Heritage Apple Corps
← All varieties

Buckingham

Apple
USDA watercolor illustration of Buckingham

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Origin & History

The origin of Buckingham is disputed. Warder states it is "a favorite southern apple, from Louisa County, Virginia," while Beach notes it was "by some said to have come originally from Louisa county, Va., by others, from North Carolina." Downing records the origin as "all unknown," noting only that it had long been grown in Virginia, Kentucky, and other southwestern states. Thomas simply gives Virginia.

The variety has long been known from southern New Jersey southward through Virginia and westward through the Ohio valley, into southern Ohio, southern Indiana, and other parts of the middle and southern states. It is not well adapted to the northern sections of the United States; Beach reports that at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, "this location is too far north for the variety to develop its best color and quality."

Warder provides the most detailed early history: the fruit was first presented to the American Pomological Society at the Philadelphia meeting in 1860, "when it was figured and reported on by the Committee on Native Fruits, to some of whom, as to thousands of others in the West, it was familiar as household words." It was brought by settlers to southern Illinois and distributed by taking up the sprouts that formed about the base of the stocks and setting them out for an orchard. When first brought to the notice of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society about twenty years prior (c. 1847), it was thought to resemble the Winter Queen of Kentucky so closely that it was considered only a variety or sport and called the Striped Fall Queen, "but it has since been deemed a distinct sort."

Tree

The tree is described as a moderate grower (Beach, Lowther) to vigorous (Warder), hardy and healthy (Downing, Thomas). Warder describes it as upright and compact while young, spreading with the weight of fruit, and never large. Downing and Thomas agree it forms a round-headed spreading tree of medium size.

Twigs short, rather slender (Beach, Lowther, Downing), rather crooked considering the length, with short internodes (Beach). Warder describes the shoots as rather slender, red, dark; Downing as dull reddish brown. Bark smooth, clear light reddish-brown mingled with olive-green, not pubescent (Beach). Lenticels rather scattering, below medium, generally elongated, raised (Beach). Buds medium or below, rather prominent, rather acute, slightly pubescent, lightly attached to the bark (Beach).

Leaves medium, rather narrow, wider towards the end, dark; footstalks red (Warder).

Warder uniquely notes a distinctive trunk feature: "The stems of these trees are characterized by curious enlargements of an irregular, mammellar form, and reddish color, and appear to be like the knaurs of the olive tree."

Bearing habit varies by location: Downing and Thomas describe the tree as moderately productive. Beach, growing it at the northern limit of its range, reports it "an irregular bearer and often unproductive," though it "occasionally gives heavy crops."

Fruit

Size: Large (Beach, Lowther, Elliott) to very large (Warder). Downing and Thomas give medium to large.

Form: Oblate to roundish oblate (Beach, Lowther) or oblate inclining to conic (Downing, Thomas), or conical to oblate-conic, truncated (Warder). Variable in form (Warder), somewhat irregular, usually broadly and obscurely ribbed, sides sometimes unequal (Beach). Elliott describes it as round conical, angular; Warder also notes the angular form.

Stem: Short (Warder, Downing, Elliott, Thomas). Beach gives rather stout, short to medium.

Cavity: Large, wide, and deep (Beach, Downing, Elliott). Warder describes it as wide, wavy, and brown. Beach specifies acute to acuminate, usually with heavy outspreading russet. Downing notes it slightly russeted. Thomas gives large.

Calyx: Medium to large, closed or open (Beach). Downing and Elliott describe it as closed. Warder describes the eye as large, long, and open. Downing adds that the segments come to a point.

Basin: Large, abrupt, wide, moderately deep (Beach), or deep and abrupt (Warder). Downing gives rather large, deep, slightly corrugated. Thomas describes it as wide and deep, somewhat furrowed. Beach adds obscurely furrowed and wrinkled. Warder notes it wavy.

Skin: Thick and tough (Beach, Lowther). Ground color pale yellow or pale green (Beach, Lowther), or greenish-yellow (Warder, Downing, Elliott, Thomas). The fruit is washed and mottled with red, striped and blushed with bright carmine (Beach) or with two shades of crimson or purplish red (Downing), or mixed and striped pale purplish-red (Warder). Downing notes the fruit is "mostly covered" with color. Thomas describes it as striped, shaded and splashed with crimson on greenish yellow. The prevailing effect in well-colored specimens is beautiful red striped (Beach).

