Gladstone—A new variety from England—Fruit large, regular, roundish, somewhat tapering; surface yellow, mostly covered with dark crimson stripes, much like Oldenburg; dots obscure, few, minute, whitish; cavity regular, acute, with small radiating russet patch; stem short to medium; basin nearly smooth, regular, rather shallow; calyx closed, segments connivent. Core closed, central; cells ovate, axile, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens basal; seeds large, plump; flesh yellow, fine grained, juicy, acid; cooking only, rather poor. August, September. J. P. Jackson, Glenwood, Iowa, says: "Quality as good as Haas, but inferior to Duchess."

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

GLADSTONE.

REFERENCES. 1. Hogg, 1884:150. 2. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:224. 1892. 3. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:52. 1902.

SYNONYMS. GLADSTONE (2, 3). MR. GLADSTONE (1).

Fruit of good size, and when highly colored rather attractive. In general appearance it is intermediate between Oldenburg and Gravenstein, perhaps resembling Gravenstein in color more than Oldenburg. It is not equal to either of these varieties in quality. The tree comes into bearing young, is an annual cropper and productive. Not recommended for planting in New York.

Historical. This is a comparatively recent introduction from England. It has not been extensively disseminated and so far as we can learn its cultivation is not increasing in this country.

TREE.

Tree rather small, moderately vigorous with short, stout branches. Form spreading and inclined to droop. Twigs moderately long, curved, stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium in size. Bark brown, tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels numerous, conspicuous, medium size, round, slightly raised. Buds medium size, broad, flat, obtuse, appressed, slightly pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium to large, uniform. Form roundish oblate, slightly conic, obscurely ribbed; sides usually unequal. Stem medium in length, moderately slender. Cavity acuminate to acute, rather wide, moderately deep to deep, sometimes with outspreading russet. Calyx below medium to rather large, closed or somewhat open. Basin rather small, shallow to medium in depth, medium in width to rather wide, a little abrupt, slightly furrowed and wrinkled. Skin thin, smooth, greenish-yellow or pale yellow, more or less thinly overspread with red, irregularly mottled, splashed and distinctly striped with pinkish carmine. Dots rather numerous, inconspicuous, light colored, submerged. Calyx tube rather short, cone-shape to funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium to rather large, usually axile; cells symmetrical, closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, very slightly emarginate. Seeds rather dark brown, very wide, flat, obtuse to acute. Flesh slightly tinged with yellow, moderately firm, a little coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, fair in quality. Season September and October.

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

GLADSTONE. F., Monsieur Gladstone. (Jackson's Seedling, Striped Quarrenden.) Dessert, July to August, medium, 2½ by 2, round conical, irregular. Colour, greenish-yellow, almost covered with dark red, occasionally with broken stripes. Flesh, soft, greenish-white, pleasantly flavoured. Eye, closed, in a much ribbed basin. Stem, medium in a shallow cavity. Growth, moderate; very regularly fertile. Leaf, rather small, roundish, pea green, upfolded, undulating, shallow serrate. Origin, found near Kidderminster, by Mr. Jackson, of Blakedown Nursery, and introduced by him in 1868. Much grown for market purposes, and a valuable early sort.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

GLADSTONE.

Relationship to Oldenburg and Gravenstein is immediately apparent in the fruit of Gladstone, the apples resembling the latter more than the former. The variety, however, is hardly equal to either in quality of fruit or in tree-characters. It is of comparatively recent introduction in America, but has been grown for half a century in England.

Tree small, vigorous, spreading or drooping, with short, stout branches. Fruit medium to large, uniform, round-oblate, sometimes conic, obscurely ribbed, sides usually unequal; stem medium in length, slender; cavity acuminate, wide, deep, sometimes with outspreading russet; calyx large, closed or open; basin small, medium in depth and width, abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled; skin thin, smooth, pale yellow, thinly overspread with red, irregularly mottled, splashed and distinctly striped with carmine; dots numerous, inconspicuous, light colored, submerged; calyx-tube short cone-shape; stamens median; core large, usually axile; cells symmetrical, closed or open; core-lines clasping; carpels broadly roundish, emarginate; seeds dark brown, very wide, flat, obtuse; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid; fair in quality; September and October.

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

Medium, the earliest table apple; mottled red with yellow streaks; good flavour, free bearer, a valuable kind for market culture; most prolific on Paradise; prune sparingly. F.C., R.H.S.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)

medium size, very early, red striped with yellow, good flavour and free bearer, a good early variety for market purposes, it forms a small pyramid and is suitable for the orchard. F.C.C. ... July & Aug.

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)

Dessert, July-Aug. Medium, conical, dark crimson, of good flavour from the tree; extremely prolific, prune lightly; valuable for market sale. Found in a field by Mr. Jackson, a nurseryman of Kidderminster, and put into commerce 1868.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)

very nicely a dank yellow flesh; hardy fruit - July & Aug.

— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)