Duke Of Devonshire
AppleDuke Of Devonshire
Origin/History
Originated in England and introduced to commerce there about 1875 (Beach, citing Bunyard). In England it is esteemed as an excellent dessert apple and a good keeper (Beach, citing Hogg). It is but little known in New York. Downing characterizes it simply as an English dessert apple.
Tree
Tree large, vigorous; form spreading (Beach). The tree does not come into bearing very young, but when mature is quite productive. The fruit is apt to drop badly (Beach).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to small (Beach); Downing describes the fruit as medium in size. Form oblate to roundish conic, sometimes obscurely ribbed; pretty uniform in shape and size (Beach). Downing characterizes the form as roundish.
Stem: Very short to medium, sometimes swollen (Beach).
Cavity: Rather narrow to moderately broad, shallow to moderately deep, acute, often nearly acuminate, often lipped, usually covered with green russet (Beach).
Calyx: Rather large, flat, partly open (Beach). Calyx tube small, short, rather wide, conical or urn-shaped; stamens marginal (Beach).
Basin: Variable, usually shallow and obtuse, somewhat furrowed and wrinkled (Beach).
Skin: Thin, tough, partly smooth (Beach). Ground color dull yellow (Beach); Downing describes it as lemon yellow. Often with a faint orange or bronze blush (Beach); Downing describes this blush as dull red. More or less covered with russet, roughened with large russet dots; dots gray or russet, conspicuous. Prevailing effect greenish-yellow mingled with russet (Beach).
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish or tinged with green (Beach); Downing describes it as yellowish. Beach characterizes the texture as moderately juicy, moderately crisp, firm, and somewhat coarse, with a pleasant subacid flavor characteristic of certain russet apples, rated good to very good. Downing (citing Hogg) describes the flesh as crisp, juicy, rich, and sugary, with a fine aroma — a notably richer and sweeter characterization than Beach's subacid assessment.
Core and Seeds: Core axile or nearly so, medium in size; cells usually symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels roundish to somewhat oblong, slightly emarginate, mucronate, sometimes slightly tufted. Seeds rather light brown, medium to small, wide, plump, obtuse (Beach).
Season
Beach: December to April or later. Downing (citing Hogg): February to May.
Uses
Dessert (Downing); desirable either for dessert or culinary use (Beach). Esteemed in England as a good keeper (Beach, citing Hogg).
Other
Beach notes that the variety is a yellow apple, partly russeted, and that it cannot be recommended as superior to other well-known varieties of its class. Beach's references include Downing (1872), Hogg (1884), Bailey (1892), New York Station Report (1892), Bunyard (1898), and Beach and Clark (1904).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1886–1917) from California, England
- Fancher Creek Nursery , Fresno , California — 1886
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Duke of Devonshire.
An English dessert Apple.
Fruit of medium size, roundish, lemon yellow, with a dull red cheek. Flesh yellowish, crisp, juicy, rich, sugary, fine aroma. February to May. (Hogg.)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.
References. 1. Downing, 1872:150. 2. Hogg, 1884:65. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:237. 4. N. Y. Sta. Rpt., 1892:588, 592. 5. Bunyard, Jour. R. H. S., 21:356. 1898. 6. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:117. 1904.
A yellow apple, partly russeted, medium in size, desirable either for dessert or culinary use. The tree does not come into bearing very young, but when mature is quite productive. The fruit is apt to drop badly. It cannot be recommended as superior to other well-known varieties of its class.
Historical. Originated in England and introduced to commerce there about 1875 (5). It is there esteemed as an excellent dessert apple and a good keeper (2). It is but little known in New York.
Tree. Tree large, vigorous. Form spreading.
Fruit. Fruit medium to small. Form oblate to roundish conic, sometimes obscurely ribbed; pretty uniform in shape and size. Stem very short to medium, sometimes swollen. Cavity rather narrow to moderately broad, shallow to moderately deep, acute, often nearly acuminate, often lipped, usually covered with green russet. Calyx rather large, flat, partly open. Basin variable, usually shallow and obtuse, somewhat furrowed and wrinkled. Skin thin, tough, partly smooth, dull yellow, often with a faint orange or bronze blush, more or less covered with russet, roughened with large russet dots. Dots gray or russet, conspicuous. Prevailing effect greenish-yellow mingled with russet. Calyx tube small, short, rather wide, conical or urn-shape. Stamens marginal. Core axile or nearly so, medium in size; cells usually symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels roundish to somewhat oblong, slightly emarginate, mucronate, sometimes slightly tufted. Seeds rather light brown, medium to small, wide, plump, obtuse. Flesh yellowish or tinged with green, moderately juicy, moderately crisp, firm, somewhat coarse, with a pleasant subacid flavor characteristic of certain russet apples, good to very good.
Season December to April or later.