GIDEON.

REFERENCES. 1. Gideon, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:26. 2. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886:233. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1889:6. 4. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:239. 5. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:580. 1894. 6. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 4:2. 1897. figs. 7. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:30. 1897. figs. 8. Am. Gard., 22:132. 1901. figs. 9. Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:83. 1902. 10. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:51. 1902. fig. 11. Budd-Hansen, 1903:88. fig. 12. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:42. 1903. 13. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:44. 1903. 14. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:121. 1904.

SYNONYMS. Gideon (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14). Gideon White (14).

Fruit decidedly attractive in general appearance being of good size, clear waxen yellow often with a bright pinkish blush but it is deficient in quality and apt to be defective in that the flesh becomes withered and discolored about the core as soon as the fruit reaches maturity. It is not a good variety for holding in cold storage as it stands heat poorly before going into storage and when in storage goes down quickly. In ordinary storage it is inferior to Hubbardston in keeping qualities, being in season from October to December or possibly later (14). The tree is of an exceptionally fine habit in the nursery, and in the orchard it is an upright vigorous grower, very hardy and healthy, comes into bearing young and yields full crops biennially or nearly annually. It is not recommended for planting in New York except it be as a stock upon which to topwork less hardy varieties.

Historical. Originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minn., from crab seed. The following is his statement of its parentage. "The Gideon is a seedling of the small crab; the seed came from Boston, where the tree was surrounded in the orchard by Blue Pearmain. I consider the tree a cross between those two. The tree resembles Blue Pearmain; seed was taken from the crab" (1).

TREE.

Tree medium to large, vigorous or moderately vigorous. Form at first upright but becoming spreading and open. Twigs short, curved, stout with large terminal buds; internodes medium. Bark brown mingled with some olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; heavily pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, medium to small, oblong, slightly raised. Buds prominent, large, broad, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit usually above medium to large, uniform in size. Form roundish conical or somewhat ovate, sometimes inclined to oblong, angular. Stem long to below medium, slender. Cavity acute or somewhat acuminate, deep, broad to medium in width, sometimes lightly russeted. Calyx small, closed; lobes medium in length, rather narrow, acute, reflexed. Basin small to medium, sometimes oblique, shallow or very shallow, narrow to medium in width, rather obtuse, somewhat wrinkled, usually with narrow but not prominent ridges.

Skin rather thin, glossy, clear pale waxen yellow, sometimes with beautiful pink blush on exposed cheek. Dots light, submerged, inconspicuous, except where the skin is blushed. Calyx tube short, narrow, often funnel-shape with very short, truncate cylinder. Stamens marginal to median. Core medium size, axile or abaxile; cells closed or open; core lines meeting the limb or clasping the cylinder. Carpels round to broadly ovate or elliptical, emarginate, tufted. Seeds rather large, irregular, medium in width, rather long, not very plump, acute to acuminate, tufted, light brown. Flesh whitish or tinged with yellow, of rather soft loose texture, a little coarse, crisp, juicy, brisk subacid to mild subacid, fair to good.

Season October.

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