Culp
Apple
Origin/History
A native of Jefferson County, Ohio. According to Warder, the variety was exhibited at the meetings of the Ohio Pomological Society as early as 1855, by S. B. Marshall of Massillon, whose friend S. Wood had cultivated it several years; Warder's specimens and trees came from the Massillon nursery. Downing states it was introduced by George Culp.
Tree
Vigorous, spreading, and productive. Warder describes the tree as thrifty, symmetrical, spreading, very productive, but not an early bearer. Elliott calls it "a fine, upright grower." Thomas simply notes it from Ohio.
Fruit
Size: Large (Warder), medium (Downing, Thomas), or medium to large (Elliott).
Form: Oblate inclined to conic and somewhat angular (Warder); roundish oblate, conic (Downing); conical, irregular (Elliott); conic, ribbed, irregular (Thomas). Warder notes the fruit hangs well on the tree.
Stem: Long or short (Warder).
Cavity: Rather deep, regular, brown (Warder).
Calyx: Eye rather large, closed (Warder). Calyx closed (Elliott).
Basin: Narrow, rather abrupt, regular (Warder); uneven (Elliott).
Skin: Smooth, green with bronze blush, with minute dots having green bases (Warder). Waxen yellow, shaded with blush or dull crimson (Downing). Yellow with dull blush, dotted with russet specks (Elliott). Yellow with a blush (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, compact, crisp, juicy, with a mild sub-acid flavor, slightly perfumed; quality good, excellent for cooking — Warder notes it was "compared to Rhode Island Greening" (Warder). Firm, crisp, juicy, agreeable, subacid; rated Good (Downing). Firm, crisp, very hard until ripe, juicy, with an agreeable sub-acid flavor and light perfume (Elliott). Firm, vinous (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Core long heart-shaped, regular, nearly closed, clasping; seeds numerous, very large, dark brown (Warder).
Season
Winter apple. December until April (Warder). December to March (Downing). January to March (Elliott). Winter (Thomas).
Uses
Excellent for cooking (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Warder's description of the skin as green with bronze blush differs from the other three sources, which agree on yellow ground color. This may reflect differences in ripeness at observation, or variation in growing conditions.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Culp.
Origin Jefferson County, Ohio; exhibited at the meetings of the Ohio Pomological Society as early as 1855, by S. B. Marshall, of Massillon, whose friend, S. Wood, had cultivated it several years; my specimens and trees are from the Massillon nursery.
Tree vigorous, thrifty, symmetrical, spreading, very productive, not an early bearer.
Fruit fair, sound, large, somewhat angular, oblate, inclined to conic, hangs well on the tree; Surface smooth, green with bronze blush; Dots minute, with green bases.
Basin narrow, rather abrupt, regular; Eye rather large, closed.
Cavity rather deep, regular, brown; Stem long or short.
Core long heart-shaped, regular, nearly closed, clasping; seeds numerous, very large, dark brown; Flesh yellowish, compact, crisp, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, slightly perfumed; Quality good; excellent for cooking, "compared to Rhode Island Greening;" Season, December until April.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Culp.
Origin, Jefferson Co., O. Introduced by George Culp. Tree very vigorous, spreading, productive.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, conic, waxen yellow, shaded with blush or dull crimson. Flesh firm, crisp, juicy, agreeable, subacid. Good December to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Culp.
A native of Jefferson Co., Ohio. Tree, a fine, upright grower. Fruit, medium to large, conical, irregular : skin, yellow, with dull blush, dotted with russet specks ; calyx, closed ; basin, uneven ; flesh, firm, crisp, very hard until ripe, juicy, with an agreeable sub-acid flavor and light perfume. January to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Culp. Medium, conic, ribbed, irregular, yellow with a blush; firm, vinous. Winter. Ohio.