Gano
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Gano
Origin / History
Origin obscure. Brought to notice in Missouri about twenty-five years before 1905 and disseminated under the name Gano (Beach). Budd-Hansen states the origin as Missouri, a seedling of Ben Davis, much grown in its native state. It is supposed by some that the original stock came from Kentucky (Beach). Some believed Gano to be the same as Black Ben Davis; it certainly resembles Black Ben Davis very closely, and for a time the two were considered identical (Beach; Budd-Hansen). The preponderance of evidence available to Beach favored the opinion that it is of distinct origin. The USDA 1963 survey notes the variety was received from M. Butterfield, Lee's Summit, Missouri in 1892 by the Geneva, New York station; the Kansas State station received its stock from Kentucky or Missouri; the New York station also received stock from Plumfield Nursery, Fremont, Nebraska (station number A322567). Grown for market in the Middle West (Thomas).
Tree
Tree moderately vigorous; branches long, moderately stout and inclined to droop; laterals willowy, short, slender (Beach; corroborated by the Kansas State report in Fisher: "Moderate, vigorous tree, long branches"). Form like that of Ben Davis, upright spreading becoming somewhat drooping, rather dense. In the nursery the tree resembles Ben Davis very closely. Twigs short to rather long, slightly curved, markedly geniculate, moderately stout; internodes short to rather long. Bark bright brownish-red mingled with olive-green, lightly overcast with mottled and streaked gray scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels not conspicuous, scattering, medium, round to ovate or often elongated, slightly raised. Buds small to medium with prominent shoulder, plump, obtuse, appressed, decidedly pubescent, deeply set in bark (Beach; "Bud small to medium" also noted by the Kansas State report in Fisher).
The tree comes into bearing young and is an excellent cropper, bearing regularly and abundantly. It has not been tested very many years in New York (as of 1905), but it appears to be adapted to about the same region as Ben Davis (Beach).
Fruit
Size
Fruit medium to sometimes large (Beach); medium-large (Fisher, both NyG and KaM reports); large (Lowther); medium large (Thomas). As grown in Western New York the fruit is on the average somewhat smaller than that of Ben Davis (Beach), and the NyC report in Fisher specifically notes "Fruit small[er] than Ben Davis."
Form
Roundish conic, usually regular, symmetrical; uniform in size and shape (Beach); round-conical (Fisher); roundish (oblate) (Lowther); oblate, irregular (Thomas).
Stem
Medium to long and slender (Beach).
Cavity
Acute, deep, rather broad, symmetrical, sometimes slightly furrowed or compressed, usually with radiating green russet or red russet (Beach).
Calyx
Medium or above, closed or partly open; pubescent; lobes rather broad, acute to acuminate. Calyx tube short, cone-shape with fleshy pistil point projecting into its base, or sometimes elongated funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal (Beach). Budd-Hansen describes the calyx tube as funnel-shaped with usually a long slender stem to the funnel, and stamens marginal.
Basin
Abrupt, moderately narrow to rather wide, often deep (Beach). Budd-Hansen emphasizes that the basin of Gano is nearly smooth and more abrupt than that of Ben Davis.
Skin
Smooth, waxy, clear light yellow, mottled and blushed with bright light pinkish-red often deepening to a purplish-red, more or less obscurely striped (Beach; corroborated by Fisher: "skin smooth, waxy, yellow, blushed with pink" from NyG, and "Smooth, waxy, skin clear light yellow" from KaM). Dots numerous, small, inconspicuous. Prevailing color fine red (Beach). Lowther gives the color as yellow-red. Thomas describes it as red striped, handsome.
As grown in Western New York the fruit is more highly colored than Ben Davis. It is less striped in appearance and more of a solid, deep red color, often with a contrasting spot of clear yellow where it has been closely covered by a leaf or twig. In this respect and in its deep, abrupt basin it suggests Jonathan, as at times it also does by its brilliant, deep red or purplish color. It is very attractive in appearance (Beach). Budd-Hansen describes it in brief as a solid-colored Ben Davis, the broad dark crimson splashes being lost in the depth of coloring, and a fruit of very attractive appearance.
