Caroline

Apple

Caroline

Origin/History

The origin of Caroline is reported differently across sources. Downing states it originated near Tremont, Ohio. Elliott, citing Downing, attributes its origin to the premises of A. G. Baldwin, Hanover, New Jersey — a location consistent with Thomas, who also assigns it to New Jersey. The discrepancy between Ohio and New Jersey origins is unresolved across the available sources.

Tree

The tree is a strong, upright grower (Downing) and is described as vigorous and productive (Elliott), with abundant bearing (Downing).

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium in size. Downing describes the form as roundish and slightly oblate; Elliott as oblate and angular; Thomas as oblate and ribbed.

Skin: The two sources conflict on ground color and blush. Downing describes the skin as pale lemon yellow with a brownish blush in the sun. Elliott describes it as yellowish, mostly shaded with maroon, obscurely striped, and thickly covered with light dots. Thomas describes the color simply as maroon.

Stem: Slender (Downing). Elliott gives the length as three-quarters of an inch.

Cavity: Elliott describes the cavity as surrounded by green russet with rays.

Calyx: Large (Downing). Elliott states the calyx is closed.

Basin: Shallow and uneven (Elliott).

Flesh and Flavor: Downing describes the flesh as white, tender, and mild subacid, rating it very good. Elliott describes the flesh as greenish, tender, and juicy, with a mild, pleasant, sub-acid flavor.

Core: Rather large (Downing).

Season

The sources conflict significantly on season. Downing gives September (an early fall ripening). Elliott gives January to April, indicating a long-keeping winter variety. Thomas places it in winter. The September date from Downing and the January–April window from Elliott are irreconcilable and may reflect different varieties sharing the Caroline name, or a significant error in one of the sources.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1884) from California

Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884

View original book sources (3)

Caroline.

Said to have originated near Tremont, O. Tree a strong upright grower and abundant bearer.

Fruit medium, roundish, slightly oblate, pale lemon yellow, brownish blush in the sun. Calyx large. Stalk slender. Flesh white, tender, mild, subacid. Core rather large. Very good. September.

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

Caroline. Origin, premises of A. G. Baldwin, Hanover, New Jersey. Tree, vigorous and productive. Fruit, medium, oblate angular ; skin, yellowish, mostly shaded with maroon, obscurely striped, and thickly covered with light dots: stalk, three-quarters of an inch long, inserted in a cavity surrounded by green russet with rays ; calyx, closed, set in a shallow, uneven basin ; flesh, greenish, tender, juicy, with a mild, pleasant, sub-acid flavor. January to April. (Downing.)

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

Caroline. Medium, oblate, ribbed, maroon, mild sub-acid. Winter. N. J.

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

White Juneating Nickajack Carolina Baldwin Missouri Keeper Berry Red Winter Pearmain