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Hibernal

Apple
USDA watercolor illustration of Hibernal

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Hibernal

Origin / History

Russian. Imported from Russia between 1870 and 1880 (Hedrick). Carried in the early reports as No. 378. The earliest of Beach's references is Budd, Iowa Horticultural Society Report, 1880.

Hansen calls it "what is probably the hardiest type of the Russian race of apples," with "several sorts closely resembling, or identical with, Hibernal." Beach describes it as proving valuable in portions of the Upper Mississippi valley and the Northwest because of its ability to withstand the rigorous climatic conditions of those regions. Lowther's reprint of Beach's account names the Upper Mississippi valley and the Middle Northwest.

Macoun (1901) counts it, "on account of its great hardiness and productiveness," as "one of the best of the Russian apples." Hedrick ranks it among the best of the Russian apples, "one of the most valuable in rigorous climates in the United States and Canada." He holds that, the fruit being mediocre, "the tree commends the variety most highly."

Under test at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, BC, in trees planted spring 1895 and spring 1896.

Tree

Vigorous, a strong grower, very spreading. Drooping, with branches short, stout, curved, crooked, and drooping (Hedrick). Very hardy; Hedrick calls it one of the hardiest of its type, and also one of the most vigorous, healthy, and productive. Productive to very productive.

The strong spreading growth makes it especially desirable as a stock for top-grafting, "probably the best we have at the present time" (Hansen, 1902). Hedrick calls it an excellent orchard plant either to produce its own fruit or upon which to graft less hardy or less vigorous varieties.

Fruit

Size: Large; size 5 in Hansen's group table. Not uniform in size (Hedrick).

Form: Irregular and not uniform in shape, roundish to oblate or roundish oblate, conical; usually oblate-conic, often with sides unequal (Hedrick). The Agassiz fruit was broadly conical from the 1896 trees. The 1895 trees, alone among the records, gave fruit oblong, conical.

Stem: Medium, often short. Hedrick calls it short and stout, pubescent.

Cavity: Regular, medium deep to deep, russeted, with a large patch of russet radiating out irregularly over nearly the entire base. Hansen calls this russet "a marked characteristic." Hansen's group table calls the cavity medium narrow. Hedrick calls it large, acute, wide, furrowed, occasionally lipped.

Calyx: Half open or open, or partly closed (Hedrick). Hedrick describes it as large, with lobes often separated at the base, broad, acute. Calyx tube funnel-shaped, long and wide (Hedrick). Stamens median.

Basin: Narrow and rather shallow to broad and medium deep, wrinkled, furrowed, or corrugated. Hansen gives narrow and rather shallow in his main description, broad and medium deep in his group table. Hedrick calls it large, often oblique, narrow, abrupt.

Skin: Thick; tough, smooth or roughened with flecks of russet, with a thin bloom (Hedrick). Ground greenish yellow, yellowish green, pale yellow, or greenish. On the sunny side it carries a dull bronze mixed red with a few dull crimson splashes, or stripes and splashes of pale red. Hedrick gives it blushed and striped with bright carmine, and the Agassiz fruit showed only a pale red cheek or a faint blush on the sunny side.

Dots: Small or minute, many or numerous, white, pale yellow, or gray, often with some large russet dots. Hansen calls them obscure; Hedrick calls them conspicuous.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellowish, yellow, or yellowish green; white in the Agassiz fruit. Juicy, the 1895 Agassiz fruit only moderately juicy. Crisp and tender (Macoun), or firm and coarse (Hedrick; "a little coarse" in the 1895 Agassiz fruit); Hansen's group table gives medium fine.

Flavor acid or sour, with some astringency. Hedrick, who also calls it astringent, gives brisk subacid. The Agassiz fruit was "brisk, pleasantly acid" from the 1896 trees and sub-acid from the 1895 trees.

Quality "fair to good" (Hedrick) and "above medium" (Macoun), "good" from the 1896 Agassiz trees. The 1895 Agassiz trees alone gave "poor."

