Jenkins
AppleOrigin/History
Originated with John M. Jenkins, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. Elliott (1865) describes it as a native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with the description attributed to W.D.B.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Small.
Form: Roundish ovate.
Stem: Slender (Elliott).
Cavity: Deep, rather wide, sometimes russeted (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed (Elliott).
Basin: Deep, open, furrowed (Elliott).
Skin: Red, interspersed with numerous large white dots on a yellowish ground.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, tender, fine texture, juicy. Flavor agreeably saccharine; exceedingly pleasant and aromatic (Elliott). Elliott rates the variety "very good," if not "best." Downing rates it simply Good.
Core/Seeds: Core above medium. Seeds grayish brown, acute-ovate (Elliott).
Season
January to March (Downing).
Uses
Particularly fitted for the table at evening entertainments (Elliott).
Subtypes/Variants
Downing notes a distinct summer-ripening Jenkins apple: small, roundish, yellow, striped with red. No further details given.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Jenkins.
Originated with John M. Jenkins, Montgomery Co., Pa.
Fruit small, roundish ovate, red, interspersed with numerous large white dots on yellowish ground. Flesh white, tender, fine texture, juicy, agreeably saccharine. Good. January to March.
There is another Jenkins apple which ripens in summer. It is small, roundish, yellow, striped with red.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Jenkins.
Native of Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania. Fruit, small, roundish ovate; red, interspersed with numerous large white dots, on a yellowish ground; stem, slender; cavity, deep, rather wide, sometimes russeted; calyx, closed; basin, deep, open, furrowed; core, above medium; seeds, grayish brown, acute-ovate; flesh, white, tender, fine texture, juicy; flavor, agreeably saccharine, exceedingly pleasant and aromatic; "very good," if not "best." The Jenkins is one of those delicious little apples peculiarly fitted for the table at evening entertainments. (W. D. B.)