Florence

Crab Apple

Florence

Origin/History

Originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minnesota. Considered very desirable for commercial planting because the trees commence bearing very young, are reliable croppers and very prolific, and the fruit is of good size, very attractive in appearance, and of good quality. Although not superior to Martha in quality, Florence is more beautiful and more prolific.

Tree

Tree moderately vigorous, described by Thomas (1903) as a hardy dwarf. Form at first upright spreading but eventually inclined to droop. Bears early and profusely. Twigs long, curved, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark bright reddish-brown, slightly tinged with olive-green, mottled with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, free, not pubescent.

Fruit

Size and Form: Fruit medium in size (Thomas describes it as large), uniform in size and shape. Form oblate, faintly ribbed.

Stem: Very long, slender.

Cavity: Acute, deep, medium in width, symmetrical, sometimes slightly russeted.

Calyx: Variable, usually small, closed.

Basin: Very shallow, rather wide, obtuse, slightly furrowed.

Skin: Moderately thin, moderately tough, smooth, yellowish-white mostly overspread with brilliant pinkish-red, sometimes with whitish bands radiating from the cavity, overspread with faint bloom. Described by Thomas as very handsome.

Dots: Minute, whitish.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh tinged with yellow, coarse, crisp, rather tender, juicy, very brisk subacid, somewhat astringent, good.

Core/Seeds: Core large; cells closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly obovate, emarginate. Calyx tube moderately long, moderately wide, varying from somewhat urn-shape to funnel-form. Stamens marginal. Seeds medium to rather small, moderately wide, flat, obtuse.

Season

Late August and early September.

Uses

Suited for commercial planting. Western (i.e., suited to western growing regions, per Thomas).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 17 catalogs (1891–1932) from Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington

Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
Cotta Nursery (J.V. Cotta) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1895
Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1896
J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
Manalapan Nurseries , Englishtown , New Jersey — 1916
Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
Stark Bro's Nurseries , Louisiana , Missouri — 1932

View original book sources (2)

FLORENCE.

REFERENCES. 1. Stark, Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886:233. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1887:134. 3. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 118:59, 60. 1895. 4. Thomas, 1897:298. 5. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 152:219, 224. 1898. 6. Budd-Hansen, 1903:219.

SYNONYMS. None.

This variety seems to be very desirable for commercial planting because the trees commence bearing very young, are reliable croppers and very prolific and the fruit is of good size, very attractive in appearance and of good quality. Although not superior to Martha in quality, Florence is more beautiful and more prolific.

Historical. Originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minn.

TREE.

Tree moderately vigorous. Form at first upright spreading but eventually inclined to droop. Twigs long, curved, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark bright reddish-brown, slightly tinged with olive-green, mottled with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, free, not pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium in size, uniform in size and shape. Form oblate, faintly ribbed. Stem very long, slender. Cavity acute, deep, medium in width, symmetrical, sometimes slightly russeted. Calyx variable, usually small, closed. Basin very shallow, rather wide, obtuse, slightly furrowed. Skin moderately thin, moderately tough, smooth, yellowish-white mostly overspread with brilliant pinkish-red, sometimes with whitish bands radiating from the cavity, overspread with faint bloom. Dots minute, whitish. Calyx tube moderately long, moderately wide, varying from somewhat urn-shape to funnel-form. Stamens marginal. Core large; cells closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly obovate, emarginate. Seeds medium to rather small, moderately wide, flat, obtuse. Flesh tinged with yellow, coarse, crisp, rather tender, juicy, very brisk subacid, somewhat astringent, good. Season late August and early September.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

Florence. Large, very handsome, hardy dwarf. Bears early and profusely. Western.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Florence Crab