Kentucky Red Streak
AppleKentucky Red Streak
Origin/History
Origin obscure; supposed to be Tennessee (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Listed variously as "Bradford's Best," "Winter Red Streak," and possibly "Selma" (Downing). Budd & Hansen record Kentucky Red Streak under the primary name Bradford, treating the two as synonymous. A trial planting at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, British Columbia, was established in spring 1895 and evaluated by 1900.
Tree
Upright, vigorous, and productive annually (Downing; Budd & Hansen). At the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, BC, the tree is described as a moderate grower.
Fruit
Size and Form
Medium, roundish, slightly inclining to conic (Downing; Budd & Hansen). The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC describes the fruit as small and oblate — conflicting with the pomological standard of medium and roundish-conic.
Stem
Medium (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Not described in source (Central Experimental Farm).
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Closed (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Not described in source (Central Experimental Farm).
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Greenish yellow, shaded with dull purplish red, and indistinctly splashed and striped; dots numerous, large, light, having gray centres; sometimes the number of dots gives an appearance almost as if mottled (Downing; Budd & Hansen). The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz describes the skin as green with a reddish brown cheek, very badly marked with black scab and cracked.
Flesh and Flavor
Whitish, tender, juicy, mild subacid; quality good to very good (Downing; Budd & Hansen). The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz describes the flesh as white, not juicy, mildly sub-acid, and of poor quality.
Core and Seeds
Core small (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Seeds not described in source.
Season
December to March (Downing; Budd & Hansen). Winter (Central Experimental Farm).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Kentucky Red Streak. Winter Red Streak ? Bradford's Best. Selma ? Origin obscure, supposed Tennessee. Tree upright, vigorous, and productive annually. Fruit medium, roundish, slightly inclining to conic, greenish yellow, shaded with dull purplish red, and indistinctly splashed and striped, thickly sprinkled with large light dots, having gray centres, sometimes the number of dots give appearance almost as if mottled. Stalk medium. Calyx closed. Flesh whitish, tender, juicy, mild subacid. Core small. Good to very good. December to March.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Bradford (Kentucky Redstreak).—Origin obscure; supposed to be Tennessee; tree upright, vigorous, and productive annually.
Fruit medium, roundish, slightly conic; surface greenish yellow, shaded with dull purplish red, and indistinctly splashed and striped; dots numerous, large, light, having gray centres, sometimes the number of dots give appearance almost as if mottled; stem medium, calyx closed. Core small; flesh whitish, tender, juicy mild subacid, good to very good. December to March.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1895. Tree a moderate grower. Fruit small, oblate. Skin green, with a reddish brown cheek, very badly marked with black scab and cracked. Flesh white, not juicy, mildly sub-acid, quality poor. Season Winter.