Liberty
Apple
Origin & History
The Liberty apple originated in Delaware County, Ohio, where it was brought into notice by M. B. Bateham, described by Warder as "the excellent Secretary of the Ohio Pomological Society, and founder of the Columbus Nurseries." Elliott notes it was "claimed to be a seedling of Delaware county" and that its claim for introduction to the West rested upon "its character as a long keeper, even when grown on rich prairie lands." Thomas identifies it simply as "Western."
Warder describes the location as "near Columbus, Ohio," while both Downing and Elliott specify Delaware County, Ohio.
Tree
Tree vigorous, healthy, large, spreading, and productive; believed to be entirely hardy (Warder). Young shoots smooth, reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Full medium to large (Warder); medium (Downing); medium to large (Elliott); rather large (Thomas).
Form: Globular, inclining to oblong in appearance, turbinated or flattened at the ends, regular (Warder). Roundish oblong, oblate, oblique, conical (Downing). Oblong oblique conical (Elliott). Oblong conic (Thomas).
Skin: Not smooth (Warder). Thick, tough (Elliott). Yellow, covered with dull red and scarlet, mixed and splashed, stripes indistinct (Warder). Yellowish, shaded, splashed, and striped with shades of dull red (Downing). Yellowish, striped and splashed with shades of red — "often the red is most prominent at first glance, and it appears as though there was a shade of rich yellow marbled underneath" (Elliott). Striped (Thomas).
Dots: Minute, gray, prominent (Warder). Small, irregular, russet dots, and occasionally a large oblong rounded russet patch (Elliott).
Stem: Medium, inclined (Warder). Usually medium height (Elliott).
Cavity: Medium, acute, wavy (Warder). Narrow, of medium depth, regular (Elliott).
Calyx: Eye small, closed (Warder). Calyx large; segments half open, slightly recurved (Elliott).
Basin: Medium, quite shallow, regular, indistinctly leather-cracked (Warder). Open, broad, acute (Elliott).
Flesh & Flavor: Yellow, breaking, rather coarse, juicy; flavor acid to sub-acid; quality good (Warder). Yellowish, rather firm, mild subacid; good (Downing). Yellow, firm, a little tough, juicy, rich, mild sub-acid (Elliott). Yellow, firm, mild sub-acid (Thomas).
Core & Seeds: Core small, oval, closed, meeting the eye; seeds numerous, pointed (Warder). Core small (Downing). Core medium, central, compact; seeds light brown, ovate long, pointed (Elliott).
Warder and Downing describe the core as small; Elliott describes it as medium.
Season
January to March, or later (Warder). December to May (Downing). February to June (Elliott). Long keeper (Thomas). Valued mainly for its keeping qualities (Downing).
Uses
Market and kitchen or table (Warder).
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 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 (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Liberty.
This valuable market variety originated near Columbus, Ohio, where it was brought into notice by M. B. Bateham, the excellent Secretary of the Ohio Pomological Society, and founder of the Columbus Nurseries.
Tree vigorous, healthy, large, spreading and productive; believed to be entirely hardy.
Fruit full medium to large, globular, inclining to oblong in appearance, turbinated or flattened at the ends, regular; Surface not smooth, yellow, covered with dull red and scarlet, mixed and splashed, stripes indistinct; Dots minute, gray, prominent.
Basin medium, quite shallow, regular, indistinctly leather-cracked; Eye small, closed.
Cavity medium, acute, wavy; Stem medium, inclined.
Core small, oval, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, pointed; Flesh yellow, breaking, rather coarse, juicy; Flavor acid to sub-acid; Quality good; Use, market and kitchen or table; Season, January to March, or later.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Liberty.
Originated in Delaware Co., O. Tree vigorous, spreading, and productive. Young shoots smooth, reddish brown.
Fruit medium, roundish oblong, oblate, oblique, conical, yellowish, shaded, splashed, and striped with shades of dull red. Flesh yellowish, rather firm, mild subacid. Core small. Good. Valued mainly for its keeping qualities. December to May.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Liberty
The Liberty Apple, as exhibited at the Ohio State Fruit Conventions, is claimed to be a seedling of Delaware county, in that state. Its claim for introduction to the West, we think, rests upon its character as a long keeper, even when grown on rich prairie lands.
Fruit, medium to large; form, oblong oblique conical; color, yellowish, striped and splashed with shades of red — often the red is most prominent at first glance, and it appears as though there was a shade of rich yellow marbled underneath, small, irregular, russet dots, and occasionally a large oblong rounded russet patch : stem, usually medium height : cavity, narrow, of medium depth, regular ; calyx, large ; segments, half open, slightly recurved ; basin, open, broad, acute ; flesh, yellow, firm, a little tough, juicy, rich, mild sub-acid; skin, thick, tough; core, medium, central, compact; seeds, light brown, ovate long, pointed. February to June.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Liberty. Rather large, oblong conic, striped; flesh yellow; firm, mild sub-acid. Long keeper. Western.