Early

Origin and History

Early exists as multiple distinct accessions within the USDA collection, reflecting both deliberate introductions and uncertain or multiple parentage across North American nurseries and experiment stations.

The first and most extensively documented accession was received from the Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, New York, and introduced in 1923. This accession resulted from a cross between Yellow Transparent and McIntosh (Yellow Transp. X Mcl.). It was distributed to nine major reporting stations across the United States: the Department of Pomology at Geneva, New York; Oregon State University, Corvallis; the Ashland Spooner Peninsular Station, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station, New Brunswick, New Jersey; the University of Maine, Orono; South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station; and the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Additional accessions entered the USDA system through various channels: one from O. T. Clawson, Lakeside, Washington (received with the historical designation "Farley"); one from Aldo Faletto, Chelan, Washington; one from the Iowa State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Ames; one from Kelly Bros. Nursery, Dansville, New York, received in 1952; one from Manten's Nursery, White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, received in 1953; one from Stark Bros. Nursery, Louisiana, Missouri; one from Canada, received in 1941 and catalogued as USDA Plant Introduction Number 142457; and one from Greening Nursery Company, Monroe, Michigan (also designated "Farley" historically), for which propagation was restricted.

Tree

The first accession produces a vigorous tree with productive but alternate cropping habit. The variety is reported as very hardy. It is incompatible with Cortland as a scion or rootstock combination.

Tree characteristics for the remaining accessions are not described in source.

Fruit

Form and Size: Not described in source.

Stem and Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx and Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Not described in source.

Flesh and Flavor: The first accession resembles McIntosh in appearance but is described as less aromatic and more sprightly in flavor than McIntosh.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

The first accession ripens approximately one week after Melba.

Ripening time for the remaining accessions is not described in source.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes and Variants

The survey identifies nine distinct accessions catalogued under the name Early, each maintained as a separate entry in the USDA collection. The first accession (Station Number 1022, Geneva introduction 1923) is the most extensively characterized and distributed. Accessions 2 and 9 carry the historical designation "Farley" and may represent the same or related material. The ninth accession, from Greening Nursery Company, carried a restriction on propagation.

Other

The nomenclature "Early" as used in the USDA collection encompasses material of diverse origin and parentage. The first accession is documented as a deliberate hybrid; the status of the remaining accessions—whether they represent distinct varieties misidentified under the name Early, or true synonymous material—is not clarified in this source.