Golden Ball
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
Elliott (1865) states the origin is "somewhat in doubt, but it is probably a native of Connecticut, from whence it has been largely distributed East." Downing (1900) also gives the origin as Connecticut. Warder (1867) calls it "a favorite Maine apple," and Thomas (1903) notes it was "cultivated chiefly in Maine." Elliott's account reconciles these, suggesting Connecticut origin with extensive distribution into Maine, where it became particularly popular.
Elliott cautions that "The Belle Bonne of Lindley is quite another fruit, and should not be confounded with this."
Tree
Hardy to very hardy. A vigorous grower. Elliott describes the tree as forming "a large round head, with large, glossy, rich green foliage" and notes it requires "a rich, strong, heavy soil."
Bearing habit is a point of disagreement among sources: Warder (1867) calls the tree "productive," while Downing (1900) says "only a moderate bearer," Thomas (1903) calls it "a poor bearer," and Elliott (1865) writes that "the trees do not bear well while young, but improve as they advance in years."
Fruit
Size: Large; Thomas adds "often quite large." Thomas also notes the fruit is "liable to vary in size and fairness."
Form: Roundish, ribbed. Downing says "somewhat ribbed." Elliott describes the form as "roundish, narrowing to the eye." Thomas describes it as "roundish, remotely conical, ribbed."
Stem: Sources disagree: Warder (1867) says medium; Elliott (1865) says "short, stout"; Thomas (1903) says "short, slender." Thomas notes "fine green rays or furrows radiating from the centre of the cavity" around the stem.
Cavity: Warder (1867) describes the cavity as narrow; Elliott (1865) describes it as broad.
Calyx/Eye: Warder describes the eye as large and closed. Elliott describes the calyx as half closed.
Basin: Sources disagree significantly: Warder (1867) describes the basin as "deep, abrupt, folded," while Elliott (1865) says "shallow" and Thomas (1903) says "very shallow."
Skin: Surface smooth (Warder). Color ranges from greenish yellow (Warder) to golden yellow (Downing) to rich yellow (Elliott) to fine yellow (Thomas). Elliott notes "sometimes a faint blush near the stalk." Dots are few and distinct with white bases (Warder); Downing notes "a few dots"; Elliott describes "rough dots."
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, tender. Downing adds "crisp." Warder describes the flesh as "juicy" and the flavor as "sub-acid, rich." Elliott says "sub-acid, nearly acid, perfumed." Thomas says "rich, aromatic." Quality is good.
Core/Seeds: Sources disagree: Warder describes the core as "indistinct, open, clasping" with "defective" seeds; Elliott describes the core as "medium" with seeds "large and plump."
Season
Warder and Downing give December to March. Elliott gives October to December. Thomas says it "ripens late in autumn, and keeps through winter." These accounts together suggest the fruit matures in late autumn and can keep into late winter.
Uses
Table, kitchen, and market (Warder). Elliott calls it "exceeding valuable for cooking." Thomas says "excellent for cooking."
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Lowther (1914) lists the variety in coded table format: Size L, Form r, Color y, Quality G, Use f, Season a.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— 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.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Golden Ball.
Origin, Conn. Tree a vigorous grower, but only a moderate bearer.
Fruit large, roundish, somewhat ribbed, golden yellow, with a few dots. Flesh crisp, tender, subacid. Good. December, March.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Golden Ball. Size: L. Form: r. Color: y. Quality: G. Use: f. Season: a.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Golden Ball.
Belle et Bonne, | Connecticut Apple.
The origin of this variety is somewhat in doubt, but it is probably a native of Connecticut, from whence it has been largely distributed East. The trees do not bear well while young, but improve as they advance in years. Tree, hardy, forming a large round head, with large, glossy, rich green foliage ; exceeding valuable for cooking ; requires a rich, strong, heavy soil.
Fruit, large ; form, roundish, narrowing to the eye ; color, rich yellow, sometimes a faint blush near the stalk, and with rough dots ; stem, short, stout ; cavity, broad ; calyx, half closed ; basin, shallow ; flesh, yellowish, tender, sub-acid, nearly acid, perfumed ; core, medium ; seeds, large and plump. October to December.
The Belle Bonne of Lindley is quite another fruit, and should not be confounded with this.
— 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.