Kinnaird's Choice.

Originated on the farm of the late Michael Kinnaird, of Franklin, Tenn. Tree a thrifty, vigorous grower, not very upright or regular, similar to Winesap; an early and annual bearer, producing heavier crops alternate years.

Fruit medium, oblate, inclining to conic, slightly angular, or obscurely ribbed, sides sometimes unequal; skin yellow, almost covered with dark rich red, many small light dots near the crown, and larger ones and less number near the base; stalk short, small, sometimes by a lip; cavity wide, deep, russeted; calyx closed; basin large, deep, furrowed; flesh yellowish, half fine, crisp, tender, juicy, mild, rich subacid, slightly aromatic; very good; core small. January.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

KINNAIRD.

REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1872:18 app. fig. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1875. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:242. 4. Watts, Tenn. Sta. Bul., 1:15. 1896. fig. 5. Wright, Am. Gard., 17:33. 1896. 6. Thomas, 1897:291. 7. Ragan, U. S. Pom. Bul., 8:18. 1899. 8. Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:53. 1902. 9. Budd-Hansen, 1903:110. fig. 10. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:45. 1903. 11. Bruner, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:25. 1903.

SYNONYMS. KINNAIRD'S CHOICE (1, 8). Kinnaird's Choice (4, 6). KINNAIRDS FAVORITE (2). KINNARD (7, 9). Kinnard's Choice (9).

This is a dark red winter apple of the Winesap class. When well grown it is of good size, very good quality and attractive in appearance. The tree comes into bearing rather young and yields moderate crops biennially. The fruit hangs well to the tree but is not very uniform in grade and does not produce as large a percentage of marketable fruit as either Baldwin or Rhode Island Greening. It is in season about with Baldwin. It is a variety of Tennessee origin which is highly esteemed in some sections of that state and in other portions of the Middle West (4). So far as tested in New York it does not appear to be adapted to regions as far north as this.

Historical. Origin Franklin, Williamson county, Tennessee. It is practically unknown in New York.

TREE.

Tree medium in size, a moderately vigorous grower; branchlets rather slender. Form rather spreading or roundish, irregular, not dense. Twigs medium to rather long, moderately slender, often irregularly crooked. Bark brownish-red or some portions olive-green, somewhat pubescent; scarf-skin thin, not conspicuous. Lenticels rather numerous, irregular in size, not often large, usually very small, dull, elongated. Buds considerably sunk in the bark, rather broad, obtuse, appressed, quite pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium to large. Form oblate inclined to conic, flat at the base, rather obscurely ribbed, nearly regular, sides sometimes unequal. Stem not exserted, short, rather thick. Cavity very wide, deep, acute, sometimes russeted. Calyx small, closed or partly open. Basin moderately wide, deep, abrupt, gently furrowed, often somewhat oblique.

Skin moderately thick, tough, smooth, yellow, mottled and blushed with red, in the sun becoming a lively deep red shading to purplish-red. Dots numerous, small, whitish, becoming somewhat elongated towards the cavity. Prevailing effect good dark red.

Calyx tube conical and moderately short varying to almost cylindrical and deep, sometimes extending to the core. Stamens nearly marginal.

Core small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines clasping. Carpels obcordate, emarginate, noticeably concave, tufted. Seeds rather short, wide, plump.

Flesh tinged with yellow, crisp, moderately fine or a little coarse, agreeably subacid, somewhat aromatic, good to very good.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Kinnaird. Size: medium. Form: oblate. Color: striped or splashed (red). Quality: good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

Kinnard. (Kinnard's Choice.) Medium, oblate; yellow, covered with dark red; flesh tender and juicy. Tree vigorous, hardy. Bears young. Tennessee.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Kinnard (Kinnard's Choice). — Originated on farm of the late Michael Kinnard, of Franklin, Tenn.; tree vigorous, not very upright, an early and annual bearer, producing heavier crop alternate years. Fruit medium, oblate, inclining to conic, slightly angular, or obscurely ribbed, sides sometimes unequal; surface yellow, almost covered with dark rich red; dots near basin many, small, light, near base larger and fewer; cavity wide, deep, russeted; stem short, small, sometimes by a lip; basin large, deep, furrowed; calyx closed. Core small; tube obtusely conical; flesh yellowish, half fine, crisp, tender, juicy, mild rich subacid, slightly aromatic, very good. January.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

KINNAIRD. Kinnaird's Choice. Kinnaird's Favorite. Kinnaird is an attractive, dark-red apple similar to Winesap in size, quality, color, and season. The variety originated at Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee, and is now grown only in its native and neighboring states.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, spreading, irregular; branchlets slender. Fruit medium to large, oblate to conic, flat at the base, obscurely ribbed, sides sometimes unequal; stem not exserted, short, thick; cavity very wide, deep, acute, sometimes russeted; calyx small, closed or partly open; basin wide, deep, abrupt, gently furrowed, often oblique; skin thick, tough, smooth, yellow, mottled and blushed with red, in the sun deep red; dots numerous, small, white, elongated towards the cavity; prevailing effect dark red; calyx-tube conical, short to cylindrical and deep, sometimes extending to the core; stamens marginal; core small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core-lines clasping; carpels obcordate, emarginate, concave, tufted; seeds short, wide, plump; flesh yellow, crisp, fine or a little coarse, agreeably subacid, aromatic; good to very good; season, November to March.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)