Excelsior

Origin/History

Excelsior was originated by Peter M. Gideon of Excelsior, Minnesota. According to Gideon (Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:26, as quoted by Beach), "It came from seed of Wealthy which had a chance to be crossed with the Cherry Crab and also the Oldenburg." Hedrick similarly identifies it as a seedling of Wealthy with the Cherry crab as the other parent. Budd-Hansen describes it simply as "A seedling of Wealthy, originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minnesota, from whom it was received in 1888." The variety was first described in 1880 (Hedrick; Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880). At the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC, it was planted in the spring of 1896. Beach classes it among crabapples, noting the fruit is "very large for a crabapple being nearly as large as a medium sized apple," and Hedrick observes that Excelsior is "one of the few good dessert crabs, if, indeed, it should be called a crab," given its Wealthy maternal parentage.

Tree

Tree large, a good strong/vigorous grower, hardy, healthy, comes into bearing rather young, and yields full crops in alternate years (productive only in alternate seasons). Branches long and moderately stout (Beach) or long and stout (Hedrick). Form somewhat flat and spreading (Beach) or spreading (Hedrick), rather dense. Budd-Hansen, quoting Beach and Paddock (1894), describes the tree as "vigorous, upright, spreading." Twigs short, curved, stout; internodes medium. Bark dark brown tinged with red; slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, medium size, oval, slightly raised. Buds medium to large, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.

Fruit

Size: Very large for a crabapple — nearly as large as a medium-sized apple (Beach, Budd-Hansen); large and handsome (Hedrick); very large (Thomas). The Central Experimental Farm catalogue (1900) describes the fruit at Agassiz BC as "of medium size."

Form: Roundish-oblate (Thomas); roundish ovate to roundish oblate, symmetrical (Beach); round-ovate to round-oblate, symmetrical (Hedrick); roundish oblate (Budd-Hansen); roundish, oblong (Central Experimental Farm).

Stem: Long and slender (Thomas, Hedrick); rather long and slender, sometimes bracted (Beach, Budd-Hansen).

Cavity: Small, acute or approaching acuminate, narrow, rather shallow, often slightly russeted (Beach); small, acute, narrow, shallow, often russeted (Hedrick); narrow, rather shallow (Budd-Hansen).

Calyx: Rather large, closed; lobes reflexed (Beach); large, closed; lobes reflexed (Hedrick); rather large, closed (Budd-Hansen). Calyx tube wide, cone-shape. Stamens median (Hedrick) or median or above (Beach).

Basin: Shallow, moderately broad, obtuse, furrowed (Beach); shallow, broad, obtuse, furrowed (Hedrick); shallow, broad-plaited (Budd-Hansen).

Skin: Smooth, yellow, shaded and splashed with red over much of its surface; handsome in appearance. Dots numerous, russet. Thomas describes the skin as "yellow, shaded and splashed with red, sprinkled with many russet dots, handsome." Hedrick emphasizes the coloring is especially handsome — "yellow shaded and splashed with bright red, the latter giving the apples their prevailing color." The Central Experimental Farm catalogue describes the skin as "yellow with a bright red cheek."

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh whitish to white, firm, a little coarse (Beach) or coarse (Hedrick) or "not fine-grained" (Budd-Hansen), crisp, juicy, subacid. Beach notes "with some Siberian crab flavor yet agreeable for dessert use"; Hedrick gives "with Siberian crab flavor"; Budd-Hansen gives "with crab-apple flavor." Quality good to very good (Beach, Hedrick, Budd-Hansen); Thomas calls the flesh "white, juicy, good." The Central Experimental Farm catalogue describes the flesh as "white, crisp, juicy, mildly sub-acid, quality good." Excellent in quality for either dessert or culinary uses (Beach); a good dessert fruit and also excellent for culinary purposes (Hedrick).

Core/Seeds: Core large, decidedly abaxile (Beach) or abaxile (Hedrick); cells unsymmetrical, wide open; core lines clasping. Carpels elongated ovate, sometimes tufted. Seeds above medium size (Beach), long, moderately narrow (Beach) or narrow (Hedrick), acute, tufted.

Season

Early September (Beach, Hedrick). Begins to ripen about the first of September (Budd-Hansen, quoting Beach and Paddock). Early (Thomas). At Agassiz BC, season August (Central Experimental Farm). Hedrick notes that "the crop ripens earlier than that of any other crab."

Uses

Excellent for either dessert or culinary use. Beach considers it "one of the most desirable varieties of its class during early September" as grown at the New York Station. Hedrick describes it as both a good dessert fruit and excellent for culinary purposes.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Beach lists no synonyms ("SYNONYMS. None."). Beach's references include Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880; Gideon, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:26; Rural N. Y., 45:184, 1886 (figs.); Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:238; Beach and Paddock, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:580, 1894; Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 12:73, 1896; Lyon, U. S. Pom. Bul., 6:11, 1897; Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1897:11; Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:83, 1902; Thomas, 1903:348; Budd-Hansen, 1903:218; Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:47, 1903; Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:41, 1903. Hedrick illustrates the variety as Fig. 67.