Golden Medal
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Golden Medal
Origin / History
Received for testing in New York from J. R. and A. Murdock, Pittsburg, Pa., in 1888. The variety is cited in the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Report, vol. 7, p. 90 (1888), and again in vol. 15, p. 280 (1896). It is further cited in U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 48, p. 42 (1903, Powell and Fulton), in New York State Bulletin 248, p. 121 (1904, Beach and Clark), and in U. S. Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 56, p. 124 (1905, Ragan).
Tree
Tree vigorous. Form upright. Twigs short to medium, of average thickness, bowed and irregular; rather pubescent. Bark brownish-red overlaid with rather thin scarf-skin; internodes medium. Lenticels inconspicuous, rather scattering, small, round. Buds medium, roundish, pubescent, adhering to bark.
Bears moderately early, is an annual bearer, bears regularly and is satisfactorily productive.
Fruit
Size: Above medium to large.
Form: Roundish to roundish oblate, somewhat ribbed.
Stem: Rather short.
Cavity: Acute, deep, rather broad, usually distinctly furrowed, sometimes compressed, sometimes slightly russeted.
Calyx: Small, sometimes medium, usually closed. Calyx tube funnel-shape.
Basin: Often somewhat oblique, round, shallow and narrow varying to rather wide and moderately deep, usually rather abrupt, obscurely furrowed, wrinkled.
Skin: Thin, tough, smooth, attractive pale yellow marbled with green, or greenish, sometimes faintly blushed.
Dots: Numerous, conspicuous, whitish or sometimes with russet point.
Flesh and flavor: Tinged with yellow, slightly astringent, firm, moderately fine, somewhat crisp, tender, moderately juicy, sweet, fair to good.
Core and seeds: Core rather large; cells open or partly closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish obcordate, somewhat tufted. Seeds numerous, large to very large, wide, obtuse, somewhat tufted, dark.
Season
December to May or June. A remarkably good keeper.
Uses
Recommended for trial planting where a late keeping sweet apple is desired.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Fruit attractive for a green or yellow apple.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
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 (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)GOLDEN MEDAL.
REFERENCES. 1. Goff, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 7:90. 1888. 2. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 15:280. 1896. 3. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:42. 1903. 4. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:121. 1904. 5. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:124. 1905.
SYNONYM. Gold Medal (3, 5).
Fruit attractive for a green or yellow apple and a remarkably good keeper. The tree comes into bearing moderately early, is an annual bearer, bears regularly and is satisfactorily productive. It is worthy of planting for trial where a late keeping sweet apple is desired (4).
Historical. Received here for testing from J. R. and A. Murdock, Pittsburg, Pa., 1888.
TREE.
Tree vigorous. Form upright. Twigs short to medium, of average thickness, bowed and irregular; rather pubescent. Bark brownish-red overlaid with rather thin scarf-skin; internodes medium. Lenticels inconspicuous, rather scattering, small, round. Buds medium, roundish, pubescent, adhering to bark.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium to large. Form roundish to roundish oblate, somewhat ribbed. Stem rather short. Cavity acute, deep, rather broad, usually distinctly furrowed, sometimes compressed, sometimes slightly russeted. Calyx small, sometimes medium, usually closed. Basin often somewhat oblique, round, shallow and narrow varying to rather wide and moderately deep, usually rather abrupt, obscurely furrowed, wrinkled. Skin thin, tough, smooth, attractive pale yellow marbled with green, or greenish, sometimes faintly blushed. Dots numerous, conspicuous, whitish or sometimes with russet point. Calyx tube funnel-shape. Core rather large; cells open or partly closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish obcordate, somewhat tufted. Seeds numerous, large to very large, wide, obtuse, somewhat tufted, dark. Flesh tinged with yellow, slightly astringent, firm, moderately fine, somewhat crisp, tender, moderately juicy, sweet, fair to good. Season December to May or June.