Lady Elgin
AppleLady Elgin
Origin/History
Lady Elgin is a Siberian apple that originated on the farm of James Forbes, of Ridott Township, Illinois. Downing (1900) describes it as "this beautiful new Siberian apple." Budd & Hansen (1914) repeat the same origin, citing Downing as their source.
Tree
Hardy, vigorous, upright, with slender branches. Very productive.
Fruit
Size
Downing describes the fruit as "large for a Siberian." Budd & Hansen describe it simply as large.
Form
Roundish oblate, regular.
Stem
Medium length, slender.
Cavity
Small.
Calyx
Closed.
Basin
Shallow, corrugated.
Skin
Smooth; whitish yellow ground, nearly covered with bright rich red. Dots few, light and gray.
Flesh/Flavor
White, fine, tender, juicy, mild subacid, slightly vinous. Rated very good.
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September through December.
Uses
A pleasant dessert fruit and excellent for canning. Downing notes that the slight acid or vinous flavor is preferred by some to the rich sweet of the peach.
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 (1886–1913) from Alabama, Illinois
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lady Elgin.
Geneva. Marengo Siberian, No. 4.
This beautiful new Siberian apple originated on the farm of James Forbes, of Ridott Township, Ill. Tree hardy, vigorous, upright, slender branches, very productive, a pleasant dessert fruit, and said to be excellent for canning; the slight acid or vinous flavor being preferred by some to the rich sweet of the peach.
Fruit large for a Siberian, roundish oblate, regular; skin smooth, whitish yellow, nearly covered with bright rich red, a few light and gray dots; stalk medium, slender; cavity small; calyx closed; basin shallow, corrugated; flesh white, fine, tender, juicy, mild subacid, slightly vinous; very good. September, December.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Elgin (Lady Elgin, Geneva).—Originated on the farm of James Forbes, of Ridott Township, Illinois. Tree hardy, vigorous, upright, slender branches, very productive.
Fruit large, roundish oblate, regular, surface smooth, whitish yellow, nearly covered with bright rich red; dots few, light and gray; cavity small; stem medium, slender; basin shallow, corrugated; calyx closed; flesh white, fine, tender, juicy, mild subacid, slightly vinous; very good for canning or dessert. September, December. (Downing.)