Core and seeds: Core small, axile (Hedrick), closed, with core lines meeting. Cells closed; carpels round-ovate, emarginate, tufted (Hedrick). Seeds few (Hansen); small, short, plump, obtuse, dark brown (Hedrick).

Season

The recorded season runs from September into January, a late-fall and early-winter apple. Hansen gives early winter, widened to late fall and early winter in the 1914 manual, and the Agassiz trees ripened it in October and late autumn. Macoun begins the season in September and closes it in November; Hedrick carries it from September to January.

Uses

A culinary apple, good for cooking. Macoun says that "although not a good dessert fruit this is a fine cooking apple." Hedrick calls the fruit "but mediocre for dessert or cooking."

Subtypes / Variants

Hansen sets up a Hibernal group of several closely resembling or identical sorts, marking some names in it as spurious. Among those not so marked are Recumbent (listed as No. 240 and as 41 M), Yellow Arcadian (No. 327), Silken Leaf (75 M), and Pendent Ear.

Recumbent, entered by Hansen as Lejanka, 41 M, and by Thomas as Lieby, is Russian. Hansen calls it "nearly or quite identical with Hibernal and equally valuable." Fruit large, roundish oblate, somewhat angular; Thomas calls it irregular, oblate.

Surface greenish yellow, partially and sparsely covered with broken stripes and splashes of dull red, the color not solid but somewhat bronzed and mixed. Thomas gives yellow splashed red and crimson. Dots russet, rough, scattered, with a few white dots.

Cavity regular, medium (Hansen) or deep (Thomas), with much russet, in most specimens radiating out all over the base. Stem medium, stout, curved. Basin wide, shallow, corrugated around the eye. Calyx closed, segments erect convergent. Core open; tube long and very broad; stamens median.

Flesh juicy, acid, good for culinary use. Thomas calls the skin astringent, good for cooking, and figures the variety (Fig. 431). Season late fall, early winter.

Pendent Ear bears fruit that C. G. Patten calls the same as Hibernal. He adds: "I find that Pendent Ear is not one-tenth the value of Hibernal with me, because it does not bear" (Rus. Nom. Com.).

Other

Figured by Hansen in South Dakota Station Bulletin 76 (1902) and in Budd-Hansen (1903), as listed in Beach's references.

Book Sources

Described in 6 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 9 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois, Missouri

View original book sources (7)

Hibernal—Origin, Russia; this variety represents what is probably the hardiest type of the Russian race of apples; there are several sorts closely resembling, or identical with, Hibernal. Tree vigorous, very spreading, productive. The strong spreading growth makes it especially desirable as a stock for top-grafting, probably the best we have at the present time—Fruit large, irregular, oblate to roundish oblate, conical; skin thick; surface greenish yellow, with a dull bronze mixed red on sunny side, with a few dull crimson splashes; dots white, minute, obscure, often some large russet dots; cavity regular, medium deep, with a large patch of russet radiating out irregularly over nearly the entire base, this is a marked characteristic; stem medium, often short; basin narrow, rather shallow, wrinkled; calyx half open or open. Core closed, meeting; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds few; flesh acid, with some astringency, juicy, good for cooking. Early winter.

HIBERNAL GROUP.

Hibernal, No. 378; Lieby or Recumbent, 240; Yellow Arcadian, 327; Juicy Burr, 544 (spurious); Romenskoe, 599 (spurious); Silken Leaf, 75 M.; Recumbent, 41 M.; Zusoff, (spurious); Pendent Ear; Omensk, (spurious); Romna, (spurious); Ostrakoff, United States Department, (spurious).

DESCRIPTION:

Hibernal—siez, 5; form, oblate; color, yellowish green, stripes and splashes of pale red, many white dots; cavity, medium narrow, deep, russeted extending over base; stem, medium; basin, broad, medium deep, corrugated; calyx, half open; flesh, yellowish green, medium fine; flavor, sour; season early winter; origin, Russia.

