King of Tompkins County
Apple
Origin / History
The origin of King of Tompkins County is disputed among sources. Warder (1867) states it originated in Tompkins County, New York, where it had been much cultivated and attracted considerable attention. Downing (1900) gives a different account, saying it was said to have originated with Thomas Thacher of Warren County, New Jersey. Elliott (1865) offers a partially reconciling account: the variety was "supposed to have been brought at an early day from New Jersey to Jacksonville, Tompkins Co., N. Y.," suggesting a New Jersey origin with subsequent cultivation in Tompkins County. Elliott explicitly notes it is distinct from the "King" of Kentucky and the Newark King of New Jersey. Downing lists it under the alternate names King Apple, Toms Red, and Tommy Red; Elliott also knew it as Winter King.
By the mid-nineteenth century it had attracted considerable attention. Elliott, writing in 1865, considered it "really one of the most valuable apples grown at the North." Downing describes it as "a valuable market fruit."
Tree
Very vigorous (Warder, Downing), healthy, large, and spreading. An abundant annual bearer. Young shoots very dark reddish brown, quite downy, especially toward the ends (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Globular, inclining to conic, angular (Warder, Downing). Downing notes it is sometimes oblate. Elliott describes the form differently: roundish oblong, somewhat ribbed.
Stem: Stout and short (Downing, Elliott). Warder notes the stem may be either short or long, and either thick or slender, and describes it as red in color.
Cavity (stem end): Wide and shallow, with wavy walls (Warder); large and somewhat irregular (Downing); open and regular (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed (Warder, Downing). Warder describes the eye as large and short. Downing describes the calyx as small and closed. Elliott describes the calyx lobes as having long, pointed segments.
Basin (calyx end): Shallow and folded (Warder); medium and slightly corrugated (Downing); abrupt, with slight furrows and projecting ribs surrounding (Elliott).
Skin: Smooth (Warder). Ground color yellow to yellowish. Surface mostly covered or shaded with red: Warder describes the red as deep, marbled and striped; Downing as shaded, striped and splashed with crimson; Elliott as two shades of red, striped and splashed. Dots numerous, large, and gray (Warder); brown (Elliott). Elliott additionally notes russet patches on the sunny side.
Flesh / Flavor: Yellowish-white (Warder); yellowish (Downing, Elliott). Tender (Warder, Downing); crisp (Elliott); juicy (Downing, Elliott). Downing describes the texture as rather coarse. Flavor sub-acid and aromatic (Warder, Elliott). Downing characterizes the flavor as "an exceedingly agreeable, rich, vinous flavor, delightfully aromatic." Quality: best (Warder); very good to best (Downing).
Core / Seeds: Core very large, turbinate, regular, closed. Seeds imperfect, angular (Warder).
Season
All sources place the start of season in December. Elliott extends through February; Downing through March; Warder notes "December and longer" without specifying an end month.
Uses
Table, kitchen, and market (Warder). Downing regards it as a valuable market fruit; Elliott considers it "one of the most valuable apples grown at the North."
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)King.
KING OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.
This splendid apple, which has attracted so much attention of recent years, had its origin, as is supposed, in Tompkins County, New York, where it has been much cultivated.
Tree vigorous, healthy, large and spreading, an abundant annual bearer.
Fruit large, handsome, globular, irregular, somewhat conic, angular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered deep red, marbled and striped; Dots numerous, gray, large.
Basin shallow, folded; Eye large, short, closed.
Cavity wide, shallow, wavy; Stem short or long, thick or slender, red.
Core very large, turbinate, regular, closed; Seeds imperfect, angular; Flesh yellowish-white, tender, breaking; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality best; Use, table, kitchen and market; Season, December and longer.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)King of Tompkins County.
King Apple. Toms Red. Tommy Red.
Origin uncertain; said to have originated with Thomas Thacher, Warren Co., N. J. A valuable market fruit. Tree very vigorous, spreading, an abundant bearer annually. Young shoots very dark reddish brown, quite downy, especially toward the ends.
Fruit large, globular, inclining to conic, sometimes oblate, angular. Color yellowish, mostly shaded with red, striped and splashed with crimson. Stalk rather stout and short, inserted in a large, somewhat irregular cavity. Calyx small and closed, set in a medium, slightly corrugated basin. Flesh yellowish, rather coarse, juicy, tender, with an exceedingly agreeable, rich, vinous flavor, delightfully aromatic. Very good to best. December to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)King of Tompkins County.
Winter King | King.
This variety we have had more or less acquaintance with for the past ten years. It is really one of the most valuable apples grown at the North. Its origin is uncertain. Supposed to have been brought at an early day from New Jersey to Jacksonville, Tompkins Co., N. Y. It is distinct from "King" of Ky., and Newark King of N. J. Tree, annually productive. Fruit, large, roundish oblong, somewhat ribbed, pale yellow ground, mostly covered with two shades of red, striped and splashed, brown dots, and russet patches on sunny side ; stem, stout, thick ; cavity, open, regular ; calyx, with long pointed segments ; basin, abrupt, slight furrows, and projecting ribs surrounding ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, juicy, sub-acid. December to February.