Carpenter

Apple

Carpenter

Origin / History

American. Originated with Charles Carpenter, of Kelly Island (spelled "Kelley Island" by Downing), from a seed of the Belmont (Downing). Elliott (1865) calls it new.

Tree

Tree a moderate grower (Downing) to a strong, healthy grower (Elliott), forming a medium-sized, round, spreading head (Downing). An annual, abundant bearer (Elliott); productive (Downing).

Fruit

Size: Medium to above medium; Elliott alone gives above medium.

Form: Roundish flattened (Elliott) or roundish oblate (Downing); oblique (Elliott).

Stem: Varying; sometimes thick, short, and stout, again medium in length and size.

Cavity: Open, deep, regular.

Calyx: Large, open; segments five, distinct, long, reflexed.

Basin: Deep, round, regular, slightly furrowed.

Skin: Rather rough (Elliott), with an oily surface (Downing); rich lemon yellow, deepening in the sun, often with a rich red cheek (Elliott); shaded with brownish crimson in the sun, with occasional marblings of russet (Downing).

Dots: Thickly dotted with small gray dots, apparently raised upon the surface.

Flesh and flavor: Yellowish to yellowish white, crisp, breaking, juicy, rather firm; sharp subacid (Elliott) or rather rich, pleasant subacid (Downing). Downing rates it "Good, or almost very good."

Core and seeds: Core small to medium, compact. Seeds long, ovate, pointed.

Season

January to May. Elliott gives February to May; Downing gives January to March and calls it a good keeper.

Uses

Valuable for cooking from November to May (Elliott).

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Carpenter.

American. New, originated with Charles Carpenter, of Kelly Island. Tree, strong, healthy grower — an annual, abundant bearer.

Fruit, above medium, roundish flattened, oblique ; skin, rather rough, rich lemon yellow, deepening in sun. often with a rich red cheek, thickly dotted with small gray dots, apparently raised upon the surface ; stem, varying, sometimes thick, short, and stout : again, medium in length and size; cavity, open, deep, regular; calyx, large, open; segments five, distinct, long, reflexed; basin, deep, round, regular, slightly furrowed; flesh, yellowish white, crisp, breaking juicy, sharp sub-acid ; core, medium or small, compact ; seeds, long, ovate pointed. February to May. Valuable for cooking from November to May.

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

Carpenter.

Originated from a seed of the Belmont, with Charles Carpenter, Kelley Island. Tree a moderate grower, forming a medium-sized round, spreading head.

Fruit medium roundish oblate, yellow, oily surface, shaded with a brownish crimson in sun, and occasional marblings of russet. Flesh yellowish, rather firm, rather rich, pleasant subacid. Good, or almost very good. Core small. Productive. Good keeper. January to March.

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