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.

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

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.

[Additional entry in this volume: "BLACK BEN DAVIS", pp. 119–122]

BLACK BEN DAVIS.

REFERENCES. 1. Amer. Gard., 23:403. 1902. 2. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 61:717. 1902. 3. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 62:500. 1903. 4. Budd-Hansen, 1903:50. 5. Ark. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1904. 6. Nat. Nurseryman, 12:18, 19. 1904. 7. Wickson, Western Fruit Grower, 1904:124.

This is a variety of the Ben Davis type, very brilliant in color and decidedly attractive in appearance. In size and color it is intermediate between Jonathan and Ben Davis. It is sometimes obscurely striped, but more often it shows a solid, deep red color somewhat like that of the Jonathan. As grown in this state it is but little better than Ben Davis in quality. It appears to be as good a keeper as Ben Davis. It has not yet been sufficiently tested in New York state to demonstrate whether or not it will be valuable in this region, but it appears sufficiently promising for commercial purposes to merit attention in those parts of the state where Ben Davis succeeds best.

Historical. It is said to have originated about 1880 on the farm of M. Black in Washington county, Arkansas (5, 7). It has been claimed by some that it is identical with Gano. It certainly resembles Gano very closely, but the preponderance of evidence seems to favor the opinion that these two varieties are of distinct origin (7).

TREE.

Young trees are upright and vigorous, becoming somewhat spreading, rather dense; branches moderately stout, curved. Does not resemble Ben Davis so closely in tree as Gano does, being more upright and having less willow-like lateral twigs. Twigs medium in length, straight, stout; internodes medium. Bark dark brown, tinged with olive-green, mottled with scarf-skin; pubescent. As grown here is darker than Gano. Lenticels scattering, large, round, raised, conspicuous. Buds large, broad, obtuse, appressed, set deep in bark, pubescent. Leaves medium, broad.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium to above, sometimes large, averaging marketable size. Form roundish ovate to roundish conic, pretty regular. Stem medium to rather long and slender. Cavity acute, moderately deep to deep, of medium width, nearly symmetrical, usually with some greenish or orange-red russet which often spreads beyond the cavity in broken rays. Calyx rather large, usually open or partly so; lobes rather broad, obtuse. Basin often somewhat oblique, rather shallow and obtuse to moderately deep and abrupt, often slightly furrowed and somewhat wrinkled. Skin thin, tough, smooth, somewhat glossy, brilliant red almost completely overspreading a clear pale yellow ground color, becoming dark purplish-red on the exposed cheek. Dots numerous, very small, red or gray, sometimes with russet point. Prevailing effect brilliant red, often with some contrasting clear pale yellow. Calyx tube varies from short cone-shape to somewhat funnel-form, with fleshy pistil point projecting into the base. Stamens median to marginal. Core medium to rather small, axile or nearly so, closed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder, or when the calyx tube is cone-shaped, nearly meeting. Carpels roundish, elongated, emarginate. Seeds rather long, obtuse to acute, dark brown. Flesh whitish, firm, somewhat coarse, moderately crisp, not tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid, a little aromatic, good in quality. Season January to April or May.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Gang", pp. 226–227]

GANG.

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. Caston, Out. 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). Jacks 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.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

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.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Black Ben Davis", pp. 57–57]

Black Ben Davis.—Originated about thirty years ago on the farm of the Rev. M. Black, near Lincoln, Washington County, Arkansas. Reagan was at first given preference, but the above name has priority, and the name Reagan resembles too closely Ragan, an old Indiana variety. It now appears that Mr. Reagan bought the farm from Mr. Black after the tree came into bearing. Recently introduced; promising. Fruit large, form much like Ben Davis, the skin also becoming unctuous like that variety; surface very handsomely colored, a dark solid crimson, almost black crimson on sunny side, on shaded side the yellow ground-color shows through, no true stripes nor splashes, but shading varies in depth of coloring; dots distinct, few, minute, yellow; cavity obtuse, medium deep, with stellate russet; stem short; basin deep, abrupt, sharp-rimmed, somewhat ribbed; calyx open. Core closed, small, pointed; cells obovate, axile, entire; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal; seeds few, long, pointed, large, some imperfect; flesh yellowish white, moderately juicy, mild, pleasant subacid; quality good, better than Ben Davis. Winter.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Reagan", pp. 167–167]

Reagan. — See Black Ben Davis.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (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.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

BLACK BEN DAVIS. Black Ben Davis is either a seedling or a bud-mutation of Ben Davis, from which it differs in bearing dark red apples scarcely broken in color, whereas in Ben Davis the red fruits are striped, splashed, and mottled. Despite the fact that the evidence seems to show that they are of distinct origin, Black Ben Davis and Gano may be considered identical. The variety is said to have originated on the farm of M. Black, Washington County, Arkansas, about 1880. Its culture, as an apple of commerce at least, is restricted to its native state and the nearby states.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

We have ceased propagating these three sorts and urge orchardists everywhere to discontinue planting them, and to devote their efforts to better varieties, such as Black Ben, Champion, etc. Champion, for quick and sure profit, far surpasses Missouri Pippin; Black Ben is far the best of the Ben Davis family. While Ben Davis has in the past made money for growers, Black Ben has so far outstripped it that the former variety should no longer be considered. This year Black Ben has brought the same price as Jonathan.

This variety should be planted in every case where an apple of the Ben Davis family is wanted. It is superior to Ben Davis, Gano, Etris, Red Ben Davis, or any other kindred apple; tree almost identical in growth to Ben Davis, but stronger, foliage more vigorous, a better drouth resister, hardier, thriftier, and succeeds over an even larger territory. The fruit is one of the handsomest of all apples—large, solid dark red (no stripes), and the quality, while not in the class of Delicious, King David, Senator, or Stayman Winesap, is superior to Ben Davis. Its wonderful beauty will sell it anywhere—on the market it is always quoted higher than Arkansas Black, Baldwin, etc., and for fancy fruit-stand trade is always in demand. Frequently sold as Jonathan. It sold in the spring of 1909 on Chicago and New York markets at $3.00 per bushel box, while Jonathan brought only $2.00. We have ceased propagating Ben Davis, Gano, Missouri Pippin and other apples of that family, our aim being to grow the best. Why plant Ben Davis, Gano, etc., when Black Ben succeeds equally as well and better from Maine to California? It is a splendid keeper in cellar or cold storage—does not scald; bruises dry up instead of rotting. NCS

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)