Hannah
Apple
Hannah
Origin/History
Origin is disputed or uncertain. Warder (1867) notes that this variety is "Haunt's, not AUNT HANNAH of Massachusetts," distinguishing it from a similarly named New England variety. He observes that it is found in many parts of the country but is not largely cultivated, and that its occurrence among Southern emigrants would lead one to suspect that they might have brought it with them from the South. Downing (1900) gives the origin as unknown. Elliott (1865) describes it simply as American.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Warder describes the fruit as large; Downing as medium to large; Elliott as medium.
Form: Warder describes the fruit as round, somewhat flattened, regular, sometimes unequal. Downing describes it as roundish. Elliott describes it as conical — conflicting with Warder's round/flattened characterization.
Stem: Short or very short (Warder).
Cavity: Wide, wavy, acute, deep, brown or green (Warder).
Calyx: Eye medium but long, closed (Warder).
Basin: Medium, abrupt, regular, often slightly russeted (Warder).
Skin: Rather smooth (Warder). Ground color pale yellow. Warder describes the overcolor as distinctly striped and splashed crimson and carmine, with the surface mixed; Downing and Elliott both describe stripes and splashes of dull red — somewhat less vivid than Warder's crimson and carmine. Dots scattered, large, gray (Warder).
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white. Warder describes it as light yellowish white, breaking, tender, and juicy, with a sub-acid, aromatic flavor that is peculiar and not agreeable to some palates; he rates the quality as only good. Downing describes the flesh as white, coarse, and breaking, subacid, rating it as hardly good. Elliott describes the flesh as white and dry — conflicting with Warder's tender and juicy characterization.
Core and Seeds: Core round, flattened or wide, regular, open; axis very short; seeds numerous, short, plump (Warder).
Season
Warder gives the season as October to December. Downing and Elliott both give October and November.
Uses
Warder lists kitchen, market, and drying. Downing specifies cooking only. The variety is generally regarded as suitable for culinary rather than dessert use.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Warder includes a figure reference (Fig. 218) indicating the variety was illustrated in American Pomology: Apples (1867).
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Hannah.
Haunt's, not AUNT HANNAH of Massachusetts.
This large and rather handsome fruit is found in many parts of the country, but is not largely cultivated. Its occurrence among Southern emigrants would lead us to suspect that they might have brought it with them.
Fig. 218.— HANNAH.
Fruit large, showy, round, somewhat flattened, regular, sometimes unequal; Surface, rather smooth, pale yellow, mixed, distinctly striped and splashed crimson and carmine; Dots scattered, large, gray.
Basin medium, abrupt, regular, often slightly russeted; Eye medium but long, closed.
Cavity wide, wavy, acute, deep, brown or green; Stem short or very short.
Core round, flattened or wide, regular, open; Axis very short; Seeds numerous, short, plump; Flesh light, yellowish white, breaking, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, peculiar, not agreeable to some palates; Quality only good; Use, kitchen, market, drying; Season, October to December.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hannah.
Origin unknown. Fruit medium to large, roundish, pale yellow, with stripes and splashes of dull red. Flesh white, coarse, breaking, subacid. Hardly good. Cooking only. October, November.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Hannah.
American. Medium, conical, pale yellow and dull red ; flesh, white, dry. October, November.