Kirkbridge White

Origin/History

Kirkbridge White was pretty extensively cultivated in some parts of the Western States (Warder), where it was considered valuable (Thomas). It was sometimes mistaken for the Yellow June (Warder). Thomas notes the variety was "valuable at the West."

Tree

An early and abundant bearer across all accounts. Sources disagree on vigor: Warder describes the tree as of "moderate growth," while Downing says "rather slow upright growth" and Thomas calls it "a slow grower, but a great and early bearer." Warder describes it as productive; Downing as "an early and abundant bearer."

Fruit

Size: Sources disagree. Warder describes the fruit as small; Downing as below medium; Thomas as medium; Elliott as "medium in size or rather large."

Form: Warder describes it as oblong-conic and regular. Downing describes it as oblong ovate, very irregular, and ribbed. Elliott describes it as oval, ribbed, tapering equally to each end and blunt at the ends. Thomas describes it as oval, tapering to apex and base, equally blunt at ends, with broad ribs, smooth. Warder's "regular" directly conflicts with Downing's "very irregular."

Stem: Warder describes the stem as long, slender, and green. Downing describes it as short and small. Elliott and Thomas both describe it as short. Warder stands alone in calling the stem long.

Cavity: Warder describes it as deep, acute, regular, and brown. Downing, Elliott, and Thomas all describe it as narrow or very narrow.

Calyx: Small and closed (Warder, Downing). Segments reflexed (Warder); segments long, reflexed (Downing).

Basin: Warder describes the basin as small, shallow or abrupt, narrow, and regular. Downing describes it as narrow. Elliott and Thomas both describe it as very narrow.

Skin: Smooth, pale yellow or white (Warder), with minute, gray, scattered dots. Downing describes the color as yellowish white. Elliott and Thomas describe it as smooth, pale yellow.

Flesh and Flavor: White, fine-grained, tender, juicy, with sub-acid flavor. Elliott and Thomas describe the flesh as "very tender." Sources disagree on quality: Warder rates it "very good," while Downing rates it "Good," Elliott rates it "good," and Thomas describes "a moderately 'good' sub-acid flavor."

Core and Seeds: Warder describes the core as medium, pyriform, regular, open, meeting the eye, with seeds numerous, plump, pointed, and brown. Downing describes the core as rather large. Elliott and Thomas do not describe the core or seeds.

Season

Warder gives July and August, after Early Harvest. Downing gives August and September. Elliott gives the latter part of summer. Thomas says it ripens soon after Early Harvest and continues for six weeks.

Uses

Table and market (Warder). Thomas notes the fruit is "too tender for long transportation."

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.