Finley
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Finley
Origin / History
Originated in Kentucky. First brought into notice by the gentleman after whom it is named (Downing). Cultivated to some extent in Southern Indiana, where Warder, who calls it "this fine fruit," writes that it "is considered entitled to the meed of excellence," preferred to the Early Harvest on the one hand and to the Maiden's Blush on the other; in its season it competes with both. Grown to considerable extent South and West and counted valuable, especially for kitchen use (Downing).
Tree
Tree vigorous and productive; large and spreading (Warder), or upright (Downing). Young wood dark reddish, grayish, downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large to very large (Warder); large (Downing, Thomas).
Form: Globular-oblate to oblate, slightly conical; regular (Warder), or irregular (Thomas).
Stem: Long, yellow (Warder); short (Downing).
Cavity: Acute, medium to deep, regular, brown (Warder); broad, russeted (Downing).
Calyx: Closed. Eye small; segments reflexed (Warder).
Basin: Rather wide, wavy (Warder); pretty large (Downing).
Skin: Smooth, greenish yellow, becoming clear lemon yellow at maturity (Warder); pale yellow or yellowish (Downing); yellowish white (Thomas).
Dots: Minute, gray, scattering (Warder); a few, brown (Downing).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellow, fine grained, juicy, breaking (Warder) or crisp (Downing). Flavor acid (Warder); "pleasant subacid" (Downing). Quality rated "very good" (Thomas), "good to very good" (Downing), and "almost first quality" (Warder).
Core and seeds: Core heart-shaped, regular, closed, clasping the eye. Seeds few, large, plump, some imperfect (Warder).
Season
July to September. Ripens gradually from July until September, useful in the kitchen from July, with August and September given as the season (Warder); September (Downing, Thomas).
Uses
Valuable for kitchen and market (Warder); valuable especially for kitchen use (Downing).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Fenley
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Fenley
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Finley.
ABBOTT ?
This fine fruit originated in Kentucky and is cultivated to some extent in Southern Indiana, where it is considered entitled to the meed of excellence, and preferred to the Early Harvest on the one hand, and to the Maiden's Blush on the other; and in its season, it competes with both, being useful in July for the kitchen, and ripening gradually until September.
Tree large, spreading, vigorous and productive.
Fruit large to very large, regular, globular-oblate, slightly conical; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, becoming a clear lemon yellow at maturity; Dots minute, gray, scattering.
Basin rather wide, wavy; Eye small, closed; Segments reflexed.
Cavity acute, medium to deep, regular, brown; Stem long, yellow.
Core heart-shaped, regular, closed, clasping the eye; Seeds few, large, plump, and some imperfect; Flesh yellow, breaking, fine grained, juicy, acid, almost first quality; Valuable for kitchen and market; Season August and September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Fenley.
Finley. Findley. Horse, erroneously.
This Apple originated in Kentucky, and was first brought into notice by the gentleman after whose name it has been called. It is grown to considerable extent South and West, and counted valuable, especially for kitchen use. Tree vigorous, upright, and productive. Young wood dark reddish, grayish, downy.
Fruit large, oblate, slightly conic, pale yellow or yellowish, sprinkled with a few brown clots. Stalk short. Cavity broad, russeted. Calyx closed. Basin pretty large. Flesh yellow, crisp, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good to very good. September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Fenley. Large, oblate, irregular, yellowish-white; very good. September. Ky.