Farley's Red

Origin/History

A native of Kentucky, originating in Oldham County (per Downing). By 1867 (Warder) it had already extended somewhat northward.

Tree

Hardy, healthy, and productive. A moderate grower; Warder describes it as "moderately thrifty, very productive, making it small."

Fruit

Size

Small (Warder).

Form

Sources vary somewhat on form:

• Warder: round or oblong, flattened or truncated at the ends, barrel shaped.
• Downing: roundish, inclining to conic.
• Elliott: roundish conical, angular.
• Thomas: oblong oval.

Stem

Short (Elliott); medium (Warder).

Cavity

Deep, with Warder describing it as acute, wavy, and brown, and Elliott describing it as irregular and finely russeted.

Calyx / Eye

Eye small and closed (Warder); calyx open (Elliott).

Basin

Shallow; folded or plaited (Warder); uneven (Elliott).

Skin / Surface

Ground color yellowish, shaded and striped with red — described variously as "dull red stripes on yellow" (Warder), "deep crimson" (Downing), and "bright, rich red" (Elliott). Specked/dotted with light dots; Warder specifies the dots as minute, indented, and purplish.

Flesh / Flavor

Flesh yellowish white (Warder) to whitish (Downing); firm, crisp, juicy. Flavor sub-acid (Warder), with a pleasant vinous flavor (Downing); pleasant (Elliott, Thomas). Quality only "good" (Warder, Downing).

Core / Seeds

Core regular, turbinate, open, clasping the point of the eye. Seeds numerous, plump, and angular (Warder).

Season

A winter apple. Downing and Elliott give January to April; Warder gives March and April, noting it keeps sound and very salable through that period. Thomas simply lists it as "Winter."

Uses

Market fruit — Warder notes that "Mr. R. Ragan finds it one of his best market fruits," keeping sound and very salable into late winter and early spring.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.