Huntsman
AppleHuntsman
Origin/History
Originated on the farm of John Huntsman, Fayette, Missouri. Up to within very recent years its cultivation appears to have been confined to the Middle West, where it has been grown in Missouri and Eastern Kansas for about fifty years (as of 1905). In that section it is quite highly prized on account of its high quality and the good bearing habits of the tree. It is not looked upon with special favor by the commercial growers of the West because of its susceptibility to bitter rot, sunburn, and apple scab. In sections where it is known, it is in special demand among apple buyers for the fancy trade. So far as can be determined, it has not been tested to any considerable extent in the East, and is practically unknown in New York.
Tree
Tree vigorous; branches long, slender. Form upright varying to roundish or spreading, rather open. Twigs above medium, long, straight, slender; internodes very short. Bark dark reddish-brown, heavily mottled with scarf-skin, heavily pubescent. Lenticels numerous, medium to very small, round, not raised. Buds small to nearly medium, broad, obtuse, free near old wood but quite appressed towards the tips, pubescent. The tree is not an early bearer, but after it begins to fruit is a regular bearer and quite prolific.
Fruit
Size: Above medium to large, usually large; the fruit is pretty uniformly large or very large.
Form: Roundish oblate, slightly conical, somewhat irregular, obscurely angular. Thomas (1903) describes the form as unequal and oblate, with a smooth surface.
Stem: Beach (1905): short, rather thick. Thomas (1903): medium to short.
Cavity (stem end): Acute to slightly obtuse, deep, broad (Beach); wide (Thomas). Sometimes russeted, frequently furrowed, sometimes compressed (Beach).
Calyx: Small (Beach); lobes short, narrow, acute (Beach). Beach describes the calyx as closed; Thomas (1903) describes the eye as open — the two sources conflict on this point.
Basin (calyx end): Very abrupt, medium in depth to deep, usually deeply furrowed (Beach). Beach gives the width as moderately narrow to narrow; Thomas (1903) describes the basin as wide and deep — the two sources conflict on basin width.
Skin: Rather thick, somewhat tender (Beach). Deep yellow or greenish, often with an orange-red blush which sometimes deepens to a distinct red (Beach); Thomas (1903) describes the color simply as yellow. Dots: Beach describes them as small, inconspicuous, pale, submerged, and numerous; Thomas (1903) describes them as large and distinct — the two sources conflict on dot character.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh tinged with yellow (Beach); Thomas (1903) describes the flesh as yellow. Firm (both sources agree). Beach describes the texture as moderately coarse and not very crisp; Thomas (1903) describes it as fine-grained — the two sources conflict on texture. Tender, juicy (Beach; Thomas also: juicy). Flavor mildly subacid with a distinct pleasantly aromatic character (Beach); Thomas describes it as sub-acid and rich. Quality rated good to very good (Beach); very good (Thomas).
Core and Seeds: Calyx tube usually extends to the core, cylindrical to slightly funnel-form with broad cylinder. Stamens marginal. Core medium to small, abaxile; cells often somewhat unsymmetrical, open; core lines clasping. Carpels elliptical to very broadly ovate, deeply emarginate, sometimes slightly tufted. Seeds frequently irregular in shape, moderately dark brown, rather wide and long, usually plump, obtuse.
Season
December to April (Beach). Winter (Thomas) — consistent with Beach.
Uses
Prized for high quality and the fancy trade where known. Susceptible in western growing regions to bitter rot, sunburn, and apple scab.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1916) from Kansas
- Holsinger Bros. Nurseries (Holsinger Brothers Nursery) , Rosedale , Kansas — 1916
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)HUNTSMAN.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1872:14 app. fig. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1875:10. 3. Thomas, 1885:513. 4. U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1887:631. fig. 5. Mo. Sta. Bul., 6:7. 1889. 6. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:241. 7. Stinson, Mo. Fr. Sta. Bul., 3:26. 1902. 8. Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:53. 1902. 9. Budd-Hansen, 1903:103. fig. 10. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:44. 1903. 11. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:126. 1904.
SYNONYM. HUNTSMAN'S FAVORITE (1, 2, 3, 5, 6). Huntsman's Favorite (7, 8, 10).
The Huntsman apple, or as it is more generally known by the growers, the Huntsman Favorite, is a western variety, it having been grown in Missouri and Eastern Kansas for about fifty years. In that section it is quite highly prized on account of its high quality and the good bearing habits of the tree. It is not looked upon with special favor by the commercial growers of the West because of its susceptibility there to bitter rot, sunburn and apple scab. The tree is not an early bearer but after it does begin to fruit is a regular bearer and quite prolific. The fruit is pretty uniformly large or very large, somewhat irregular in form, deep yellow usually somewhat blushed and very attractive. In sections where it is known it is in special demand among apple buyers for the fancy trade.
Historical. This variety originated on the farm of John Huntsman, Fayette, Mo. (1), and up to within very recent years its cultivation seems to have been confined to the Middle West. So far as we can learn it has not been tested to any considerable extent in the East. It is practically unknown in New York.
TREE.
Tree vigorous; branches long, slender. Form upright varying to roundish or spreading, rather open. Twigs above medium, long, straight, slender; internodes very short. Bark dark reddish-brown, heavily mottled with scarf-skin, heavily pubescent. Lenticels numerous, medium to very small, round, not raised. Buds small to nearly medium, broad, obtuse, free near old wood but quite appressed towards the tips, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium to large, usually large. Form roundish oblate, slightly conical, somewhat irregular, obscurely angular. Stem short, rather thick. Cavity acute to slightly obtuse, deep, broad, sometimes russeted, frequently furrowed, sometimes compressed. Calyx small, closed; lobes short, narrow, acute. Basin very abrupt, medium in depth to deep, moderately narrow to narrow, usually deeply furrowed. Skin rather thick, somewhat tender, deep yellow or greenish, often with an orange-red blush which sometimes deepens to a distinct red. Dots small, inconspicuous, pale, submerged, numerous. Calyx tube usually extends to the core, cylindrical to slightly funnel-form with broad cylinder. Stamens marginal. Core medium to small, abaxile; cells often somewhat unsymmetrical, open; core lines clasping. Carpels elliptical to very broadly ovate, deeply emarginate, sometimes slightly tufted. Seeds frequently irregular in shape, moderately dark brown, rather wide and long, usually plump, obtuse. Flesh tinged with yellow, rather firm, moderately coarse, not very crisp, tender, juicy, mildly subacid with a distinct pleasantly aromatic flavor, good to very good. Season December to April.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Huntsman. (Huntsman's Favorite.) Large; unequal, oblate, smooth; yellow, large distinct dots; stem medium to short, basin wide, deep, eye open; cavity wide; flesh yellow, fine-grained, firm, juicy, sub-acid, rich, very good. Winter. Western. Fig. 465. Missouri.