Howard Best
AppleHoward Best
Origin/History
Received at the New York Station in 1892 for testing from C.G. Patten of Charles City, Iowa. Referenced in Bailey's Michigan Station Bulletin 31:52 (1887) and New York Station Annual Report 11:223 (1892).
Tree
Moderate vigor. Short, moderately stout, crooked branches. Form rather flat and spreading, inclined to droop. Comes into bearing rather young; yields moderate to good crops almost annually. Twigs short, straight, slender with large terminal buds; internodes short to medium. Bark dull brown tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels scattering, small, oblong, not raised. Buds small, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
Fruit
Size and Form: Above medium, usually large to very large. Form oblate conic, rather flat at the base, somewhat ribbed, symmetrical.
Stem: Medium to long, thick.
Cavity: Acute, deep, medium in width to wide, symmetrical, sometimes compressed, heavily russeted.
Calyx: Large, open; lobes separated at base, short, narrow, acute.
Basin: Moderately shallow to rather deep, rather narrow, abrupt, distinctly furrowed to nearly smooth.
Skin: Rather tough, smooth, waxy, light yellowish-green, mottled, striped and splashed with bright, dark red over a large part of the surface. Dots indistinct, medium size, gray, scattering.
Interior Structure: Calyx tube short, wide, conical or approaching funnel-form. Stamens basal to median. Core medium size, nearly axile; cells closed or slightly open; core lines clasping or nearly meeting. Carpels very broadly ovate or inclined to elliptical, slightly emarginate, tufted. Seeds medium to small, wide, short, rather flat, obtuse.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh slightly tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, tender, very juicy, sprightly subacid, fair to good.
Season
September and October
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Attractive apple with decided resemblance to Alexander in form, color, and quality. The Station had not yet determined whether it is superior to Alexander.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)HOWARD BEST.
REFERENCES. 1. Bailey, Mich. Sta. Bul., 31:52. 1887. 2. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:223. 1892. SYNONYMS. HOWARD'S BEST (2). HOWARD'S BEST RUSSIAN (1).
This is an attractive apple which bears a decided resemblance to Alexander in form, color and quality. The tree is a moderate grower, comes into bearing rather young and yields moderate to good crops almost annually. We have not yet determined whether or not it is superior to Alexander.
Historical. Received in 1892 for testing at this Station from C. G. Patten, Charles City, Ia. (2).
TREE.
Tree moderately vigorous with short, moderately stout, crooked branches. Form rather flat and spreading, inclined to droop. Twigs short, straight, slender with large terminal buds; internodes short to medium. Bark dull brown tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels scattering, small, oblong, not raised. Buds small, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium, usually large to very large. Form oblate conic, rather flat at the base, somewhat ribbed, symmetrical. Stem medium to long, thick. Cavity acute, deep, medium in width to wide, symmetrical, sometimes compressed, heavily russeted. Calyx large, open; lobes separated at base, short, narrow, acute. Basin moderately shallow to rather deep, rather narrow, abrupt, distinctly furrowed to nearly smooth. Skin rather tough, smooth, waxy, light yellowish-green, mottled, striped and splashed with bright, dark red over a large part of the surface. Dots indistinct, medium size, gray, scattering. Calyx tube short, wide, conical or approaching funnel-form. Stamens basal to median. Core medium size, nearly axile; cells closed or slightly open; core lines clasping or nearly meeting. Carpels very broadly ovate or inclined to elliptical, slightly emarginate, tufted. Seeds medium to small, wide, short, rather flat, obtuse. Flesh slightly tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, tender, very juicy, sprightly subacid, fair to good. Season September and October.