Maiden's Blush
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Maiden's Blush
Origin / History
American, a native of New Jersey. Coxe first described it in 1817 as "an apple of large size, and great beauty." He recorded that the name was given by Samuel Allinson Esq., late of Burlington, N.J., who first brought it into notice. The name comes from the lively contrast of its yellow ground with a bright red cheek. Coxe called it a very popular apple in the Philadelphia market, and Hedrick recalls that 1817 account of its popularity in Philadelphia.
Downing calls it much cultivated and admired. Warder reports that it had received "the unqualified approbation of thirteen out of the eighteen States" reporting to the American Pomological Society, and that it was still held in high repute in New Jersey as a market apple. Thomas calls it "Valuable at the West." Beach reports that the American Pomological Society's Catalogue lists it as either "wholly successful or successful" in nearly all the important apple-growing districts of the United States. He adds that it had long been well and favorably known in New York and was still being planted both for commercial purposes and for home use.
Lowther's station table reports it from 10 stations in the Northern Division and marks it with an asterisk as reported in more than one division of the American Pomological Society; the Central and Southern Division columns are blank. Lowther calls it "one of the very best apples for use in September and October." The Stark catalog calls it "An old, widely known sort, profitable and fairly hardy," but judges that "Everything considered, Wealthy is hardier and more valuable." Hedrick calls it "This old favorite, known by fruit-growers in America everywhere for over a century." He says it "attained and holds its popularity chiefly by virtue of its distinctive and very handsome crimson-cheeked, lemon-yellow apples," and that it is "probably as widely disseminated in America as any other apple."
Tree
Tree medium in size, moderately vigorous to vigorous, a rapid or strong grower, forming a fine, open, spreading head; handsome, Coxe saying "uncommonly handsome." Hardy and pretty long-lived (Beach), though Stark calls it only fairly hardy. At the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C., where it was planted in spring 1890, it proved a strong and spreading grower. Hedrick judges the trees "above the mark in most characters."
Twigs long, curved, slender; internodes short. Bark brown or reddish-brown, lightly mottled with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small, round, not raised. Buds medium size, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent (Beach).
Productive, bearing large crops, and coming into bearing quite early or rather young. Coxe, Elliott, and the Agassiz catalog report constant, annual, or regular bearing, and Thomas values its uniform productiveness. Beach calls it a reliable cropper yielding good to heavy crops "biennially or almost annually." Elliott says it produces annually and abundantly in all soils but is "much the best, however, in those termed 'limestone clay.'"
The fruit is sometimes badly injured by scab, though this may readily be prevented by proper treatment (Beach); Hedrick calls the crop very susceptible to the scab-fungus. On unthrifty old trees or under unfavorable circumstances, a considerable amount of the fruit may be too small for market (Beach).
Fruit
Size: Medium to large. Authors spread evenly from medium, through medium to large or medium or above, to rather large; Coxe alone calls it simply large. Uniform in size and shape (Beach).
Form: Oblate or flat, roundish flattened, very regular, symmetrical, a little inclined to conic or slightly conical. Hedrick calls each fruit "an oblate sphere," unique in form as well as color. Lowther's station table gives round. Downing describes it as a little narrower towards the eye; the Agassiz catalog describes it as a little tapering at the stem end.
Stem: Short to medium, rather slender. Most authors call it short.
Cavity: Rather large, medium to wide, acute to obtuse, usually symmetrical; wavy (Warder). Depth runs from shallow to deep. Coxe, Downing, and Budd-Hansen call it deep, while Beach gives moderately deep to shallow. Sometimes russeted (Beach), with a trace of russet (Budd-Hansen).
Calyx: Closed; eye small (Warder), calyx medium size (Beach). Lobes separated at base, of medium length, moderately broad, acute (Beach). Segments erect convergent (Budd-Hansen). Calyx tube small or short, narrow, conical to funnel-shape. Stamens median to marginal.
Basin: Medium to wide, regular or wavy, smooth or slightly furrowed, even, symmetrical. Depth runs from shallow to deep: most give moderate or moderately shallow, Warder gives shallow, and Coxe places the eye in a deep hollow. Beach calls it obtuse, while Elliott calls it abrupt.
Skin: Thin, tough, very smooth, polished, with a delicate waxen appearance. Ground pale or clear lemon yellow, pale waxen yellow, pale lemon yellow in the shade (Downing); greenish-lemon yellow (Agassiz catalog). The cheek next the sun is a fine, evenly shaded red cheek or blush (Thomas). Its color runs from bright red and bright carmine (Warder) to brilliant or deep crimson. Elliott says the cheek varies "from faint blush to rich crimson." Downing notes "the two colors often joining in brilliant red." Handsome and beautiful by common consent. Downing says it has "all the beauty of color of the pretty little Lady Apple."
