Elgin Beauty

Origin/History

Originated at Elgin, Minnesota, by O. D. Rollins. Closely related to two other Rollins-originated varieties: Rollins Prolific and Rollins Pippin. Contemporary pomologists viewed these three varieties as sisters but considered them of very small practical value.

Tree

Quite hardy and prolific. Tree characteristics beyond hardiness and bearing habit not described in source.

Fruit

Size & Form: Small to medium, roundish, somewhat conical, with an irregular outline.

Skin: Yellow ground color, thinly striped and splashed with dull red, with the red coloring concentrated and mixed on the sunny side. Dots whitish, minute, and nearly invisible; a few distinct russet dots are also present.

Stem: Short.

Cavity: Narrow, acute, russeted.

Basin: Wide, nearly flat, corrugated with marked protuberances.

Calyx: Closed.

Flesh: White, moderately juicy. Flavor complex: described as both "sweet, good" (Hansen) and characterized by a "peculiar sickish subacid" quality (Wedge).

Core: Open.

Seeds: Six to nine seeds present; one imperfect seed; seeds plump.

Season

Early fall. Ripens with the Wealthy variety.

Uses

Not described as suitable for any specific culinary or market use. Contemporary assessment by local pomologists (Wedge) regarded the variety as having very little practical value compared to other cultivated apples.

Other

The variety represents the work of O. D. Rollins of Elgin, Minnesota, in apple breeding during the late 19th century. Wedge's 1902 assessment suggests it did not persist as a commercially significant cultivar despite its local hardy origins.