Edwards

Apple

Edwards

Origin/History

Originated in Chatham County, North Carolina, as a seedling of the Hall apple. It is not well adapted for growing as far north as New York State, where it barely reaches medium size at its best, often remains small, and takes on a rather dull color.

Tree

Tree not vigorous, small, stunted. Form flat, open, spreading and inclined to droop. Twigs short to medium, straight, slender; internodes medium. Bark olive-green tinged with brownish-red, mottled with scarf-skin; only pubescent near the tips. Lenticels conspicuous, numerous, medium to large, roundish, raised. Buds medium in size, broad, plump, acute, free, not pubescent.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium or below, uniform in size and shape. Form oblate to roundish oblate inclined to conic, often slightly ribbed. Downing describes the form as roundish oblate.

Stem: Long, slender.

Cavity: Obtuse to acute, medium, sometimes russeted.

Calyx: Small, closed.

Basin: Variable, rather shallow to moderately deep, moderately narrow to rather wide, often abrupt, nearly smooth.

Skin: Smooth, thick, tough, yellowish-green (Downing: greenish yellow), blushed with dull brownish-red, faintly striped with carmine (Downing: lightly striped with delicate red); in highly colored specimens becoming deep, bright red. Dots large and small, pale and russet. Prevailing effect rather dull green, blushed with dull dark red.

Flesh: Tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, tender, breaking, moderately juicy (Downing: rich, juicy), somewhat astringent, sprightly subacid, aromatic. Quality rated good (Downing: rich).

Core and Seeds: Calyx tube cone-shape or somewhat funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal. Core below medium, abaxile; cells sometimes unsymmetrical, partly open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels rather flat, roundish obovate to roundish obcordate. Seeds few, dark, medium to large, plump, acute; often some are abortive.

Season

February to May or later; sometimes keeps through the summer. One of the latest and best keepers.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Fruit good in quality but as grown in New York State barely reaches medium size at its best and often is small, with color usually rather dull. Beach references: Downing 1872:159; Beach and Close, N.Y. Sta. Rpt. 15:271 (1896); Massey, N.C. Sta. Bul. 149:317 (1898); Powell and Fulton, U.S. B.P.I. Bul. 48:40 (1903); Beach and Clark, N.Y. Sta. Bul. 248:118 (1904).

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Edward's. Origin, Chatham Co., N. C. Fruit nearly medium, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, lightly striped with delicate red. Flesh rich, juicy, firm. One of best keepers. (Con. Gent.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

EDWARDS.

REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1872:159. 2. Beach and Close, N. Y. Sta. Rpt., 15:271. 1896. 3. Massey, N. C. Sta. Bul., 149:317. 1898. 4. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:40. 1903. 5. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:118. 1904.

SYNONYM. Edwards Favorite (2).

Fruit good in quality and one of the latest keepers, but as grown here it barely reaches medium size at its best and often is small, and the color is usually rather dull. It is not well adapted for growing as far north as New York state.

Historical. Edwards is said to have originated in Chatham county, N. C., as a seedling of the Hall.

TREE.

Tree not vigorous, small, stunted. Form flat, open, spreading and inclined to droop. Twigs short to medium, straight, slender; internodes medium. Bark olive-green tinged with brownish-red, mottled with scarf-skin; only pubescent near the tips. Lenticels conspicuous, numerous, medium to large, roundish, raised. Buds medium in size, broad, plump, acute, free, not pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium or below, uniform in size and shape. Form oblate to roundish oblate inclined to conic, often slightly ribbed. Stem long, slender. Cavity obtuse to acute, medium, sometimes russeted. Calyx small, closed. Basin variable, rather shallow to moderately deep, moderately narrow to rather wide, often abrupt, nearly smooth.

Skin smooth, thick, tough, yellowish-green, blushed with dull brownish-red, faintly striped with carmine, in highly colored specimens becoming deep, bright red. Dots large and small, pale and russet. Prevailing effect rather dull green, blushed with dull dark red.

Calyx tube cone-shape or somewhat funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal.

Core below medium, abaxile; cells sometimes unsymmetrical, partly open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels rather flat, roundish obovate to roundish obcordate. Seeds few, dark, medium to large, plump, acute; often some are abortive.

Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, tender, breaking, moderately juicy, somewhat astringent, sprightly subacid, aromatic, good.

Season February to May or later; sometimes keeps through the summer.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Edwards Favorite Nickajack