Chief Good

Apple

Chief Good

Origin/History

From Kentucky, near Louisville. The original description is attributed to A. H. Ernst (Elliott, 1865). Downing (1900) cites Elliott as his source, and his description follows Elliott's closely.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium to large. Roundish, flattened at the base.

Skin: Light yellow, streaked and mottled with red. Elliott additionally notes a few splashes of green.

Stem: Short and slender (Elliott).

Cavity: Open (Elliott).

Calyx: Small, partly closed (Elliott).

Basin: Shallow (Elliott).

Flesh/Flavor: White, tender, juicy, subacid, aromatic.

Core: Open (Elliott).

Seeds: Large, light brown (Elliott).

Season

September and October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Also known in the sources as Summum Bonum.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Chief Good. Summum Bonum. From Kentucky, near Louisville. Fruit medium to large, roundish, flattened at base, light yellow, streaked and mottled with red. Flesh white, tender, juicy, subacid, aromatic. September, October. (Elliott.)

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

Chief Good. Summum Bonum. From Kentucky, near Louisville. Fruit, medium to large, roundish, flattened at base, light yellow, streaked and mottled with red, few splashes of green : stem, short, slender ; cavity, open ; calyx, small, partly closed ; basin, shallow ; flesh, white, tender, juicy, sub-acid, aromatic ; core, open ; seeds, large, light brown. September and October. (A. H. Ernst, Ms.)

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

Summum Bonum