HENNIKER.

REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1876:54 app. 2. Hogg, 1884:126. 3. Gartenflora, 39:265. 1890. col. pl. 4. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:243. 5. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:593. 1892. 6. Jour. Royal Hort. Soc., 1898:356. 7. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul. 48:44. 1903. 8. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:124. 1904.

SYNONYM. LADY HENNIKER (1, 2, 4, 5, 6).

Fruit of good size and excellent quality but not attractive enough in form and color to rank as a first-class commercial variety. The tree is a strong grower. It does not come into bearing very young but is quite productive in alternate years. There is apt to be considerable loss from the dropping of the fruit. It is not recommended for planting in New York.

Historical. Originated between 1840 and 1850 in Suffolk, England (2). Awarded first-class certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1873 (6). It has not been disseminated much in this country and is but little known in New York.

TREE.

Tree vigorous; branches short, moderately stout, curved, crooked. Form roundish or spreading, rather dense. Twigs long to short, stout; internodes medium or below. Bark dark brown tinged with red or partly olive-green, distinctly mottled with gray scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels rather numerous, scattering, medium to small, roundish, raised, moderately conspicuous. Buds medium, rather prominent, broad, plump, obtuse to acute, free, slightly pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit above medium to very large, fairly uniform in size. Form oblate to roundish, rather obscurely ribbed, often elliptical, not very uniform in shape. Stem short to medium, moderately thick. Cavity acuminate or somewhat acute, deep, wide, gently furrowed, often covered with outspreading russet. Calyx medium to rather large; lobes partly open, broad, acute. Basin moderately deep to rather shallow, medium to rather wide, somewhat furrowed and wrinkled. Skin rather tough, decidedly roughened with capillary netted russet lines and rather large russet dots, and sometimes with broken patches of russet; color rather deep yellow, blushed and mottled with red and sparingly striped with carmine. Prevailing effect rather dull red somewhat mingled with yellow. Calyx tube rather long, funnel-shape. Stamens median or below. Core medium to small, axile; cells unsymmetrical, often seedless, irregularly developed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels broadly roundish or approaching obcordate, emarginate, tufted. Seeds few, medium or above, obtuse to acute, tufted. Flesh tinged with yellow, moderately coarse, somewhat crisp, rather tender, juicy, rich, brisk subacid with something of the flavor characteristic of certain russets, becoming rather mild late in the season; good to very good in quality. Excellent for cooking but at first rather too briskly acid to be desirable for a dessert apple. Season November to March or April.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)