Franklin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Franklin
Origin/History
Originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Downing notes that the original tree is supposed to be over one hundred years old (as of 1900). Elliott (citing the Pomological Transactions) considers it a new variety as of 1865.
Tree
Downing's "Franklin" entry describes a rapid grower, bearing profusely even when young, though the fruit is rather too acid to please many tastes. Downing's "Franclin" entry describes the tree as moderately vigorous, with a round head — a conflict with the former entry's characterization as a rapid grower. On bearing habit, Elliott and Thomas both call it a great bearer; Downing (Franklin) says it bears profusely even when young; Downing (Franclin) says it is very productive in alternate years, with some production in the intervening years — a meaningful conflict on regularity of bearing.
Fruit
Size: Elliott and Thomas describe the fruit as medium. Downing (Franklin entry) calls it below medium; Downing (Franclin entry) says nearly of medium size.
Form: Elliott and Thomas describe the fruit as round. Both Downing entries describe it as oblate — a conflict with Elliott and Thomas.
Stem: Short, small (Downing, Franclin entry).
Cavity: Rather large, sometimes a little russeted (Downing, Franclin entry).
Calyx: Closed (Downing, Franclin entry).
Basin: Medium, very slightly corrugated (Downing, Franclin entry).
Skin: Elliott and Thomas describe the fruit as bright red. Downing (Franklin entry) describes it as whitish, shaded and splashed with rich red. Downing (Franclin entry) gives the most detail: skin pale greenish white, covered with pale red, often deep red in the sun, with sometimes obscure splashes and stripes, and a few light and gray dots. The appearance described by Elliott and Thomas (uniformly bright red) differs materially from Downing's pale-ground-with-red-overlay description.
Flesh and Flavor: Elliott describes the flesh as yellowish, acid, and vinous. Downing (Franklin entry) describes it as yellowish white, tender, juicy, and sharp subacid. Downing (Franclin entry) describes it as whitish yellow, half fine, tender, juicy, and of a pleasant subacid flavor. Thomas describes it as rather acid. The intensity of acidity is in mild disagreement: Elliott and Thomas emphasize acidity; Downing (Franclin) characterizes it as pleasant subacid.
Core: Small (Downing, Franclin entry).
Quality: Downing (Franklin entry) rates it Good. Downing (Franclin entry) rates it Very Good.
Season
September to November (Downing, Franklin entry). September to October (Downing, Franclin entry).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Fronclin
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Fronclin
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Fronclin.
Native of Lancaster Co., Pa. Tree, rapid grower, great bearer. Fruit, medium, regular, round, bright red ; flesh, yellowish, acid, vinous. New. (Pom. Trans.)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Franklin.
Originated in Lancaster Co., Pa., where the original tree is supposed to be over one hundred years old. It is a rapid grower, bearing profusely even when young, but the fruit is rather too acid to please many tastes.
Fruit below medium, oblate, whitish, shaded and splashed with rich red. Flesh yellowish white, tender, juicy, sharp subacid. Good. September, November.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Franclin", pp. 1146–1146]
Franclin.
Origin, Lancaster County, Pa. Tree moderately vigorous, with a round head, very productive alternate years, and a few the intervening ones.
Fruit nearly of medium size, oblate; skin pale greenish white, covered with pale red, often deep red in the sun, sometimes obscure splashes and stripes, and a few light and gray dots; stalk short, small; cavity rather large, sometimes a little russeted; calyx closed; basin medium, very slightly corrugated; flesh whitish yellow, half fine, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid; very good; core small. September, October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Fronclin. Medium, round, bright red; rather acid. Great bearer. Pa.