Golden Knob
Apple
Golden Knob
Origin / History
The precise history is not recorded (Woolhope Club). Bunyard gives the origin as probably English, and says it was popular in markets in the early nineteenth century and is still grown in Kentish orchards. Mr. Lewis A. Kellick, quoted by the Woolhope Club, says it has been extensively cultivated in the Kentish orchards, where there are many trees, some 100 years old. Figured by Ronalds, Pl. xxxii (Woolhope Club); Ronalds, p. 32 (Bunyard).
Tree
Very hardy; grows to a very large size, with a drooping, umbrageous character; bears freely. Succeeds as a standard, and is well adapted on the paradise stock for dwarf growth as a pyramid or espalier (Woolhope Club). Downing calls the tree vigorous, productive; Bunyard gives growth moderate, fertile. Leaf fairly large, very dark, slightly upfolded, coarsely serrate (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Small; below middle-size to very small, 2¼ by 1¾ (Bunyard).
Form: Roundish, roundish oblate; round, flattened, regular (Bunyard).
Stem: Very short.
Cavity: Very narrow (Bunyard).
Calyx: Eye open generally, with long segments (Woolhope Club); open (Bunyard).
Basin: Small, shallow (Bunyard).
Skin: Pale green, becoming yellowish green at maturity, much covered with russet; on the side next the sun yellow with an orange tinge (Woolhope Club). Downing gives golden yellow, some russet and a tinge of red in the sun; Bunyard, orange-brown, covered with russet.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Firm; greenish white, crisp, juicy (Downing); greenish yellow (Bunyard). Flavor brisk, juicy, sweet and pleasant (Woolhope Club); brisk, sweet (Downing); subacid, "good flavour," of distinct flavor (Bunyard). The Woolhope Club: "A good late keeping dessert apple."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December to March (Woolhope Club; Downing). Bunyard extends the dessert season till May.
Uses
Dessert apple. One of the most remunerative sent to the London market, and at Christmas brings as good a price as the Ribston Pippin, the Golden Harvey, and other choice sorts (Woolhope Club).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- GOLDEN KNOB. [Syn: Kentish Golden Knob.] The precise history of this variety is not recorded. It has been extensively cultivated in the Kentish orchards, says Mr. Lewis A. Kellick, where there are many trees, some 100 years old. It is figured by Ronalds, Pl. xxxii. Description.—Fruit: below middle-size, roundish. Skin: pale green, becoming yellowish green as it attains maturity, much covered with russet; on the side next the sun it becomes yellow with an orange tinge. Eye: open generally, with long segments. Stalk: very short. Flesh: firm, with a brisk, juicy, sweet and pleasant flavour. A good late keeping dessert apple, in season from December to March. It is one of the most remunerative sent to the London market, and at Christmas will bring as good a price as the Ribston Pippin, the Golden Harvey, and other choice sorts. The tree is very hardy, grows to a very large size, with a drooping umbrageous character, and bears freely. It will succeed as a standard, but is well adapted on the paradise stock for dwarf growth as a pyramid or espalier.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Golden Knob. Tree vigorous, productive. Fruit small, roundish oblate, golden yellow, some russet and tinge of red in sun. Flesh greenish white, crisp, juicy, brisk, sweet. December to March.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)GOLDEN KNOB. Ronalds, p. 32. (Old Maid, Old Lady.) Dessert, till May, very small, 2¼ by 1¾, round, flattened, regular. Colour, orange-brown, covered with russet. Flesh, firm, greenish-yellow, sub-acid, good flavour. Eye, open in a small shallow basin. Stem, very short in a very narrow cavity. Growth, moderate; fertile. Leaf, fairly large, very dark, slightly upfolded, coarsely serrate. Origin, probably English; popular in markets in the early nineteenth century. Still grown in Kentish orchards; of distinct flavour.