Golden Ball
AppleGolden Ball
Origin/History
Golden Ball is a favorite Maine apple, cultivated chiefly in that state. It is noted for its hardiness and suitability to northern climates.
Tree
Golden Ball is very hardy. The two sources conflict on bearing habit: Warder (1867) describes the tree as vigorous and productive, while Thomas (1903) characterizes it as a poor bearer. Thomas additionally notes it is liable to vary in size and fairness of fruit.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, often quite large. Warder describes the form as round and ribbed; Thomas characterizes it as roundish, remotely conical, and ribbed.
Stem: Warder gives the stem as medium in length. Thomas describes the stalk as short and slender, with fine green rays or furrows radiating from the centre of the cavity.
Cavity: Narrow (Warder).
Calyx: Eye large, closed (Warder).
Basin: The sources conflict here: Warder describes the basin as deep, abrupt, and folded, while Thomas describes it as very shallow.
Skin: Smooth (Warder). Color described by Warder as greenish yellow; Thomas describes it as fine yellow.
Dots: Few, distinct, with white bases (Warder).
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish (Warder), tender, juicy (Warder), rich. Thomas adds aromatic. Warder characterizes the flavor as sub-acid and rich, and rates the quality as good.
Core: Indistinct, open, clasping (Warder).
Seeds: Defective (Warder).
Season
Ripens late in autumn and keeps through winter. Warder specifies the season as December through March in the North.
Uses
Table, kitchen, and market (Warder). Thomas rates it excellent for cooking.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Golden Ball.
A favorite Maine apple. Tree vigorous, productive, hardy.
Fruit large, round, ribbed; Surface smooth, greenish yellow; Dots few, distinct, white bases.
Basin deep, abrupt, folded; Eye large, closed.
Cavity narrow; Stem medium.
Core indistinct, open, clasping; Seeds defective; Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, rich; Quality good; Use, table, kitchen, market; Season, December to March in the North.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Golden Ball. Large, often quite large, roundish, remotely conical, ribbed; fine yellow; stalk short, slender, with fine green rays or furrows radiating from the centre of the cavity; basin very shallow; flesh tender, rich, aromatic. Ripens late in autumn, and keeps through winter. Liable to vary in size and fairness. Excellent for cooking. Tree very hardy; a poor bearer. Cultivated chiefly in Maine.