Hoover
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Hoover
Origin / History
Originated in South Carolina, raised by Mr. Hoover of Edisto, South Carolina (Elliott). Downing notes it was pretty extensively disseminated and much favored where grown.
Tree
Forms a beautiful upright spreading tree, vigorous in habit (Downing; Budd & Hansen). The trees are quite distinct, having large foliage and retaining it until quite late into winter (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Young shoots are clear reddish brown, brightly downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Sources differ. Elliott describes the fruit as large; Thomas as large; Downing, Budd & Hansen, and Lowther as medium.
Form: Nearly globular, inclining to conic (Elliott); roundish, sometimes roundish oblate, slightly oblique (Downing; Budd & Hansen); roundish (Thomas); round (Lowther).
Stem: Half an inch long, fleshy (Elliott); rather long (Downing; Budd & Hansen).
Cavity: Large, thinly russeted (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Elliott does not describe a cavity.
Calyx: Open (Elliott; Downing; Budd & Hansen), set in a smooth, greenish yellow basin (Elliott).
Basin: Smooth, greenish yellow (Elliott); slightly furrowed (Downing; Budd & Hansen).
Skin / Color: Sources give two accounts. Elliott describes a rich, dark crimson color, peculiarly marked with round, white spots of about an eighth of an inch in size; Thomas similarly gives rich crimson with large whitish dots. Downing and Budd & Hansen describe the surface as yellowish, mostly overspread, splashed, and striped with two shades of red, with some conspicuous light dots and patches of russet (Downing); dots distinct and light with patches of russet (Budd & Hansen). Lowther gives the color as yellow-red.
Flesh / Flavor: White, with brisk acid flavor (Elliott); brisk acid (Thomas); yellowish, rather firm, tender, juicy, rich subacid (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Quality very good (Downing; Budd & Hansen; Lowther).
Core / Seeds: Core small (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Seeds not described in source.
Season
November to February (Elliott; Downing; Budd & Hansen); early winter (Thomas); winter (Lowther).
Uses
Both kitchen and market (Lowther).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther notes division reports of 1* and 9*, with the asterisks indicating the variety is reported as adapted to more than one of the three divisions of the American Pomological Society. Lowther also lists a parenthetical "Pk. Coal" alongside the name.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 8 catalogs (1886–1912) from California, Illinois, Oregon, Washington
- W.R. Strong & Co. , Capital and Orange Hill Nurseries (Robert Williamson, prop.), Sacramento , California — 1886
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
View original book sources (5)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Hoover.
Raised by Mr. Hoover, of Edisto, South Carolina. Fruit, large and beautiful, nearly globular, inclining to conic; color, rich, dark crimson, peculiarly marked with round, white spots, of about an eighth of an inch in size; stem, half an inch long, fleshy; calyx, open, in a smooth, greenish yellow basin; flesh, white; flavor, brisk acid. November to February.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Hooker", pp. 151–151]
Hooker. Origin, Windsor, Conn. Growth upright, vigorous, productive. Fruit, medium, conic, slightly oblique ; skin, greenish yellow, shaded with dull crimson, striped with red, and sprinkled with large russet dots : stalk, short, inserted in a very shallow cavity ; calyx, small, partially closed, in a small, abrupt basin ; flesh, greenish, tender, juicy, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor. November to January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hoover. Wattaugah. Originated in South Carolina. It is pretty extensively disseminated and much favored where grown. The trees are quite distinct, having large foliage and retaining it until quite late into winter. It forms a beautiful upright spreading tree. Young shoots clear reddish brown, brightly downy. Fruit medium, roundish, sometimes roundish oblate, slightly oblique, yellowish, mostly overspread, splashed, and striped with two shades of red, some conspicuous light dots, and patches of russet. Stalk rather long. Cavity large, thinly russeted. Calyx open. Basin slightly furrowed. Flesh yellowish, rather firm, tender, juicy, rich subacid. Core small. Very good. November to February.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Hooker", pp. 246–246]
Hooker.
Origin, Windsor, Conn. Growth upright, vigorous, productive. Fruit medium, conic, slightly oblique, greenish yellow, shaded with dull crimson, striped with red, and sprinkled with large russet dots. Flesh greenish, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. November to January.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Hoover. Large, roundish, rich crimson with large whitish dots; brisk acid. Early winter. S.C.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Hooker", pp. 728–728]
Hooker. Medium, conic, striped; flesh greenish; sub-acid. December. Conn.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Hoover.—Origin, South Carolina; tree upright, spreading, retaining foliage late.
Fruit medium, roundish, sometimes roundish oblate, slightly oblique; surface yellowish, mostly overspread, splashed, and striped with two shades of red; dots distinct, light, patches of russet; cavity large, thinly russeted; stem rather long; basin slightly furrowed; calyx open. Core small; flesh yellowish, rather firm, tender, juicy, rich subacid, very good. November to February.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Hoover (Pk. Coal). Size: medium. Form: round. Color: yellow-red. Quality: very good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter. Division reports: 1* and 9*, with the asterisks indicating the variety is reported as adapted to more than one of the three divisions of the American Pomological Society.