Flesh / Flavor
Whitish slightly tinged with yellow, firm, moderately tender, rather coarse, moderately crisp, juicy, mild subacid, good or nearly good in quality (Beach). Fisher (NyG) reports: white, firm, crisp, juicy, subacid; good quality. Thomas describes the flavor as sub-acid, brisk, good. Lowther rates quality as good. Budd-Hansen notes the flesh is like that of Ben Davis, and that many regard Gano somewhat superior to Ben Davis in quality — a view shared by Beach, who judged the quality "perhaps a little superior to Ben Davis."
Core / Seeds
Core below medium to large, somewhat abaxile with a comparatively rather wide hollow cylinder at the axis; cells closed, or partly open, usually symmetrical but often not uniformly developed; core lines meeting when the calyx tube is cone-shape but clasping the funnel cylinder when it is funnel-form. Carpels broadly roundish or elongated, slightly tufted, emarginate. Seeds numerous, broad, obtuse, large, dark, sometimes tufted (Beach). Budd-Hansen specifically notes that, in comparison with Ben Davis, the seeds of Gano are larger and the cells are obovate, nearly entire.
Season
Season about the same as that of Ben Davis, extending from December to May in Western New York (Beach); season the same as Ben Davis (Budd-Hansen). Winter (Lowther). Medium to late (Thomas). Storage December–April per the Geneva, New York report in Fisher. Commercial limit in common storage March, in cold storage April (Beach). It stands handling well and is a good keeper (Beach).
Uses
Market (Lowther). Grown for market in the Middle West (Thomas).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach summarizes the variety as one of the Ben Davis type. Budd-Hansen's comparative summary with Ben Davis emphasizes four differentiating points: (1) the basin of Gano is nearly smooth and more abrupt; (2) the seeds are larger; (3) the calyx tube is funnel-shaped with usually a long slender stem to the funnel, with marginal stamens; (4) cells are obovate, nearly entire.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 47 catalogs (1890–1925) from California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington
- William H. Moon Co. , Morrisville, Bucks County , Pennsylvania — 1890
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Rogers Nursery Co. , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1893
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1896
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Reading Nursery , Jacob W. Manning, Proprietor, Reading , Massachusetts — 1898
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as Ozark
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1901
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- Mountain Grove Nurseries (Tippin & Moore , Proprietors; Geo. T. Tippin, J. W. Tippin, J. C. Moore), Mountain Grove , Missouri — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Ozark
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907
- 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
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Wm. J. Corse (successor to Robert Sinclair / Sinclair Nurseries) , Baltimore , Maryland — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as Ozark
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- Holsinger Bros. Nurseries (Holsinger Brothers Nursery) , Rosedale , Kansas — 1916
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
- Fresno Nursery Co. , Fresno , California — 1924
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925
- North-Western Nurseries , Walla Walla , Washington
View original book sources (5)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)GANO.
REFERENCES. 1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:156. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1889:6. 3. Stayman, Am. Gard., 11:272. 1890. 4. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:239. 5. Van Deman, Am. Gard., 20:81. 1899. 6. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 43:187, 270, 271. 1900. 7. Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 8:40. 1901. 8. Va. Sta. Bul., 130:132. 1901. fig. of tree. 9. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Bul., 37:43, 44. 1901. 10. Stinson, Mo. Fr. Sta. Bul., 3:24. 1902. 11. Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:53. 1902. 12. Budd-Hansen, 1903:86. fig. 13. Thomas, 1903:326. 14. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:42. 1903. 15. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:121. 1904. 16. Wickson, Western Fruit Grower, 1904:124. 17. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:116. 1905.
SYNONYMS. Black Ben Davis (17). Jack's Red (5). Ozark (13). Payton (17). Reagan (13). Red Ben Davis (17).
This is a variety of the Ben Davis type. In the nursery the tree resembles Ben Davis very closely. As grown in Western New York the fruit is more highly colored but on the average is somewhat smaller than that of Ben Davis. It is less striped in appearance and more of a solid, deep red color, often with a contrasting spot of clear yellow where it has been closely covered by a leaf or twig. In this respect and in its deep, abrupt basin it suggests Jonathan, as at times it also does by its brilliant, deep red or purplish color. It is very attractive in appearance, stands handling well and is a good keeper. In quality it is perhaps a little superior to Ben Davis. The tree comes into bearing young and is an excellent cropper, bearing regularly and abundantly. It has not been tested very many years in New York, but it appears to be adapted to about the same region as Ben Davis.
