Cornfield
AppleCornfield
Origin and History
A southern variety received from J. S. Downer & Son (Warder gives the firm name; Downing abbreviates to J. S. Downer). Downing's account explicitly cites Warder as his source, so both descriptions derive from the same original observation.
Tree
No tree characteristics are recorded in either source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Warder describes the shape as roundish-oblate or cylindrical, truncate, and regular; Downing, drawing from the same description, gives only roundish oblate, truncate, regular — omitting the cylindrical alternative.
Stem and Cavity: Stem short. Cavity wide and acute.
Calyx and Basin: Eye small, open. Basin deep, abrupt, and regular, with leather-cracking.
Skin: Surface smooth. Ground color yellow, covered with mixed deep red, striped. Dots numerous and minute.
Core and Seeds: Core round, regular, closed, hardly clasping. Axis short. Seeds numerous and plump.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellow, fine-grained, tender, and rather dry. Flavor sub-acid. Quality rated good.
Season and Uses
Season: December. Use: table.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Cornfield.
A southern variety received from J. S. Downer & Son. Fruit medium, roundish-oblate or cylindrical, truncate, regular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered with mixed deep red, striped; Dots numerous, minute. Basin deep, abrupt, regular, leather-cracked; Eye small, open. Cavity wide, acute; Stem short. Core round, regular, closed, hardly clasping; Axis short; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellow, fine grained, tender, rather dry; Flavor sub-acid; Quality good; Use, table; Season, December.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cornfield. A Southern variety from J. S. Downer. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, truncate regular, yellow, covered with mixed deep red, striped. Flesh yellow, fine-grained, tender, rather dry, subacid. Good. December. (Warder.)