Edwards

Origin/History

Edwards originated in Chatham County, North Carolina, as a seedling of the Hall apple. Beach (1905) notes it is not well adapted for growing as far north as New York State, where it barely reaches medium size at its best and the color is usually rather dull. Downing's description is attributed to the Country Gentleman.

Tree

Not vigorous, small, and 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; Downing describes the fruit as nearly medium. 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. Ground color yellowish-green (described by Downing as greenish yellow), blushed with dull brownish-red, faintly striped with carmine; in highly colored specimens becoming deep, bright red. Downing describes the striping as delicate red. Prevailing effect rather dull green, blushed with dull dark red. Dots large and small, pale and russet.

Calyx Tube and Stamens: Calyx tube cone-shaped or somewhat funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal.

Core and Seeds: 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 and Flavor: Tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, tender, breaking, moderately juicy, somewhat astringent, sprightly subacid, aromatic; quality good. Downing characterizes the flesh as rich, juicy, and firm.

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. The name Edwards Favorite appears in Beach as a synonym.

Other

Beach notes that as grown in New York, the fruit barely reaches medium size at its best and often is small, and considers it not well adapted to cultivation that far north. The variety is regarded as good in quality and exceptional for its keeping duration.