Excel

Apple

Excel

Origin/History

Originated in Sharon, Connecticut.

Tree

A strong grower; productive and a good bearer.

Fruit

Size: Large (Downing, Lowther, Thomas); medium according to Elliott.

Form: Oblate conic (Downing); roundish flattened (Elliott); oblate, ribbed (Thomas); "obe" (oblate) per Lowther.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Deep (Elliott).

Calyx: Closed (Elliott).

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Yellowish ground, marbled, splashed, and shaded with red, with some nettings and patches of russet (Downing); marbled and splashed with red, with light gray dots (Elliott); red on yellow (Thomas); yellow-red (Lowther).

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow, tender, juicy, brisk, subacid (Downing, Elliott); rich, sub-acid (Thomas). Quality "good to very good" (Downing); "very good" (Elliott, Lowther).

Core/Seeds: Core large.

Season

December to February; a winter apple.

Uses

Both kitchen and market (Lowther).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

Excel.

Origin, Sharon, Conn. A strong grower and a good bearer. Fruit large, oblate conic, yellowish, marbled, splashed, and shaded with red, some nettings and patches of russet. Flesh yellow, tender, juicy, brisk, subacid. Core large. Good to very good. December to February.

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

Excel is a large apple; form: obe; skin color: yellow-red; quality: very good; use: both kitchen and market; season: winter.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

Excel. From Sharon, Conn. Tree, strong grower, productive. Fruit, medium, roundish flattened, marbled and splashed with red, light gray dots : cavity deep ; calyx, closed ; flesh, yellow, tender, juicy, sub-acid ; "very good ;" core, large. December, February.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Excel. Large, oblate, ribbed, red on yellow; rich, sub-acid. Winter. Conn.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)