Doctor Fulcher
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Doctor Fulcher
Origin/History
Originated in Todd County, Kentucky. Received by Warder from J. S. Downer of Elkton, Kentucky, who rated the variety "best." Downing's account draws directly from Warder's description.
Tree
Thrifty, an early and abundant bearer. Shoots slender. Foliage bright green.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, globular, truncated, regular.
Skin: Surface smooth, yellow, marbled and splashed with carmine. Dots minute.
Stem: Medium to long.
Cavity: Sometimes wide, wavy, brown.
Calyx: Eye small, closed.
Basin: Shallow, wavy, russeted, cracked.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellow, fine-grained, tender, juicy. Warder further describes the flesh as melting. Flavor sub-acid; Warder adds rich. Quality good; Downer's assessment is "best."
Core and Seeds: Core large, turbinate, regular open, meeting the eye. Seeds large, plump.
Season
December, January.
Uses
Table.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Doctor Fulcher.
A Southern apple of some merit. Originated in Todd County, Kentucky. Tree thrifty, an early and abundant bearer; Shoots slender; Foliage bright green. Received from J. S. Downer, of Elkton, Kentucky.
Fruit medium, globular, truncated, regular; Surface smooth, yellow, marbled, splashed carmine; Dots minute.
Basin shallow, wavy, russeted, cracked; Eye small, closed.
Cavity sometimes wide, wavy, brown; Stem medium to long.
Core large, turbinate, regular open, meeting the eye; Seeds large, plump; Flesh yellow, fine-grained, tender, melting, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, rich; Quality good.
Downer says "best;" Use, table; Season, December, January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Doctor Fulcher.
Origin, Todd Co., Ky. Tree thrifty, an early abundant bearer. Shoots slender.
Fruit medium, globular, truncated, yellow marbled, and splashed with carmine. Flesh yellow, fine-grained, tender, juicy, subacid. December, January. (Warder.)