Large Summer Queen
AppleLarge Summer Queen
Origin / History
Supposed to be of North Carolina origin, the exact locality not known (Downing). Downing calls it a "fine large summer apple," valuable in its locality for its time of ripening, which is about the time of the American Summer Pearmain. Thomas also lists it as N. C.
Tree
Said to be very vigorous, upright at first, but with age spreading and irregular. In the orchard an early and abundant annual bearer.
Fruit
Size: Large to very large.
Form: Roundish oblate, nearly regular.
Stem: Stalk very short, moderately stout.
Cavity: Rather large, deep, smooth.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Quite large, deep, nearly smooth.
Skin: Pale greenish yellow, shaded, splashed and mottled with pale red.
Dots: Moderately sprinkled, large, light yellowish, a few areole.
Flesh and flavor: Whitish, fine, tender, juicy, rich, mild subacid, slightly aromatic. Quality "very good" (Downing); Thomas calls it "good."
Core and seeds: Core medium.
Season
Late summer. Ripens in North Carolina from the last of July till the first of September (Downing).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- 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)Large Summer Queen.
This fine large summer apple is supposed to be of North Carolina origin, but the exact locality is not known. The tree is said to be very vigorous, upright at first, but, with age, spreading and irregular; in the orchard an early and abundant annual bearer, and valuable in its locality for its time of ripening, which is about the time of the American Summer Pearmain.
Fruit large to very large, roundish oblate, nearly regular; skin pale greenish yellow, shaded, splashed and mottled with pale red, and moderately sprinkled with large, light, yellowish dots, a few being areole; stalk very short, moderately stout; cavity rather large, deep, smooth; calyx closed; basin quite large, deep, nearly smooth; flesh whitish, fine, tender, juicy, rich, mild subacid, slightly aromatic; very good; core medium. Ripens in North Carolina from the last of July till the first of September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Large Summer Queen. Quite large, roundish, yellow and red; mild, rich, sub-acid, good. Late summer. N. C.