Lead
AppleLead
Origin/History
A Russian variety. Beach (1905) notes that two distinct Russian varieties have been disseminated under the name Lead, creating significant confusion in the literature. He identifies the variety received from the Iowa Agricultural College in 1890 — circulated under synonyms No. 277 and Lead — as distinct from what Hansen designates the "true Lead" (No. 3 M). Beach concludes his Station's tested fruit corresponds to Hansen's No. 277, which Hansen explicitly states is not the true variety. Some of the references in the pomological literature refer to one of these varieties and some to the other.
Tree
Beach describes the tree of the Iowa Station fruit (No. 277): does not come into bearing very young; an annual cropper but only moderately productive. Not described in source for the "true Lead" (No. 3 M).
Fruit
Because two distinct varieties circulate under this name, the physical descriptions are presented separately.
Iowa Station fruit (No. 277 / not true Lead per Hansen; Beach):
- Size: Medium or above.
- Form: Not described in source.
- Skin: Pale greenish-yellow with a blushed cheek and carmine splashes.
- Flesh/Flavor: Tender, rather juicy, subacid, fair quality.
True Lead (No. 3 M per Hansen; as reported by Beach):
- Size: Large, heavy.
- Form: Roundish.
- Skin: Greenish-yellow with dull blush.
- Flesh/Flavor: Greenish-white flesh; sharp subacid; good quality.
Thomas (1903) — variety not distinguished:
- Size: Medium.
- Form: Irregular, oblate.
- Stem: Long.
- Cavity: Acute.
- Basin: Very wide, shallow.
- Skin: Greenish yellow, red blush.
- Flesh/Flavor: Quality good.
Thomas's description (medium, greenish yellow, red blush, oblate) is broadly consistent with the Iowa Station / No. 277 fruit described by Beach, though Thomas gives the season as mid-winter, which conflicts with Beach's late August–September for that variety and is closer to Hansen's early winter for the true Lead.
Season
Beach: late August and September for the Iowa Station fruit (No. 277). Early winter for the true Lead (No. 3 M per Hansen). Thomas: mid-winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
See Origin/History above. The name Lead covers at minimum two distinct Russian varieties: one (No. 277) of medium size ripening late summer to fall, and one (No. 3 M, Hansen's "true Lead") that is large, roundish, and ripens in early winter.
Other
Beach's assessment of the Iowa Station fruit (No. 277): not worthy of further testing for the New York region.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Hansen regards Nos. 3 and 362 as distinct.
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)LEAD.
REFERENCES. 1. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 8:40. 1881-82. 2. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1882:78. 3. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:102. 4. Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1883:28. 5. Ib., 1885:11. 6. Schroeder, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-7:71. 7. Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1890:23. 8. Budd, Ia. Sta. Bul., 19:540. 1892. 9. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:243. 10. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1896:74, 79. 11. Stinson, Ark. Sta. Bul., 43:105. 1896. 12. Thomas, 1897:291. fig. 13. Troop, Ind. Sta. Rpt., 1899:80. 14. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:64. 1902. 15. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:84. 1902.
SYNONYMS. Lead (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). Lead Apple (3). No. 3 M (2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15). No. 277 (2, 4, 5, 10). Svinsovka (1). Swinez (3). Swinzovska (5).
As noted below two distinct Russian varieties have been disseminated under the name Lead. Some of the references cited above refer to one of these varieties and some to the other. A Russian variety was received from the Iowa Agricultural College in 1890 for testing at this Station, the fruit of which is pale greenish-yellow with a blushed cheek and carmine splashes, medium size or above; flesh tender, rather juicy, subacid, fair quality; season late August and September. The tree does not come into bearing very young. It is an annual cropper but only moderately productive. It is not worthy of further testing for this region.
This appears to be the same variety as that described by Hansen under the name Lead with the synonym No. 277 (14). This he says is not the true Lead. He describes the true Lead with synonym No. 3 M as a Russian variety, large, heavy, roundish, greenish-yellow with dull blush; flesh greenish-white, sharp subacid, good in quality; season early winter.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Lead. Medium, irregular, oblate; greenish yellow, red blush; cavity acute, stem long; basin very wide, shallow; quality good. Mid-winter. Fig. 461. Russian.