Historical. Origin obscure. Brought to notice in Missouri about twenty-five years ago and disseminated under the name Gano (1, 5, 6). It is supposed by some that the original stock came from Kentucky (5). Some believe that Gano is the same as Black Ben Davis. It certainly resembles Black Ben Davis very closely but the preponderance of evidence at present seems to favor the opinion that it is of distinct origin (16).
TREE. Tree moderately vigorous; branches long, moderately stout and inclined to droop; laterals willowy, short, slender. Form like that of Ben Davis, upright spreading becoming somewhat drooping, rather dense. Twigs short to rather long, slightly curved, markedly geniculate, moderately stout; internodes short to rather long. Bark bright brownish-red mingled with olive-green, lightly overcast with mottled and streaked gray scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels not conspicuous, scattering, medium, round to ovate or often elongated, slightly raised. Buds small to medium with prominent shoulder, plump, obtuse, appressed, decidedly pubescent, deeply set in bark.
FRUIT. Fruit medium to sometimes large. Form roundish conic, usually regular, symmetrical; uniform in size and shape. Stem medium to long and slender. Cavity acute, deep, rather broad, symmetrical, sometimes slightly furrowed or compressed, usually with radiating green russet or red russet. Calyx medium or above, closed or partly open; pubescent; lobes rather broad, acute to acuminate. Basin abrupt, moderately narrow to rather wide, often deep. Skin smooth, waxy, clear light yellow, mottled and blushed with bright light pinkish-red often deepening to a purplish-red, more or less obscurely striped. Dots numerous, small, inconspicuous. Prevailing color fine red. Calyx tube short, cone-shape with fleshy pistil point projecting into its base, or sometimes elongated funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal. Core below medium to large, somewhat abaxile with a comparatively rather wide hollow cylinder at the axis; cells closed, or partly open, usually symmetrical but often not uniformly developed; core lines meeting when the calyx tube is cone-shape but clasping the funnel cylinder when it is funnel-form. Carpels broadly roundish or elongated, slightly tufted, emarginate. Seeds numerous, broad, obtuse, large, dark, sometimes tufted. Flesh whitish slightly tinged with yellow, firm, moderately tender, rather coarse, moderately crisp, juicy, mild subacid, good or nearly good in quality. Season about the same as that of Ben Davis, extending from December to May in Western New York. Commercial limit in common storage March, in cold storage April.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Gano (synonym Payton). Size: large. Form: roundish (oblate). Color: yellow-red. Quality: good. Use: market. Season: winter. N. Div.: not reported. C. Div.: not reported. S. Div.: not reported.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Gano.* (Ozark Reagan.) Fruit medium large, oblate, irregular; red striped, handsome; sub-acid, brisk, good; season medium to late. Grown for market in Middle West.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Gano. — Origin, Missouri; a seedling of Ben Davis, much grown in its native state. It may be described in brief as a solid-colored Ben Davis, the broad dark crimson splashes being lost in the depth of coloring, and is a fruit of very attractive appearance. The Black Ben Davis resembles Gano closely and for a time the two were considered identical. The basin of Gano is nearly smooth and more abrupt; the seeds are larger ; the calyx tube is funnel-shaped with usually a long slender stem to the funnel ; stamens marginal ; cells obovate, nearly entire; flesh like that of Ben Davis, season the same. Many regard Gano somewhat superior to Ben Davis in quality.
— H.H. Fisher (USDA ARS), A Survey of Apple Clones in the United States (1963)The Gano variety was reported by multiple stations. Received from M. Butterfield, Lee's Summit, Missouri in 1892, reported by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Pomology, Geneva, New York (NyG): Fruit medium-large, round-conical; skin smooth, waxy, yellow, blushed with pink. Flesh white, firm, crisp, juicy, subacid. Good quality. Storage December–April. Also reported by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania (PaU), with no additional comments. Received from Kentucky or Missouri, reported by the Agricultural Experiment Station, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas (KaM): Fruit medium-large, round-conical. Smooth, waxy, skin clear light yellow. Moderate, vigorous tree, long branches. Bud small to medium. Received from Plumfield Nursery, Fremont, Nebraska, station number A322567, reported by NyC: Fruit small than Ben Davis.