Landon

Origin and History. Origin uncertain, found on the farm of Buel Landon in Vermont and by him introduced to notice. Downing gives the location as Grand Isle, while Beach specifies South Hero — both refer to the same Lake Champlain island community. Beach dates the introduction to about forty years before 1867, and notes that the variety appears to be but little known outside of that locality.

Tree. Moderately vigorous or rather slow-growing, with slender branches. Form spreading, dense, dwarfish with a rather flat top. Downing describes it as having low spreading branches. Twigs short to medium, nearly straight but somewhat geniculate, moderately slender, with short to medium internodes. Bark clear light brown mingled with red, irregularly marked and mottled with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels conspicuous, small to rather large, roundish or elongated, raised. Buds medium or below, plump, roundish, obtuse, free or nearly so, pubescent. Regarding productivity, Downing states it "bears moderately every year," while Beach reports it is "a rather shy bearer," confirming the assessment of Macomber.

Fruit. Medium to large, averaging above medium, pretty uniform in size and shape. Form roundish oblate to roundish conic, sometimes obscurely ribbed. Downing describes the form simply as roundish, inclining to conic.

Stem. Short.

Cavity. Large, acute, moderately deep to deep, slightly furrowed, sometimes slightly russeted. Downing describes it as large, surrounded by russet.

Calyx. Small to medium, partly open or sometimes closed, according to Beach. Downing describes the calyx as open. Calyx tube elongated funnel-shape, constricted just below the limb and often extending to the core. Stamens median.

Basin. Shallow to moderately shallow, rather obtuse, somewhat furrowed, wrinkled. Downing describes it as corrugated and shallow.

Skin. Thin, tough, nearly smooth, yellow mostly washed and mottled with red and distinctly striped with carmine, often becoming deep crimson or purplish on the side exposed to the sun. Downing similarly describes the color as yellow, mottled and shaded with red or deep crimson. Dots conspicuous, whitish, large and irregular, especially about the cavity, or areolar with russet point. Downing describes numerous grayish dots.

Flesh. Yellowish, sometimes tinged with red next the skin, firm, a little coarse, crisp, moderately tender, juicy, aromatic, with a rich, mild subacid flavor becoming nearly sweet late in season. Downing rates the quality as "very good"; Beach rates it "good to very good." The fruit is attractive in color, of good marketable size, and a good keeper.

Core and Seeds. Core medium or above, abaxile; cells open or partly open; core lines clasping. Carpels broad at the base approaching truncate, rounding toward apex, slightly emarginate. Seeds medium or above, rather wide, flat, obtuse.

Season. December to May according to Beach. Downing gives the season as February to May.

Uses. On account of its mild flavor it is better suited for dessert than for culinary use.