Daniels
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Daniels
Origin/History
Grown in Henry County, Indiana. Warder (1867) describes it as a delightful autumn dessert apple of that region. Downing (1900) records the same Henry County, Indiana origin under the name "Daniel."
Downing's volume also contains a separate entry titled "Daniel's Apple," described as an old variety of unknown origin declared of no value. Its characteristics differ substantially from the Henry County Daniels in form, flesh texture, and season; it may represent a distinct variety. See Subtypes/Variants below.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium to small (Warder); medium (Downing).
Form: Round, flattened, regular (Warder); roundish oblate (Downing).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx/Eye: Eye medium, closed (Warder). Not described by Downing.
Basin: Shallow, regular (Warder). Not described by Downing.
Skin: Smooth (Warder). Color conflicts between sources: mixed scarlet on yellow, splashed carmine (Warder); greenish yellow, partially striped and splashed with dull crimson (Downing).
Dots: Minute (Warder). Not described by Downing.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh color conflicts between sources: yellow (Warder) versus white (Downing). Both sources agree on fine-grained texture, tenderness, and juiciness. Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, delicious; quality rated best (Warder). Pleasant subacid; quality rated good (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Core wide, regular, open; seeds numerous, plump (Warder). Not described by Downing.
Season
September (Warder); August and September (Downing).
Uses
Dessert (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Downing's volume contains a separate entry, "Daniel's Apple," described as an old variety of unknown origin and no value. Its characteristics differ substantially from the Henry County, Indiana Daniels: fruit medium, roundish conical, greenish with dull crimson; flesh white, coarse, tender, juicy, subacid; core large and hollow; season October. Whether this represents a distinct variety, a regional conflation, or an unrelated coincidence of name is not established by the sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Daniels.
This delightful autumn dessert apple is grown in Henry County, Indiana.
Fruit medium to small, round, flattened, regular; Surface smooth, mixed scarlet on yellow, splashed carmine; Dots minute.
Basin shallow, regular; Eye medium, closed.
Core wide, regular, open; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellow, very fine-grained, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, delicious; Quality best; Use, the dessert; Season, September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Daniel.
From Henry Co., Ind.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, partially striped and splashed with dull crimson. Flesh white, fine-grained, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. August and September.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Daniel's Apple", pp. 166–166]
Daniel's Apple.
An old variety. Origin unknown, of no value.
Fruit medium, roundish conical, greenish, with dull crimson. Flesh white, coarse, tender, juicy, subacid. Core large and hollow. October.