Dots: Numerous, small, light or russet, mingled with others which are large, gray and areolar (Beach). Warder describes them as scattered, prominent, and yellow. Downing and Thomas note many light brown dots. Elliott gives whitish gray dots.

Flesh & Flavor: Flesh tinged with yellow (Beach, Lowther) or yellow (Warder, Elliott) or yellowish (Downing, Thomas). Moderately firm (Beach, Lowther), tender (Warder, Downing, Elliott, Thomas), crisp (Beach, Lowther), breaking (Downing, Thomas), juicy. Beach and Lowther note a distinct aroma. Warder describes the grain as fine-grained, while Downing says rather coarse and Beach says moderately coarse. Flavor mild subacid across all sources; Warder adds "rich, agreeable," Downing adds "sprightly."

Quality ratings differ by source and growing region: Warder rates it "best, or nearly so"; Downing "very good to best"; Thomas and Elliott "very good"; Beach, growing it at the northern edge of its range, rates it only "fair to good."

Calyx Tube: Medium, varying from conical to funnel-form (Beach).

Stamens: Median or approaching basal (Beach).

Core & Seeds: Core size is disputed: Warder describes it as large, regular, and closed; Elliott gives medium; Downing says small; Beach gives below medium to small, varying from decidedly abaxile to nearly axile, with cells usually symmetrical and open or sometimes closed and core lines clasping. Carpels much concave, elliptical to roundish, emarginate, usually smooth (Beach). Axis very short (Warder).

Seeds numerous, long, and pointed (Warder). Beach describes seeds as rather dark, medium to rather large, plump, wide and obtuse — a notable contradiction with Warder's "long, pointed."

Season

October to December (Warder). November to February (Downing). November to April (Beach, Lowther). December (Elliott). Late autumn and early winter (Thomas). The range of season reports suggests longer keeping in more southerly locations and in later assessments.

Uses

Table, kitchen, and drying (Warder). Downing calls it "a profitable and popular variety, valuable either for market or table use." Thomas likewise describes it as "a popular and profitable sort in the southwestern States." Beach notes that in the favorable southern growing range, "it is decidedly attractive in appearance," supporting its market value; Lowther calls it "a good keeper."

Subtypes & Variants

Not described in source.

Other

[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — the Stark Bros. (1910) catalog description appears to be heavily garbled OCR and is largely nonsensical. The following is reproduced verbatim:]

"Comes without striped and speckled with bright red or darker red and crimson. This kind fruit flavored with quality. Tree is vigorous and prolific. Forsaken for local and home use and for the fruit trees to orchards having it must always be as reliable when grown or of good. Forsaken for good keeping in the of good."

From this garbled text, the only recoverable details are that the fruit is red to crimson in color, the tree is described as vigorous and prolific, and the variety was considered suited for local and home use as well as commercial orchards.

Warder notes that he had sprouts growing from the original settler-distributed trees in southern Illinois, and that "they make nice plants" — suggesting ease of propagation by root suckers.

Book Sources

Described in 6 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 22 catalogs (1893–1917) from England, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Washington

View original book sources (7)

CLASS II.—CONICAL APPLES.

ORDER II.—ANGULAR.

SECTION 2.—SOUR.

SUB-SECTION 2.—STRIPED.

Buckingham.

BYER'S RED—FALL QUEEN (of some)—BLACKBURN (erroneously.)

This favorite southern apple, from Louisa County, Virginia, has worked its way northward into public favor at rapid rate, under the influence of railways and Pomological Societies. It was first presented to the American Society at the Philadelphia meeting, in 1860, when it was figured and reported on by the Committee on Native Fruits, to some of whom, as to thousands of others in the West, it was familiar as household words. This fruit was brought by settlers to Southern Illinois, and thence distributed, by taking up the sprouts that formed about the base of the stocks, and setting them out for an orchard. I have some of these growing, and they make nice plants.

Tree vigorous, upright, compact while young, spreading with the weight of fruit, never large; the shoots rather slender, red, dark; Leaves medium, rather narrow, wider towards the end, dark, footstalks red. The stems of these trees are characterized by curious enlargements of an irregular, mammellar form, and reddish color, and appear to be like the knaurs of the olive tree.

When this apple was first brought to the notice of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, twenty years ago, it was thought to resemble the Winter Queen of Kentucky so closely that it was considered only a variety or sport, and called the Striped Fall Queen, but it has since been deemed a distinct sort.

