Hocking
AppleOrigin/History
Hocking was, as of the mid-to-late nineteenth century, known only in western orchards and had not been mentioned by name in any fruit book. At the second meeting of the Northwestern Fruit Growers' Convention it was reported as having been brought from Fairfield County, Ohio, though Elliott (1865) states the origin as uncertain, noting it may prove identical with some Eastern sort. Thomas (1903) lists Pennsylvania as the origin. Its relationship to the Townsend apple has been debated: Warder (1867) reports that at the Convention the resemblance to Townsend was observed but the variety was declared to be different in wood and buds, and the question was left unsettled. Thomas, writing later, treats Townsend as a synonym, listing the variety as "Hocking. (Townsend.)"
Tree
Upright (Elliott, Thomas), thrifty, vigorous, productive, and an early bearer (Warder). Hardy (Elliott).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to large (Warder, Elliott); rather large (Thomas). Globular-oblate, regular in outline (Warder).
Skin: Warder describes the surface as smooth, yellow ground heavily covered with mixed red and splashed carmine, with minute yellow dots. Elliott describes it as red and yellow striped, sometimes slightly russeted. Thomas describes it as striped red on yellow.
Stem: Medium to long (Warder); medium length (Elliott).
Cavity: The sources conflict on the cavity. Warder describes it as medium, regular, and green. Elliott describes it as open and broad, and Thomas as wide.
Calyx: Eye medium to large, closed (Warder). Not described in other sources.
Basin: The sources conflict on the basin. Warder describes it as medium and regular. Elliott and Thomas both describe it as shallow and slightly ribbed.
Flesh and Flavor: The sources partially conflict on texture. Warder describes the flesh as light yellow, breaking, and juicy, with a sub-acid flavor and good quality. Elliott and Thomas both describe the flesh as fine-grained, tender, and mild sub-acid.
Core and Seeds: Core small, closed; seeds large, brown (Warder). Core small (Elliott).
Season
The sources conflict. Warder gives September; Elliott and Thomas give August.
Uses
Market and kitchen (Warder). Valued in the West (Thomas).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Very similar to Townsend, if not identical.
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Hocking.
This variety has only been found in western orchards, and has not been mentioned by name in any fruit book with which I have met. At the second meeting of the Northwestern Fruit Growers' Convention, it was reported as having been brought from Fairfield County, Ohio; its resemblance to Townsend was also observed, but it was declared to be different in wood and buds. These apples may yet prove to be identical, but as the question is not settled, both will be described.
Tree thrifty, vigorous, productive—an early bearer. Fruit medium to large, globular-oblate, regular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered with mixed red, and splashed carmine; Dots minute, yellow. Basin medium, regular; Eye medium to large, closed. Cavity medium, regular, green; Stem medium to long. Core small, closed; Seeds large, brown; Flesh light yellow, breaking, juicy; Sub-acid; Quality good; Market and kitchen; September.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Hocking. Western. Fruit, medium to large ; red and yellow striped, sometimes slightly russeted ; stem, medium length : cavity, open, broad ; basin, shallow, slightly ribbed ; flesh, fine grained, tender, mild sub-acid ; core, small. August. Tree, upright, vigorous grower, hardy and productive. Origin, uncertain ; may prove identical with some Eastern sort—as yet only known West.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Hocking. (Townsend.) Rather large; striped red on yellow; cavity wide; basin shallow, slightly ribbed; flesh fine-grained, tender, mild sub-acid. August. An upright, vigorous, productive tree. Valued at the West. Pennsylvania.