Carter's Blue
AppleCarter's Blue
Origin/History
Originated at Mount Meigs, near Montgomery, Alabama. Also recorded under the name Lady Fitzpatrick. Described by Thomas (1903) as popular in its region.
Tree
A fine upright grower and early bearer. Young shoots reddish brown, very close grained.
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish oblate.
Stem: Slender.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish ground, washed and striped with dull red, covered with a blue bloom.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, crisp, sugary, rich, aromatic. Quality rated Very Good (Downing); Thomas rates it good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September to November.
Uses
Not described in source. Thomas notes the variety was popular.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (Lowther, 1914) includes Carter's Blue in a variety-characteristic table:
Carter's Blue.... L | rob | gr | VG | b | a | 2* | 11* |
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 4 catalogs (1886–1904) from Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Oregon
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Yarbrough Bros. , Stephens , Arkansas — 1901
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Carter's Blue. Lady Fitzpatrick. This variety originated at Mount Meigs, near Montgomery, Ala. Tree a fine upright grower, an early bearer. Young shoots reddish brown, very close grained. Fruit large, roundish oblate, greenish, washed and striped with dull red and covered with a blue bloom. Stalk slender. Calyx closed. Flesh yellowish white, crisp, sugary, rich, aromatic. Very good. September to November.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Carter's Blue.... L | rob | gr | VG | b | a | 2* | 11* |
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Carter's Blue. Large, round-oblate, striped dull red on a greenish skin, with a blue bloom; crisp, rich, aromatic, good. Autumn. Ala. Popular.