Fruit large to very large, variable in form, but generally conical, or oblate-conic, truncated, angular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, mixed and striped pale purplish-red; Dots scattered, prominent, yellow.

Basin deep, abrupt, wavy; Eye large, long, open.

Cavity wide, wavy, brown; Stem short.

Core large, regular, closed; Axis very short; Seeds numerous, long, pointed; Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, rich, agreeable; Quality best, or nearly so; Use, table, kitchen, drying; Season, October to December.

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

Buckingham.

Queen. Equinetely. Sol. Carter. Fall Queen. Byer's. Winter Queen. Winter Queen. Ox-Eye of some in Ky. Ne Plus Ultra. Kentucky Queen. Bachelor. King. Lexington Queen. Merit. Byer's Red. Frankfort Queen. Blackburn. Red Gloria Mundi of some. Ladies' Favorite of Tenn. Henshaw. Red Horse of some.

The origin of this Apple appears all unknown. It has been long grown in Virginia, Kentucky, and other Southwestern States, and is there a profitable and popular variety, valuable either for market or table use. It matures often in November, but will keep into February. Tree hardy, healthy, moderately vigorous and productive, forming a round-headed spreading tree of medium size. Young shoots rather slender, dull reddish brown.

Fruit medium to large. Form oblate, inclining to conic. Color greenish yellow, mostly covered, shaded, striped, and splashed with two shades of crimson or purplish red, many light brown dots. Stalk short. Cavity broad, deep, slightly russeted. Calyx closed. Segments to a point. Basin rather large, deep, slightly corrugated. Flesh yellowish, rather coarse, breaking, tender, juicy, mild, sprightly, subacid. Core small. Very good to best. November to February.

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

BUCKINGHAM.

REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:147. fig. 2. Downing, 1845:144. 3. Van Buren, Mag. Hort., 23:256. 1857. 4. Elliott, 1858:180. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1858. 6. Mag. Hort., 27:98, 152. 1861. 7. Warder, 1867:537. fig. 8. Downing, 1872:109. 9. Leroy, 1873:87. 10. Barry, 1883:343. 11. Thomas, 1885:217. 12. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:290. 13. Wickson, 1891:246. 14. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:236. 15. Massey, N. C. Sta. Bul., 92:42. 1893. 16. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:278. 1894. 17. Stinson, Ark. Sta. An. Rpt., 1894:45. 18. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:579. 1894. 19. Taylor, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1895:195. 20. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:38. 1903. 21. Budd-Hansen, 1903:57. fig. 22. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:113. 1904.

SYNONYMS. BACHELOR (9). Bachelor (8, 11). Batchellor (9). Blackburn (8). Blackburn, erroneously (7). Buckingham (9). Byer's (8). Byer's Red (7, 8). EQUINETELY (3). Equinetely (8, 10, 11, 13, 17). Fall Queen (7, 8, 10, 15, 17, 21). Fall Queen of Kentucky (11, 16). Frankfort Queen (8). Henshaw (7, 8). Kentucky Queen (8, 9, 11, 17). King (8, 9). Ladies' Favorite of Tenn. (8). Lexington Queen (8). Merit (8, 9). Ne Plus Ultra (8, 9). Ox-Eye of some in Kentucky (8). Queen (8, 9, 17). Red Gloria Mundi of some (8, 9). Red Horse (8, 17). Sol Carter (3, 8). WINTER QUEEN (1, 2, 4). Winter Queen (8, 9, 17, 18). Winter Queen of Kentucky, incorrectly (8). Winter Queening (2, 4).

This variety has long been favorably known in the southern states. When well grown it is decidedly attractive in appearance, but, as grown here, it is not especially attractive and not desirable. This location is too far north for the variety to develop its best color and quality. While it occasionally gives heavy crops, we find it an irregular bearer and often unproductive.

Historical. Origin unknown (8), by some said to have come originally from Louisa county, Va. (7), by others, from North Carolina (3). It has long been known from Southern New Jersey southward through Virginia and westward through the Ohio valley.

TREE.

Tree a moderate grower. Twigs short, rather slender, rather crooked considering the length; internodes short. Bark smooth, clear light reddish-brown mingled with olive-green, not pubescent. Lenticels rather scattering, below medium, generally elongated, raised. Buds medium or below, rather prominent, rather acute, slightly pubescent, lightly attached to the bark.

FRUIT.

