Farris
AppleFARRIS
Origin and History
Farris was introduced to cultivation by Mr. Reeves of Allen County, Kentucky, and subsequently promoted by W. M. Samuels of Clinton, Kentucky. The variety received first premium as the best fall apple at a fruit exhibition in St. Louis in 1876, indicating recognition among contemporary pomologists despite limited commercial adoption.
Tree Characteristics
The tree is moderately vigorous but rather small in stature, with short, stout branches arranged in a spreading, flat, open form. Twigs are medium in length to rather short, straight, and moderately stout, with short internodes. The bark is clear reddish-brown, overlaid with some olive-green and streaked with gray scarf-skin, and is slightly pubescent. Lenticels are clear in color, scattering, small to very small, generally round, and not raised. Buds are deeply set in the bark, medium in size, flat, obtuse or acute, appressed, and slightly pubescent.
Fruit Description
Size and Form: Medium or below medium. Form roundish oblate to roundish conic, faintly ribbed.
Stem: Rather stout.
Cavity: Acute, sometimes nearly obtuse, shallow to moderately deep, narrow, sometimes lipped, sometimes slightly russeted.
Calyx: Often flat, small to above medium in size, closed or partly open.
Basin: Shallow to moderately deep, narrow to moderately wide, often somewhat furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin: Smooth, waxy, somewhat glossy. Ground color yellow, largely overspread with rather dull, deep red; in highly colored specimens becoming purplish; sometimes obscurely striped with purplish-carmine.
Dots: Yellowish, sometimes with russet point, numerous, small to large, often conspicuous.
Calyx Tube: Usually rather narrow and cone-shaped, sometimes funnel-shaped.
Stamens: Median to basal.
Core: Axile, medium in size, closed; core lines meeting or clasping.
Carpels: Roundish or roundish obcordate, tufted.
Seeds: Large to below medium, narrow, long, acuminate to acute, tufted; often some are abortive.
Flesh and Flavor: Tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, crisp, tender, juicy; pleasant subacid; quality good.
Season and Storage
Season is variable, usually extending from December to March or April, sometimes later.
Bearing and Production
The tree does not come into bearing very young. It is usually moderately productive and sometimes very productive, though bearing behavior is not entirely consistent.
Commercial Value and Uses
Farris is too unattractive in color and too small to be desirable for commercial purposes. Quality is good at the New York Station, though it is rated more highly in Kentucky, where it was first introduced. The fruit resembles Rambo somewhat.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)FARRIS.
REFERENCES. 1. Churchill, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 8:355. 1889. 2. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:259. 1895. 3. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:120. 1904.
Fruit resembles Rambo somewhat. As grown at this Station its quality is good but not as high as it is rated in Kentucky where it was first introduced into cultivation. The tree does not come into bearing very young. It is usually moderately productive and sometimes very productive, but it is too unattractive in color and too small to be desirable for commercial purposes.
Historical. Farris was introduced by a Mr. Reeves of Allen county, Kentucky, and afterwards brought more prominently into notice by W. M. Samuels, Clinton, Ky. It was granted first premium as the best fall apple at a fruit exhibition in St. Louis in 1876.
TREE. Tree moderately vigorous, rather small, with short stout branches. Form spreading, flat, open. Twigs medium in length to rather short, straight, moderately stout; internodes short. Bark clear, reddish-brown, with some olive-green and streaked with gray scarf-skin; slightly pubescent. Lenticels clear in color, scattering, small, or very small, generally round, not raised. Buds deeply set in bark, medium in size, flat, obtuse or acute, appressed, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT. Fruit medium or below. Form roundish oblate to roundish conic, faintly ribbed. Stem rather stout. Cavity acute, sometimes nearly obtuse, shallow to moderately deep, narrow, sometimes lipped, sometimes slightly russeted. Calyx often flat, small to above medium, closed or partly open. Basin shallow to moderately deep, narrow to moderately wide, often somewhat furrowed and wrinkled. Skin smooth, waxy, somewhat glossy, yellow, largely overspread with rather dull, deep red, in highly colored specimens becoming purplish, sometimes obscurely striped with purplish-carmine. Dots yellowish, sometimes with russet point, numerous, small to large, often conspicuous. Calyx tube usually rather narrow and cone-shape, sometimes funnel-shape. Stamens median to basal. Core axile, medium, closed; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels roundish or roundish obcordate, tufted. Seeds large to below medium, narrow, long, acuminate to acute, tufted, often some are abortive. Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid, good. Season variable, usually extending from December to March or April, sometimes later.