Dr. Watson
Apple
Origin & History
Known as the Autumn Seek-no-Further of Indiana. Much grown in Central and Eastern Indiana, particularly among the Friends. For a long time the variety was a puzzle to pomologists. It needed a name, and without waiting for the decision of the learned, the people in different sections, without consultation, independently called it the Autumn Seek-no-further. The Horticultural Societies eventually decided it was an old sort named Doctor Watson, though upon what authority does not appear. The fruit was referred to the American Pomological Society in 1860 but has not been recognized by Eastern friends or formally adopted by the Society.
Tree
Large, spreading, very productive. Twigs slender, foliage small, pale green. In the nursery, it is a poor grower.
Fruit
Size & Form: 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 & Flavor: Yellow, fine-grained, very tender and juicy, almost melting, with a rich, aromatic, sub-acid flavor.
Season & Uses
Quality best for table and kitchen, from September to November. Also valuable for stock feeding.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
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.