Delight
Apple
Origin/History
Grown in the southwestern part of Ohio; origin unknown (Warder). Robert Buchanan of Cincinnati, Ohio is credited as the source of this variety (Downing, Elliott). Elliott describes it as "New" as of 1865.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing, Elliott, Thomas). Warder describes it as medium to large.
Form: Roundish oblate (Downing, Thomas), described by Warder as round-oblate, irregular, and by Elliott as roundish flattened, slightly angular.
Skin: Yellow with some russet and a red cheek in the sun (Downing). Elliott specifies russet at stem, irregular russet spots, and a vermilion red cheek in sun. Thomas describes russet and crimson. Warder describes the surface as smooth, yellow, bronzed, with minute dots.
Stem: Short, thick (Warder). Very short (Elliott).
Cavity: Wide, regular, brown (Warder). Deep (Elliott).
Calyx: Eye medium, closed, with short segments (Warder). Large, with short segments (Elliott).
Basin: Narrow, folded, uneven (Warder). Round, slightly furrowed (Elliott).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellow, tender, juicy, with sweet flavor; quality pretty good (Warder). Yellowish, firm, mild subacid, almost sweet; rated Good (Downing). Elliott describes the flesh as yellowish, firm, mild sub-acid, almost sweet, rated "very good." Thomas describes the flesh as firm, nearly sweet, rated very good.
Core/Seeds: Core small, oval, closed, meeting the eye; seeds numerous, plump, dark (Warder). Core compact; seeds ovate, angular (Elliott).
Season
January to June (Warder). December to March (Downing, Elliott). Winter (Thomas).
Uses
Market and baking (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Delight.
This variety is grown in the southwestern part of Ohio; origin unknown.
Fruit medium to large, round-oblate, irregular; Surface smooth, yellow, bronzed; Dots minute.
Basin narrow, folded uneven; Eye medium, closed; Segments short.
Fig. 122.—DELIGHT.
Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem short, thick.
Core small, oval, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, plump, dark; Flesh yellow, tender, juicy; Flavor sweet; Quality pretty good; Use, market and baking; Season, January to June.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Delight. From Robert Buchanan, Cincinnati, O. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, yellow, some russet, and a red cheek in the sun. Flesh yellowish, firm, mild subacid, almost sweet. Good. December to March. (Elliott.)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Delight.
From R. Buchanan, Esq., Southern Ohio. Fruit, medium, roundish flattened, slightly angular, yellow russet at stem, irregular russet spots, vermilion red cheek in sun ; stem, very short ; cavity, deep ; calyx, large, short segments ; basin, round, slightly furrowed ; core, compact ; seeds, ovate angular ; flesh, yellowish, firm, mild sub-acid, almost sweet ; "very good." New. December to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Delight. Medium, roundish-oblate, russet and crimson; flesh firm, nearly sweet. Very good. Winter. Southern Ohio.