Champlain
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Champlain
Origin/History
The origin of Champlain is reported differently across sources. Warder (1867) traces it to Rhode Island, from which it was brought to Grand Isle, Vermont — a celebrated apple region — without a name, by a man named Macomber. A.L. Benedict of Morrow County, Ohio, obtained cions from Grand Isle and exhibited the variety before the Ohio Pomological Society under the name "Paper apple," noting that it was called Champlain locally in Vermont. Budd & Hansen (1914) give the origin instead as Westchester County, New York, and list it under the additional names Nyack, Sourbough, and Summer Pippin.
Benedict reported that when specimens were sent to J.J. Thomas, Thomas believed the variety was synonymous with the Primate. However, Jos. Newcomber, who had both varieties growing side by side, assured Benedict they were quite unlike, and that Champlain was the better apple of the two. By 1903, Thomas directed readers from the Champlain entry to Summer Pippin, suggesting he had by then revised or reconsidered the identification.
Benedict also noted that Champlain "is increasing in esteem as it becomes better known, and is preferred to the Red Astrachan, ripening with it."
Tree
Sources agree the tree is vigorous. Warder describes it as medium in size and distinctly stocky in habit. Budd & Hansen describe the tree as round-topped, productive, and a regular bearer. Warder records — on the authority of Benedict — that "the fruit never scabs nor rots on the tree."
Fruit
Size
Sources differ slightly. Warder calls the fruit "full medium"; Budd & Hansen give it as medium to large.
Form
Both sources describe the fruit as angular. Warder characterizes it as globular, rather conical, and angular. Budd & Hansen describe it as roundish conical to oblong oval, angular, and irregular.
Stem
Both sources agree the stem is generally long and slender. Budd & Hansen add that it is variable.
Cavity
Both sources describe the cavity as acute, wavy, and green. Budd & Hansen add that it is deep.
Calyx / Eye
Warder describes the eye as small, long, and closed. Budd & Hansen describe the calyx as small and closed.
Basin
Warder describes the basin as small, abrupt, and folded. Budd & Hansen describe it as abrupt, corrugated, and deep.
Skin
Both sources agree the surface is smooth with a slight blush. Warder gives the ground color as yellowish green; Budd & Hansen describe it as pale waxen yellow. Warder specifies the blush is slight; Budd & Hansen specify a slight crimson blush.
Dots are described by both sources as minute. Warder notes they are indented; Budd & Hansen describe them as green and grayish.
Flesh / Flavor
Sources are in close agreement. The flesh is white, tender, fine-grained, and juicy. Flavor is subacid and aromatic. Warder adds "delicate" as a flavor descriptor and quotes quality as "best." Budd & Hansen describe the flavor as a "pleasant subacid" and rate quality as "very good to best." Warder specifically recommends Champlain for the dessert.
Core / Seeds
The core is round, slightly open, and clasping. Seeds are numerous (Warder) or many (Budd & Hansen), angular, and described by Warder as dark.
Season
August through September, per both sources.
Uses
Warder recommends Champlain especially for the dessert.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Champlain. — [Downing.] PAPER — PAPER-SKIN. This very delicate fruit was exhibited before the Ohio Pomological Society by A. L. Benedict, of Morrow County, as the Paper apple. He obtained the cions from the celebrated apple region, Grand Isle, Vermont, where it is sometimes called Champlain, and where it had been introduced from Rhode Island, without a name, by his friend Macomber. My friend Benedict informs me that "the growth of the tree is strong and stocky, and that the fruit never scabs nor rots on the tree. It is increasing in esteem as it becomes better known, and is preferred to the Red Astrachan, ripening with it. When sent to J. J. Thomas, he thought it synonymous with the Primate, but Jos. Newcomber, having both varieties growing side by side, assured me they were quite unlike, and that the Paper was much the better apple of the two." Tree medium size, vigorous, stocky. Fruit full medium, globular, rather conical, angular; Surface smooth, yellowish green, slightly blushed; Dots minute, indented. Basin small, abrupt, folded; Eye small, long, closed. Cavity acute, wavy, green; Stem long, slender. Core medium, round, slightly open, clasping; Seeds numerous, angular, dark; Flesh white, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, delicate; Quality best; Use, the dessert especially; Season, August, September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Champlain. See Summer Pippin.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Champlain (Nyack; Sourbough, Summer Pippin).—Origin, Westchester Co., New York: tree vigorous; round-topped, productive, a regular bearer.
Fruit medium to large, roundish conical to oblong oval, angular, irregular; surface smooth, pale waxen yellow with slight crimson blush; dots minute, green and grayish; cavity acute, deep, green, wavy; stem variable, generally long, slender; basin abrupt, corrugated, deep; calyx small, closed. Core round, slightly open, clasping; seed many, angular; flesh white, tender, fine-grained, juicy, aromatic, pleasant subacid, very good to best. August, September.