Green Abram
AppleGreen Abram
Origin/History
An old variety of Southern origin, formerly much grown in Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. By 1900 it had been superseded by better sorts. Thomas (1903) published it under the name "Bullet," listing Green Abram and North Carolina Greening as synonyms. Its primary value lay in its exceptional keeping quality, noted by both sources as especially prized in Virginia and North Carolina.
Tree
Hardy. A slow, rather slender grower with a drooping habit. Productive.
Fruit
Size and Form: The two sources disagree on size and form. Downing describes the fruit as medium, oblate, and oblique. Thomas describes it as rather small and roundish.
Skin: Greenish ground color, mostly overspread with stripes and shades of red and grayish russet (Downing). Thomas describes the coloring as striped with light and dark red on greenish yellow.
Stem: Short, often with a lip at the base (Thomas).
Cavity: Small (Thomas).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Deep (Thomas).
Flesh: The sources differ in characterization. Downing describes the flesh as white, firm, and moderately juicy, with a peculiar subacid flavor. Thomas describes it as tender and juicy, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor.
Core: Small and compact (Downing).
Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
January to June (Downing).
Uses
Valued primarily for its long keeping quality. By 1900, Downing considered it valuable only for this characteristic, noting it had otherwise been superseded by better sorts.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bullett.
Green Abram. North Carolina Greening.
An old variety of Southern origin, formerly much grown in Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina, but now superseded by better sorts. Tree hardy, a slow, rather slender grower, of a drooping habit, productive. Fruit medium, oblate, oblique, greenish, mostly overspread with stripes and shades of red and grayish russet. Flesh white, firm, moderately juicy, peculiar subacid. Good. Core small, compact. January to June. Valuable only for its long keeping quality.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bullet. (North Carolina Greening, Green Abram.) Rather small, roundish; striped with light and dark red on greenish yellow; stalk short, often with a lip at base, cavity small; basin deep; flesh tender, juicy, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor. Valuable in Virginia and North Carolina as a long keeper. Tree productive.