C. G. Patten: "I find that Pendent Ear is not one-tenth the value of Hibernal with me, because it does not bear, and yet the fruit is the same." (Rus. Nom. Com.)

[Additional entry in this volume: "Recumbent", pp. 90–90]

Recumbent (Lejanka, 41 M)—Origin, Russia; nearly or quite identical with Hibernal and equally valuable, see Hibernal group—Fruit large, roundish oblate, somewhat angular; surface greenish yellow, partially and sparsely covered with broken stripes and splashes of dull red, the color is not solid but somewhat bronzed and mixed; dots russet, rough, scattered, a few white dots; cavity regular, medium, with much russet; the russet in most specimens radiating out all over the base; stem medium, stout, curved; basin wide, shallow, corrugated around the eye; calyx closed, segments erect convergent. Core open; tube long and very broad; stamens median; flesh juicy, acid, good for culinary. Late fall, early winter.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

Recumbent. (Lieby.) Large, irregular, oblate; yellow splashed red and crimson; cavity deep, regular, basin wide; skin astringent, good for cooking. Fig. 431. Russian.

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

HIBERNAL.

REFERENCES. 1. Budd, Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880:525. 2. Gibb, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1881:156. 3. Tuttle, Ib., 8:136. 1881-82. 4. Ib., 1883:98. 5. Gibb, Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:440. 6. Budd, Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1885:15. 7. Gibb, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-87:15. 8. Schroeder, Ib., 1886-87:71. 9. Craig, Ib., 1886-87:103. 10. Budd, Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1890:20. 11. Can. Hort., 13:216. 1890. 12. Budd, Ia. Sta. Bul., 19:537. 1892. 13. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:241. 14. Taylor, Me. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1892:57, 58. 15. Freeborn, Nat. Nurseryman, 1894:132. 16. Can. Hort., 17:7. 1894. 17. Gard. and For., 8:340. 1895. 18. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1896:74. 19. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:30. 1897. 20. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1897:13. 21. Troop, Ind. Sta. An. Rpt., 12:80. 1899. 22. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:296. 1901. 23. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Bul., 37:39. 1901. 24. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:57. 1902. fig. 25. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 1902:83, 87. 26. Budd-Hansen, 1903:98. fig.

SYNONYMS. HIBERNAL (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26). Hibernal (8). No. 378 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 18, 25, 26). Orsimus (4, 5, 6). Osimof (8). Romna (23).

A Russian variety which is proving valuable in portions of the Upper Mississippi valley and the Northwest because of its ability to withstand the rigorous climatic conditions of those regions. Hansen says of it: "This variety represents what is probably the hardiest type of the Russian race of apples; there are several sorts closely resembling, or identical with, Hibernal. Tree vigorous, very spreading, productive. The strong spreading growth makes it especially desirable as a stock for top-grafting, probably the best we have at the present time. Fruit large, irregular, oblate to roundish oblate conical; skin thick; surface greenish-yellow, with a dull bronze mixed red on sunny side, with a few dull crimson splashes; dots white, minute, obscure, often some large russet dots; cavity regular, medium deep, with a large patch of russet radiating out irregularly over nearly the entire base, this is a marked characteristic; stem medium, often short; basin narrow, rather shallow, wrinkled; calyx half open or open. Core closed, meeting; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds few; flesh acid, with some astringency, juicy, good for cooking. Early winter" (24, 26).

Macoun reports "Flesh yellowish, crisp, tender, juicy, acid; core small; quality above medium; season September to November. Tree very hardy, a strong, spreading grower, and very productive. Although not a good dessert fruit this is a fine cooking apple and on account of its great hardiness and productiveness is one of the best of the Russian apples" (23).

