Carnation

Apple

Carnation

Origin/History

The description of this variety originates with W.N. White of Georgia. Downing cites the source as "White's Gard." (White's Gardening); Thomas (1903) attributes it explicitly to "W. N. White, of Georgia."

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Medium.

Form: Not described in source.

Stem: Sunk in a deep depression. Thomas uses the term "stalk" rather than "stem"; Downing and Elliott use "stem."

Cavity: Not separately described beyond the note that the stem end is sunk in a deep depression.

Calyx: Sunk in a deep depression.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Dark red, splashed with russet.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, brittle, and very juicy. Flavor sub-acid. Quality fully first-rate; Elliott and Thomas add the judgment that "no autumn apple is superior."

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Ripens August 10th (Downing, Thomas). Elliott notes "August, at South," indicating the early-August timing reflects southern ripening.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

From Gardening for the South.

View original book sources (3)

Carnation.

Fruit medium size, a delicious subacid apple, fully first-rate, dark-red, splashed with russet. Flesh white, brittle, and very juicy. Both the calyx and stem are sunk in deep depressions. 10th of August. (White's Gard.)

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

Carnation.

Fruit, medium size ; a delicious sub-acid apple, fully first-rate ; color, dark-red, splashed with russet ; flesh, white, brittle, and very juicy ; both the calyx and stem are sunk in deep depressions ; no Autumn apple is superior August, at South.

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

Carnation. W. N. White, of Georgia, gives the following description of this apple: Medium size; a delicious, sub-acid apple, fully first rate; dark red, splashed with russet; flesh white, brittle, and very juicy; both stalk and calyx are sunk in deep depressions; no autumn apple is superior. Ripe August 10th.

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

Carpentin