Johnson
AppleOrigin/History
Originated in Brookfield, Connecticut (Downing 1900; Elliott 1865; Thomas 1903). Downing notes a second, distinct variety also called Johnson said to have originated in Massac County, Illinois, and described in the Chicago Republican; Downing had not seen it personally. Thomas similarly references this second Johnson from Illinois. Hansen notes that the Minnesota variety known as Johnson is described separately under the name William Johnson to distinguish it from other and older varieties of the same name.
Tree
A strong, upright grower, and a good bearer (Downing). The Illinois Johnson is described as productive and valuable for market (Thomas).
Fruit
Size: Above medium (Downing; Elliott); rather large (Thomas). The Illinois Johnson is medium to large (Downing).
Form: Roundish conic (Downing; Thomas); roundish (Elliott). The Illinois Johnson is roundish flattened (Downing) / oblate (Thomas).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth, striped with red on a yellow ground, dark red in the sun (Downing; Elliott); striped (Thomas). The Illinois Johnson is greenish yellow, almost entirely covered with rich dark red (Downing) / pale yellow and crimson (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: Remarkably tender, crisp, and juicy, with a brisk, sweet flavor; very soon becomes mealy after ripening (Downing). Tender, crisp, juicy; very fine (Elliott). Tender, sweet, becoming mealy (Thomas). Quality rated "Good" (Downing). The Illinois Johnson has yellow flesh, subacid (Downing) / mild sub-acid, rich, very good (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Middle of August to middle of September (Downing); August, September (Elliott); late summer (Thomas). The Illinois Johnson is a winter apple, December to March (Downing; Thomas).
Uses
The Illinois Johnson is described as productive and valuable for market (Thomas). Other uses not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
A distinct second variety also bearing the name Johnson is recognized: originated in Massac County, Illinois, described in the Chicago Republican. Fruit medium to large, roundish flattened / oblate, greenish yellow to pale yellow almost entirely covered with rich dark red / crimson. Flesh yellow, subacid / mild sub-acid, rich, very good. Season December to March. Productive and valuable for market (Downing; Thomas). Hansen additionally notes a Minnesota variety called Johnson, treated separately under the name William Johnson to distinguish it from other and older varieties of the same name.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Johnson.
Origin, Brookfield, Conn. A strong, upright grower, and a good bearer.
Fruit above medium, roundish conic, smooth, striped with red on a yellow ground, dark red in the sun. Flesh remarkably tender, crisp, and juicy, with a brisk, sweet flavor, very soon becomes mealy after ripening. Good. Middle of August to middle of September.
There is another Johnson Apple which is said to have originated in Massac Co., Ill., and described in the Chicago Republican. We have not seen it.
Fruit medium to large, roundish flattened, greenish yellow, almost entirely covered with rich dark red. Flesh yellow, subacid. December to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Johnson.
From Brookfield, Conn. Fruit, above medium, roundish ; smooth, striped red on yellow, dark red in sun ; flesh, tender, crisp, juicy ; very fine. August, September.
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Johnson—The Minnesota variety by this name is described under the name of William Johnson to distinguish it from other and older varieties of the same name.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Johnson. Rather large, roundish-conic, striped; tender, sweet, becoming mealy. Late summer. Conn. Another Johnson, in Illinois, is oblate, pale yellow and crimson, mild sub-acid, rich, very good. Winter. Productive, and valuable for market.