Hollow Crown
AppleHollow Crown
Origin/History
An old New England apple of unknown origin, commonly grown in that region. Also recorded under the names Hartford, Tyler, and Kelsey (Downing).
Tree
A strong, upright grower (Downing). Bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, and leaves not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Sources conflict. Downing describes the fruit as large; Thomas describes it as medium.
Form: Sources conflict. Downing describes the fruit as roundish and slightly conic; Thomas describes it as oblong, oval, and flattened at the crown.
Stem: Short (Thomas).
Cavity: Moderate (Thomas).
Calyx: Closed (Thomas).
Basin: Broad (Thomas).
Skin: Yellow, splashed, striped, and marbled with red, thinly sprinkled with light dots (Downing). Thomas describes it similarly as yellow, striped and splashed with red.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish (both sources). Downing describes it as somewhat coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant, and brisk subacid, rating it Good. Thomas describes the flavor as sprightly and excellent.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Sources conflict. Downing gives November–December; Thomas gives October–January.
Uses
Valuable for cooking or market (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hollow Crown. Hartford. Tyler. Kelsey An old New England Apple, commonly grown there, origin unknown. Tree a strong, upright grower. Fruit large, roundish, slightly conic, yellow, splashed, striped, and marbled with red, thinly sprinkled with light dots. Flesh yellowish, somewhat coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant, brisk subacid. Good. November, December. Valuable for cooking or market.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Hollow Crown. Size medium, oblong, oval, flattened at crown; skin yellow, striped and splashed with red; stalk short, in a moderate cavity; calyx closed, basin broad; flesh yellowish, with a sprightly excellent flavor. October, January. (Downing.)