Hollow Crown

Apple

Hollow Crown

Origin / History

An old New England apple of unknown origin, commonly grown in that region. Downing (1900) lists it under the synonyms Hartford, Tyler, and Kelsey. Thomas (1903) cites Downing as his source.

Tree

A strong, upright grower. No further tree characteristics described in sources.

Fruit

Size: The sources conflict. Downing describes the fruit as large; Thomas describes it as medium.

Form: The 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). Set in a moderate cavity (Thomas).

Cavity: Moderate (Thomas).

Calyx: Closed (Thomas).

Basin: Broad (Thomas).

Skin: Yellow, splashed, striped, and marbled with red (both sources agree on these elements); thinly sprinkled with light dots (Downing).

Flesh / Flavor: Yellowish (both sources). Downing describes the flesh as somewhat coarse, crisp, tender, and juicy, with a pleasant, brisk subacid flavor, rating it Good. Thomas describes the flavor as sprightly and excellent.

Core / Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

The sources give differing ranges. Downing places the season in November and December. Thomas gives October through January.

Uses

Valuable for cooking or market (Downing).

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in sources.

Other

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1913) from Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913

View original book sources (2)

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.

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

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.)

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

Hartford Kelsey Kelvey Tyler Kelsey