Fruit large. Form oblate to roundish oblate, somewhat irregular, usually broadly and obscurely ribbed; sides sometimes unequal. Stem rather stout, short to medium. Cavity large, acute to acuminate, wide, deep, usually with heavy outspreading russet. Calyx medium to large, closed or open. Basin large, abrupt, wide, moderately deep, obscurely furrowed, wrinkled. Skin thick, tough, pale yellow or pale green washed and mottled with red, striped and blushed with bright carmine. Dots numerous, small, light or russet, mingled with others which are large, gray and areolar. Prevailing effect in well colored specimens, beautiful red striped. Calyx tube medium, varying from conical to funnel-form. Stamens median or approaching basal. Core below medium to small, varying from decidedly abaxile to nearly axile; cells usually symmetrical and open or sometimes closed; core lines clasping. Carpels much concave, elliptical to roundish, emarginate, usually smooth. Seeds rather dark, medium to rather large, plump, wide and obtuse. Flesh tinged with yellow, moderately firm, moderately coarse, rather tender, crisp, juicy with distinct aroma, mild subacid, fair to good.

Season November to April (20, 22).

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Buckingham

This variety originated in the South, some say in Virginia and others say in North Carolina; but it seems not well adapted to the northern sections of the United States. It has long been known in New Jersey, Virginia and westward in Southern Ohio, Southern Indiana and other parts of the Middle and Southern states.

The tree is a moderate grower, twigs short and rather slender; bark smooth, clear, reddish brown mingled with olive green.

Fruit large; form oblate to roundish, somewhat irregular, sides sometimes unequal. Skin thick, tough, pale yellow or pale green, washed and mottled with red, striped and blushed with carmine. Flesh tinged with yellow, moderately firm, coarse, rather tender, crisp, juicy with distinct aroma, mild subacid, fair to good. It is a good keeper for use from November to April.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

Buckingham.

Fruit, large, round conical, angular, greenish yellow, shaded with crimson and whitish gray dots; stem, short; cavity, broad, deep; calyx, closed; basin, deep; flesh, yellow, juicy, tender, mild sub-acid; "very good;" core, medium. December.

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

Buckingham.* (Bachelor. Equinetely, Fall Queen of Kentucky, Kentucky Queen.) Medium to large, oblate, inclining to conic; striped, shaded and splashed with crimson on greenish yellow, with many light brown dots; cavity large; stalk short; basin wide and deep, somewhat furrowed; flesh yellowish, tender, breaking, mild sub-acid, very good in quality. Late autumn and early winter. A popular and profitable sort in the southwestern States. Tree hardy and healthy, and moderately productive, forming a round-headed top. Virginia. Fig. 383.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Comes without striped and speckled with bright red or darker red and crimson. This kind fruit flavored with quality. Tree is vigorous and prolific. Forsaken for local and home use and for the fruit trees to orchards having it must always be as reliable when grown or of good. Forsaken for good keeping in the of good. NC

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)
Bachelor Batchellor Blackburn Byer's Byer's Red Equinetely Fall Queen Fall Queen of Kentucky Frankfort Queen Garvis Seedling Gros Pomier Henshaw Hors Hoss Kentucky Queen King Ladies' Favorite of Tenn. Ladies' Favorite of Tennessee Large Summer Pearmain Lexington Queen Maryland Queen Merit Ne Plus Ultra Nec Plus Ultra Ox-Eye Ox-Eye of Some in Kentucky Ox-Eye of some in Kentucky Ox-Eye of some in Ky. Queen Rambour von Buckingham Red Gloria Mundi Red Gloria Mundi of some Red Horse Red Horse of some Sol Carter Sol. Carter Striped Fall Queen Winter Prinzen Apfel Winter Queen Winter Queen of Kentucky Winter Queening Horse Ludwig Haas Red Winter Pearmain Finley Gros Pommier Blackburn Newtown Spitzenburg Fall Queen (Haas) Cornish Gilliflower Winter Queen Lemon Pippin QUINCE (of Coxe) King of Tompkins County Twenty Ounce Pippin Cayuga Red Streak Summer Queen Williams Kentucky Queen Fall Queen of Kentucky Equinetelee Fall Queen of Ky Sol. Carter Equinetely Haas Fall Queen, Late Ne Plus Ultra Borsdorffer King Tompkins County King Cabashea Summer King Lady's Fancy Batchelor Tompkins King Equinteley Red Horse Lady Finger Twenty Ounce Warner's King New York Vandevere Red Lady Finger Summer Horse