jointed, reddish-brown, somewhat downy (Downing).

Fruit

Size and Form: Above medium to large. Warder gives "medium to large" and describes the form as round and somewhat angular. Downing gives "rather above medium" and describes the form as roundish oblate. Elliott gives "above medium" without describing form.

Stem: Short to medium (Warder); short (Downing, Elliott).

Cavity: Large (Downing, Elliott); large and brown (Warder).

Calyx: Closed (all sources).

Basin: Deep (all sources); wavy (Warder).

Skin: Surface smooth (Warder). Ground color yellow to yellowish. Nearly or mostly covered with stripes of bright rich red (Warder); nearly covered with red stripes and splashed (Downing); mostly covered with stripes of red (Elliott).

Flesh and Flavor: White to whitish. Warder describes the texture as breaking and fine-grained; Downing and Elliott describe it as tender. Juicy (all sources). Flavor sub-acid, agreeable (Warder); pleasant subacid (Downing); sub-acid (Elliott). Quality rated good by all sources.

Season

August and September (Warder, Downing). August (Elliott).

Uses

Excellent for culinary/cooking use (all sources). Good for market (Warder).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Brennaman.

This fine apple, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was reported on by the ad interim Committee of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and was brought to my notice by Dr. J. K. Eshleman, of Downingtown, in whose beautiful orchard I had an opportunity of studying the variety.

Tree large, spreading, vigorous, productive, said to be hardy.

Fruit medium to large, round, somewhat angular; Surface smooth, yellow, nearly covered with stripes of bright rich red.

Basin deep, wavy; Eye closed.

Cavity large, brown; Stem short to medium.

Flesh whitish, breaking, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, agreeable; Quality good, especially for culinary use and market; Season, August and September.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Brennaman.

Raised by Mr. Brennaman, Lancaster Co., Pa. Tree vigorous, upright, productive. Young wood short-jointed, reddish-brown, somewhat downy.

Fruit rather above medium size, roundish oblate, yellowish, nearly covered with red stripes, and splashed. Stem short, in a large cavity. Calyx closed in a deep basin. Flesh white, tender, juicy, with a pleasant, subacid flavor. Good. Excellent for cooking. August, September.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Brennaman. Origin, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Fruit, above medium, yellowish, mostly covered with stripes of red ; stem, short ; calyx, closed ; basin, deep ; flesh, white, tender, juicy, sub-acid — good for cooking. August.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)