Chandler
AppleOrigin/History
An old variety of Connecticut origin, where it was a favorite. Beach notes that Kenrick (1835) ascribes it to Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and suggests there may be a confusion of two varieties. By 1854, Elliott had included Chandler in a list of varieties unworthy of cultivation, and Beach (1905) reports it was by then "but little cultivated." Beach also notes that Waugh describes another Chandler of sweet flavor, apparently unknown in New York, stated to be an old variety of Connecticut origin.
Tree
Tree moderately vigorous, a great bearer.
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish, slightly flattened (oblate), and one-sided or angular in its form, obscurely ribbed on its sides; irregular, unsymmetrical, with sides unequal.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Large (Thomas).
Calyx: Small, in a wide, plaited basin (Thomas).
Basin: Wide, plaited (Thomas).
Skin: Greenish-yellow ground, thickly streaked and overspread with dull red, with a few streaks of bright red. Downing describes the red as sprinkled with light gray dots. Beach describes the fruit as shaded and frequently striped with yellowish-red and with a few streaks of bright red, with light gray dots. Elliott describes it more briefly as "dull red on yellow."
Flesh: Greenish-white according to Downing, Thomas, and Elliott; greenish-yellow according to Beach. Tender, juicy, with a moderately rich, subacid flavor.
Core/Seeds: Core and seeds small.
Season
Downing gives November to February. Beach describes it as a late fall apple, with season from mid-autumn to early winter. Elliott gives November to February. Thomas says early winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Beach notes that Waugh describes another Chandler of sweet flavor which seems to be unknown in New York, stated to be an old variety of Connecticut origin — apparently distinct from the subacid Chandler described here.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Chandler. Late Chandler.
Of Connecticut origin, where it is a favorite. Tree moderately vigorous, great bearer.
Fruit large, roundish, slightly flattened, and one-sided or angular in its form, obscurely ribbed on its sides, thickly streaked and overspread with dull red with a few streaks of bright red, on a greenish yellow ground, the red sprinkled with light gray dots. Core and seeds small. Flesh greenish white, tender, juicy, with a moderately rich, subacid flavor. Good. November to February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)CHANDLER.
REFERENCES. 1. Kenrick, 1835:65. 2. Floy-Lindley, 1846:410, app. 3. Thomas, 1849:164. 4. Cole, 1849:122. 5. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:67. 1851. 6. Elliott, 1854:168. 7. Downing, 1857:128. 8. Hooper, 1857:24. 9. Warder, 1867:715. 10. Downing, 1869:122. 11. Fitz, 1872:169.
SYNONYMS. Chandler (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). Chandler's Red (11). General Chandler (1). Late Chandler (10). Winter Chandler (6).
In 1854 Elliott included Chandler in a list of varieties unworthy of cultivation (6). It is a late fall apple, yellowish striped with red. Tree moderately vigorous but a great bearer (7, 10). An old variety supposedly of Connecticut origin though Kenrick (1) ascribes it to Chelmsford, Mass. There may be a confusion of two varieties. It is now but little cultivated.
Waugh describes another Chandler of sweet flavor which seems to be unknown in New York. He states that it is an old variety of Connecticut origin.
FRUIT (5, 6, 7, 10).
Fruit large. Form roundish, slightly oblate, irregular, unsymmetrical; sides unequal. Stem short. Skin greenish-yellow, shaded and frequently striped with yellowish-red and with a few streaks of bright red. Dots light gray. Core small. Seeds small. Flesh greenish-yellow, tender, juicy, moderately rich, subacid. Season mid-autumn to early winter.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Chandler. Winter Chandler. American. Large, roundish, imperfect, dull red on yellow ; flesh, greenish white, sub-acid. November, February.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Chandler. Large, roundish, slightly flattened, somewhat angular; striped and shaded red on greenish yellow; stalk short, cavity large, calyx small, in a wide, plaited basin; flesh greenish white, tender, with a moderately rich, sub-acid flavor. Early winter. Connecticut.