Gabriel

Origin/History

The origin of Gabriel is uncertain. Elliott (1865) notes it "will most likely yet prove identical with some variety heretofore described." Warder (1867) states, "This is thought to be a southern apple, but the origin is unknown. It may yet prove to be a known variety in cultivation." Elliott also records "Ladies' Blush" as an erroneous name for this variety.

Tree

Growth moderate to rather slender. Elliott (1865) describes the trees as of "moderate growth, good bearers." Warder (1867) calls the tree "moderately vigorous, productive." Downing (1900) describes it as "of rather slender growth, productive."

Fruit

Size

Medium, or below medium. Elliott notes the engraving is "under medium size of the apple" and gives the fruit as "medium or below."

Form

Sources describe the form somewhat differently: Elliott (1865) gives "roundish conical"; Warder (1867) "conic, regular"; Downing (1900) "roundish oblate"; Thomas (1903) "roundish-ovate, regular"; Lowther (1914) "roundish (oblate)."

Stem / Stalk

Slender; medium in length. Elliott: "stem, slender." Warder: "Stem medium, slender." Downing: "Stalk medium, inserted in a cavity of moderate depth." Thomas: "stalk slender."

Cavity

Medium / of moderate depth, regular, green. Elliott: "cavity, medium." Warder: "Cavity regular, green." Downing: cavity "of moderate depth." Thomas: (see basin — described together as "small").

Calyx / Eye

Small to medium, closed or partially closed. Elliott: "calyx, small." Warder: "Eye medium, closed." Downing: "Calyx partially closed." Thomas: "calyx and basin small."

Basin

Shallow to moderate, regular in some accounts, uneven in others. Elliott: "basin, shallow." Warder: "Basin medium, regular." Downing: basin "moderate uneven." Thomas: basin "small."

Skin / Surface / Color

Ground color yellowish to greenish-yellow to whitish green, striped and splashed with pale red or crimson; surface smooth; dotted with minute or gray dots. Elliott: "yellowish, striped, and splashed with pale red." Warder: "Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, mixed and striped pale red; Dots minute." Downing: "whitish green, shaded and splashed with crimson, and sprinkled with gray dots." Thomas: "striped and splashed with pale red on yellow." Lowther: "Color: red-yellow."

Flesh / Flavor

Yellowish, tender, fine-grained, juicy; flavor sub-acid to sweet, aromatic, rich; quality "best" to "almost best." Elliott: "flesh, yellowish, juicy, sub-acid; 'best.'" Warder: "Flesh tender, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid to sweet, aromatic; Quality almost best, for dessert." Downing: "Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, rich subacid. Good to very good." Thomas: "flesh yellowish, sub-acid, of excellent flavor." Lowther: "Quality: good."

Core / Seeds

Elliott: "core medium; seeds, long ovate, pointed." Warder: "Core regular, closed; Seeds medium." Downing: "Core small." Thomas and Lowther do not describe the core or seeds.

Season

Sources vary. Elliott (1865) and Downing (1900): "October and November." Warder (1867): "August and September, or later." Lowther (1914): "early autumn."

Uses

Dessert (Warder: "for dessert"); market (Lowther: "Use: market").

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Lowther (1914) reports the following distribution among reporting stations: "Northern Division: 2 reporting stations (also reported in another division). Central Division: 1 reporting station (also reported in another division). Southern Division: not reported."

Elliott's volume also carries a separate, very brief entry under "Ladies' Blush" describing an "American. Medium, yellow, with red blush; flesh, dry" apple — noted here because Elliott elsewhere treats "Ladies' Blush" as an erroneous name for Gabriel, and this short entry conflicts with Gabriel's juicy flesh, suggesting Elliott regarded it as either a distinct variety or an unresolved duplicate.