Fireside

Origin and History

Fireside was received by the USDA Agricultural Research Service from multiple nursery sources in the early 1960s, including Andrews Nursery (Faribault, Minnesota), Inter-State Nursery (Hamburg, Iowa), and Shenandoah Nursery (Shenandoah, Iowa). A hardy trunk stock strain (PI No. 137043) was received from Switzerland in 1940.

Tree

The tree is vigorous and very hardy. It demonstrates resistance to apple-cedar rust.

Fruit

Form and Size: Irregular, round-oblate.

Skin: Medium red, usually with darker striping.

Flesh: Yellow, medium firm and juicy.

Flavor: Mild subacid; quality good.

Season

Middle October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Fireside was evaluated at multiple USDA reporting stations under different accession numbers:

• Station No. AP-H-110 (from AES, Excelsior, Minnesota)
• Station No. M-761 (from AES, Excelsior, Minnesota)
• Station No. A48116 (from Shenandoah Nursery, Shenandoah, Iowa)
• Accession on rootstock R12740-7A (reported from Indiana station)
• PI No. 137043 (hardy trunk stock, received from Switzerland in 1940)

Multiple reporting stations evaluated Fireside across different geographic regions, including stations designated "MyC", SdC, "O'nW", "MdF", "MeD", MiS, MnS, OrC, WaP, WaM, IoA, WyC, InL, and MdG.

Other

The variety was actively distributed and evaluated through the USDA ARS network at numerous experiment stations during the early 1960s survey period.