Fairbanks
AppleFairbanks
Origin/History
Originated in Winthrop, Maine.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium size, oblate conic in shape (Thomas specifies "rather oblate, inclining to conic").
Stem: Long.
Cavity: Broad and shallow.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Light yellow, striped with red, and patched with russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellowish and juicy. Downing and Elliott describe the flavor as "rich, vinous"; Thomas adds "rich sub-acid and vinous." Quality rated Good (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September to October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Cited in the proceedings of the Maine Pomological Society (abbreviated "Me. P. S. B." in Downing; "Me. P. S. R." in Elliott — likely variant transcriptions of the same source citation).
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
From Maine Pomological Report.
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)FAIRBANKS.
Origin, Winthrop, Maine.
Fruit medium, oblate conic, light yellow, striped with red, and patched with russet. Stem long. Cavity broad and shallow. Flesh yellowish, juicy, with a rich, vinous flavor. Good. September to October. (Me. P. S. B.)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Fairbanks.
Origin, Winthrop, Maine. Fruit, medium, oblate conic, light yellow, striped with red and patched with russet; stem, long; cavity, broad and shallow; flesh, yellowish, juicy, with a rich vinous flavor. September to October. (Me. P. S. R.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Fairbanks. Size medium, rather oblate, inclining to conic; skin light yellow, striped with red, with patches of russet; stem long, set in a broad and shallow cavity; flesh yellowish, juicy, with a rich sub-acid and vinous flavor. September and October. Origin, Winthrop, Me.