Golden Burr

Apple

Golden Burr

Origin/History

Golden Burr — long known in pomological literature under the name Burr Knot, and also recorded as Bide's Walking Stick — is described by Ronalds (p. 39) as a variety easily propagated from cuttings on account of the knots or joints produced on its shoots, from which roots are readily emitted. Bunyard notes that the name "Burr Knot" has been applied to many different fruits possessing this rooting character, and that Golden Burr is quite distinct from the Oslin, another variety to which the same name has been attached. Origin is uncertain. By 1920 it was rarely met with save in old orchards.

Tree

The shoots produce knots or burr-like joints from which roots are easily emitted, making the variety readily propagated from cuttings (Downing; Bunyard). Growth is moderate and compact; the tree is fertile (Bunyard). Leaves are small, oval, and broadly serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size and Form: Large; approximately 3½ inches tall by 3 inches wide (Bunyard). Form round, conical, and irregular (Bunyard); described as roundish by Downing.

Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Golden-yellow with a faint flush of red on the sun-exposed side. Both sources agree on this coloring.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh tender, yellow, and acid (Bunyard).

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Downing gives November–December; Bunyard gives October–November.

Uses

Culinary / kitchen apple. Both sources characterize it as a cooking variety.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) — listed as Burr Knot

View original book sources (2)

Golden Burr.

Burr Knot.

Ronalds describes this as a variety easily grown from cuttings, because of the knots or joints on the shoots.

A large apple, roundish, yellow, with flush of faint red in the sun. Useful for kitchen. November, December.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

BURR KNOT. Ronalds, p. 39. (Bide's Walking Stick.) Culinary, October to November, large, 3½ by 3, round, conical, irregular. Colour, golden-yellow, faint red flush. Flesh tender, yellow, acid. Growth moderate, compact; fertile. Leaf, small, oval, broadly serrate. Origin, uncertain. This name has been applied to many different fruits on account of the knots on branches, from which roots are easily emitted. Now rarely met with, save in old orchards. This is quite distinct from the Oslin, also called Burr Knot.

Burr Knot: see Oslin.

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

Bide's Walking Stick Bur-Knot Burr Knot Oslin