Carolina Baldwin

Origin/History

The two primary sources give conflicting accounts of this variety's origin. Warder (1867) received the fruit from S. W. Westbrooke of Greensboro', and describes Carolina Baldwin as "this nice southern apple," suggesting a Southern provenance. Downing (1900), however, places the origin on the premises of A. G. Baldwin, Hanover, N.J.

Tree

Downing describes the tree as vigorous and productive. Warder states only, "Of the tree I know nothing."

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit medium, oblate. Warder adds that it is regular in form.

Stem

Medium to long (Warder).

Cavity

Wide, regular (Warder).

Calyx and Basin

Eye large, closed (Warder). Basin abrupt, regular (Warder).

Skin

The two sources describe the skin somewhat differently. Warder gives the ground color as yellow-green, with mixed red and stripes, the dots numerous, large, and white. Downing describes the fruit as yellowish, mostly shaded with maroon, obscurely striped, and splashed with light and dark red, and thickly covered with light dots.

Flesh and Flavor

Warder: flesh yellow, fine-grained, juicy; flavor sub-acid. Downing: flesh yellowish, crisp, juicy, mild, subacid, rather rich. Downing rates the variety Very Good.

Core and Seeds

The two sources conflict on core size: Warder gives it as small, regular, heart-shaped, and closed; Downing describes the core simply as medium. Seeds pointed (Warder).

Season

The sources conflict on season. Warder places Carolina Baldwin in use at table in November. Downing gives the keeping season as December to March.

Uses

A table fruit (both sources).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.