Dr. Watson
Apple
Dr. Watson
Origin / History
A delicious and beautiful dessert apple much grown in Central and Eastern Indiana, particularly among the Friends (Quakers). The variety was long a puzzle to pomologists. Before its identity was established, it was known locally as the Autumn Seek-no-further of Indiana—a name independently adopted by people in different sections. The Horticultural Societies eventually determined it was an old sort named Doctor Watson, though the authority for this identification is uncertain. The fruit had not been recognized by Eastern pomologists or submitted to the American Pomological Society until 1860.
Tree
Large and spreading, very productive. Twigs slender; foliage small and pale green. In the nursery, it is a poor grower.
Fruit
Size & Form: Medium to large (unless crowded on the tree); regular and oblate, sometimes unequal.
Surface: Smooth, mixed pale and red on a waxen-yellow ground, beautifully splashed with scarlet; dots minute.
Cavity: Wide, regular or wavy, brown in color; stem medium to short.
Basin: Abrupt, rather deep, wide, and regular, sometimes cracked; eye medium and open.
Core: Medium, regular, closed, just meeting the eye; axis short; seeds plump.
Flesh & Flavor: Yellow, fine-grained, very tender and juicy, almost melting, with a rich, aromatic, sub-acid flavor.
Season & Storage
Quality best from September to November.
Uses
Excellent for table and kitchen; also valuable for stock feeding.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Dr. Watson.
AUTUMN SEEK-NO-FURTHER OF INDIANA.
This delicious and beautiful dessert apple is much grown in Central and Eastern Indiana, particularly among the Friends. It was for a long time a puzzle to the pomologists. In the meanwhile it must have a name, and without waiting for the decision of the learned, the people in different sections, without consultation, called it the Autumn Seek-no-further. Finally the Horticultural Societies decided that it was an old sort named Doctor Watson, though upon what authority does not appear. The fruit has not been recognized by our Eastern friends, nor by the American Pomological Society, to which it was referred in 1860.
Tree large, spreading, very productive; Twigs slender, foliage small, pale green; in the nursery it is a poor grower.
Fruit medium to large, unless when too crowded, regular, oblate, sometimes unequal; Surface smooth, mixed pale and red on waxen-yellow, beautifully splashed with scarlet; Dots minute.
Basin abrupt, rather deep, wide, regular, sometimes cracked; Eye medium, open.
Cavity wide, regular or wavy, brown; Stem medium to short.
Core medium, regular, closed, just meeting the eye; Axis short; Seeds plump; Flesh yellow, fine-grained, very tender and juicy, almost melting, with a rich, aromatic, sub-acid flavor; Quality best, for table and kitchen, from September to November; also valuable for stock feeding.