Fleiner
AppleOrigin/History
Of German origin (Downing). Elliott and Thomas describe it simply as "Foreign."
Tree
Vigorous, upright (Downing; Elliott agrees on upright habit). A great bearer; productivity is its chief merit (Elliott). Productive (Downing, Thomas). Wood dull reddish brown, slightly grayish (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, oblong (all three sources agree). Downing specifies oblong conical.
Skin: Downing: whitish yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun. Elliott: lemon yellow with a red cheek. Thomas: yellow. Sources agree on a yellow ground color with a red blush on the sun-exposed side, differing in the depth of the ground (whitish yellow vs. lemon yellow) and the extent of color described.
Flesh: White, tender, subacid (all sources agree). Downing adds juicy and characterizes the subacidity as brisk and sharp.
Flavor/Quality: Downing and Elliott rate it "Good." Thomas rates it "of moderate quality."
Season
Downing: October and November. Elliott: September and October. Thomas: Autumn.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Elliott notes that productiveness is the variety's chief merit, implying its eating quality alone would not distinguish it.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Fleiner.
Of German origin. Tree vigorous, upright, productive. Wood dull reddish brown, slightly grayish.
Fruit medium, oblong conical, whitish yellow, shaded with crimson in sun. Flesh white, tender, juicy, brisk sharp subacid. Good. October, November.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Fleiner.
Foreign. Tree, great bearer, growth upright. Fruit, medium, oblong, lemon yellow, red cheek ; flesh, white, tender, sub-acid ; " good." September and October. Productiveness its chief merit.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Fleiner. Medium, oblong, yellow; sub-acid, of moderate quality. A great bearer. Autumn. Foreign.