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

Hibernal (No. 378). — Origin, Russia. This variety represents what is probably the hardiest type of the Russian race of apples; there are several sorts closely resembling, or identical with, Hibernal; tree vigorous, very spreading, productive. The strong spreading growth makes it desirable as a stock for top-grafting. Fruit large, irregular, roundish, often oblate, conical, skin thick; surface greenish yellow, with a dull bronze mixed red on sunny side with a few dull crimson splashes; dots white, minute, obscure, often some large russet dots; cavity regular, medium deep, with a large patch of russet radiating out irregularly over nearly the entire base, this is a marked characteristic; stem medium, often short; basin narrow, rather shallow, wrinkled; calyx half open or open. Core closed, meeting; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds few; flesh acid with some astringency, juicy, good for cooking. Late fall and early winter. Hibernal.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

Hibernal

The Hibernal is a Russian variety that is proving valuable in the Upper Mississippi valley and the Middle Northwest, because of its ability to withstand the rigorous climatic conditions of those regions. Hansen says of it: "This variety represents what is probably the hardiest type of the Russian race of apples. There are several sorts closely resembling or almost identical with the Hibernal. Tree vigorous, very spreading, productive. The strong spreading growth makes it especially desirable as a stock for top-grafting probably the best we have at the present time. Fruit large, irregular, oblate to roundish oblate conical; surface greenish yellow, with a dull bronze mixed red on the sunny side, with a few dull crimson splashes; dots white, minute, obscure, often some large russet dots; cavity large, regular, medium, deep, with a large patch of russet radiating out irregularly nearly over the entire base; this is a marked characteristic. Stem medium, often short, basin narrow, rather shallow, wrinkled; calyx half open or open. Core closed, meeting; tube funnel shaped, stamens median. Seeds few; flesh acid with some astringency, juicy, good for cooking. Early winter."

Macoun reports: "Flesh yellowish, crisp, tender, juicy, acid; core small, quality above medium; season September to November. Tree very hardy, a strong spreading grower, and very productive. Although not a good dessert apple, it is fine for cooking; on account of its great hardiness and productiveness it is one of the best of the Russian apples."

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

HIBERNAL. Romna.

Hibernal ranks among the best of the Russian apples—one of the most valuable in rigorous climates in the United States and Canada. The fruit is but mediocre for dessert or cooking, but the tree commends the variety most highly. The tree is not only one of the hardiest of its type, but also one of the most vigorous, healthy, and productive, making an excellent orchard plant either to produce its own fruit or upon which to graft less hardy or less vigorous varieties. The variety was imported from Russia between 1870 and 1880.

Tree vigorous, spreading, drooping; branches short, stout, curved, crooked and drooping. Fruit large, not uniform in shape or size, usually oblate-conic, often with sides unequal; stem short and stout, pubescent; cavity large, acute, deep, wide, furrowed, occasionally lipped, russeted; calyx large, open or partly closed; lobes often separated at the base, broad, acute; basin large, often oblique, narrow, abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled; skin thick, tough, smooth or roughened with flecks of russet; color pale yellow, with thin bloom, blushed and striped with bright carmine; dots small, numerous, pale yellow or gray, conspicuous; calyx-tube long, wide, funnel-shape; stamens median; core small, axile; cells closed; core-lines meeting; carpels round-ovate, emarginate, tufted; seeds small, short, plump, obtuse, dark brown; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, juicy, brisk subacid; astringent; fair to good; September to January.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

Planted Spring 1896. Tree a strong grower. Fruit large, broadly conical. Skin greenish yellow with a pale red cheek. Flesh white, brisk, pleasantly acid, quality good. Season October.

Planted Spring 1895. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit large, oblong, conical. Skin greenish, with a faint blush on the sunny side. Flesh white, moderately juicy, a little coarse, sub-acid, quality poor. Season late Autumn.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)
41 M Juicy Burr Lejanka Lieby No. 378 Omensk Orsimus Osimof Ostrakoff Pendent Ear Recumbent Romenskoe Romna Silken Leaf Yellow Arcadian Zusoff Ostrakoff Romna Zusoff