Herman

Apple

Origin & History

Originated on the farm of Mr. Herman in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Elliott (1865) cites the Pomological Transactions as his source.

Downing (1900) also describes a second Hermann, which originated at Hermann, Missouri, from seed of Rawles Janet — see Subtypes/Variants below.

Tree

Vigorous and spreading, quite prolific. Elliott (1865) describes the tree simply as productive. Downing (1900) concurs: vigorous and spreading, quite prolific.

Fruit

Size: Medium.

Form: Oblong conic. Elliott (1865) describes it as oblong without specifying conic; Warder (1867), Downing (1900), and Thomas (1903) all give oblong conic.

Skin: Red striped on a green ground. Elliott (1865) specifies the ground color as greenish yellow rather than green. Warder (1867) describes the coloring as "fine red, striped on green." Thomas (1903) says simply "striped."

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Flesh & Flavor: Greenish, tender, juicy, subacid. Warder (1867) gives the flesh color as "greenish white" and adds "high flavor." Downing (1900) rates it Good. Elliott (1865) rates it "very good." Thomas (1903) also rates it very good.

Core & Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Winter apple. Warder (1867) gives November to April. Downing (1900) gives November to February. Elliott (1865) gives December to April. Thomas (1903) says simply Winter.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes & Variants

Downing (1900) describes a distinct second Hermann that originated at Hermann, Missouri, from seed of Rawles Janet. Tree a fine grower, upright, and very productive. Fruit medium, conical, bright red, with gray dots. Flesh whitish, juicy, pleasant subacid. December to May. This Missouri Hermann is distinguished from the Pennsylvania Herman by its upright growth habit, conical (rather than oblong conic) form, bright red skin with gray dots (rather than red-striped on green), whitish flesh (rather than greenish), and a later season extending to May.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

Herman.

"From Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Tree vigorous, spreading, quite prolific.

Fruit medium, oblong, conic; fine red, striped on green. Flesh greenish white, tender, juicy, sub-acid, and high flavor; November to April." — [Saml. Miller, in Downing.]

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Herman.

Origin, farm of Mr. Herman, Cumberland Co., Pa. Tree vigorous and spreading, quite prolific.

Fruit medium, oblong conic, red striped on green ground. Flesh greenish, tender, juicy, subacid. Good. November to February.

There is also another Hermann, which originated at Hermann, Mo., from seed of Rawles Janet. Tree a fine grower, upright, and very productive.

Fruit medium, conical, blight red, with gray dots. Flesh whitish, juicy, pleasant subacid. December to May.

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

Herman.

From Cumberland County, Pa. Tree, productive ; fruit, medium, oblong, red striped on greenish yellow; flesh, greenish, tender, juicy; "very good." December to April. (Pom. Trans.)

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Herman. Medium, oblong conic, striped; flesh greenish, sub-acid, very good. Winter. Pa.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)