Dots: Minute (Warder). Numerous, whitish, submerged or areolar (Beach).
Flesh and flavor: White, or with a slight yellow tinge (Beach). Fine-grained, tender, juicy to very juicy. Beach calls it moderately crisp, Warder calls it breaking, and Coxe calls it "remarkably light." The flavor is sprightly or brisk subacid, pleasant, and aromatic.
Elliott calls it "rather sharp sub-acid unless fully ripened," and Lowther finds it "good in flavor when fully ripe." Thomas and Budd-Hansen call it "not rich," Thomas adding that it is "deficient in richness." Warder calls the flavor "acid, aromatic, and to most palates not agreeable at the dessert, but very good when cooked." Beach finds it "not superior in flavor but good in quality," especially for culinary uses. Hedrick says the apples "are not high enough in quality to relish out of hand, but are very good for cooking, evaporating, and for the markets." The consensus quality verdict is "good."
Core and seeds: Core medium size, regular, axile or somewhat abaxile, broadly elliptical. Warder and Budd-Hansen call it closed, and Warder says it meets the eye. Cells closed or slightly open; Budd-Hansen describes them as ovate. Core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels very broadly ovate (Beach). Seeds numerous (Warder), medium brown, moderately wide, moderately long, plump, acute.
Season
The recorded season runs from August into December, centering on September and October, or early to mid-autumn. Coxe has it ripening in August and continuing in perfection till the end of September. Downing has it ripening from about the 20th of August until the last of October. Warder allows its use in the kitchen during August.
Beach gives September to November or December as grown in Western New York. He says that later than this the fruit may appear sound but is deficient in quality, and that in cold storage its commercial limit appears to be about December 15th. It does not stand heat well before going into storage. It varies greatly in time of maturing in different seasons, and the earlier it matures, the less satisfactory it is as a keeper. Hedrick says it does not keep well in either ordinary or cold storage.
The crop does not mature uniformly. Beach says there is considerable loss from drops unless more than one picking is made.
Uses
A culinary, drying, and market apple, used also for the table. Coxe found it "fitted for drying, for which it is preferred to any apple of the season," and Downing calls it very highly esteemed for drying. The dried or evaporated product is very white, "a very light colored product, that is much admired by dealers" (Warder). Cooked, it requires "but a short time to be reduced to a delicious pulp of light color" (Warder). Coxe ("fit both for pies and the table"), Downing, and Budd-Hansen ("much esteemed for table, market, cooking, and evaporating") recommend it for dessert as well as for the kitchen.
In market it is salable on account of its handsome appearance (Elliott). Downing calls it "very valuable as a profitable market sort," and Warder calls it profitable. Beach calls it a standard market variety that usually sells above the average prices for varieties of its class, and in many localities a very satisfactory variety for the commercial orchard. Lowther calls it "a good market variety, especially good for cooking," and his station table gives kitchen and market. Thomas says that, although deficient in richness, it is valued for its fair, tender, and beautiful fruit and uniform productiveness.
Subtypes / Variants
Bachelor's Blush, described by Warder as apparently a variety of Maiden's Blush, was found in Burlington County, New Jersey. Wm. Parry exhibited it before the American Pomological Society at the Rochester meeting in 1864 as a valuable and distinct variety. Warder examined the two growing together in the orchard and found the resemblance "very apparent." He reports the fruit of Bachelor's Blush to be larger and, for market purposes, considered more profitable, concluding that "The two may be different, but are very much alike."
Other
The Stark Bros. Year Book entry closes with the mark "CS."
Book Sources
Described in 9 period pomological works
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905) — listed as Maiden Blush
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922) — listed as MAIDEN BLUSH
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Maidens Blush
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as Maiden Blush
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 61 catalogs (1850–1932) from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- Joseph Breck & Co. , Boston , Massachusetts — 1855
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Fancher Creek Nursery , Fresno , California — 1886
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- William H. Moon Co. , Morrisville, Bucks County , Pennsylvania — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Rogers Nursery Co. , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1893
- Sherwood Hall Nursery Co. , Timothy Hopkins (Menlo Park Nurseries), San Francisco / Menlo Park , California — 1893
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1896
- The Lovett Company , Little Silver , New Jersey — 1896
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- The Salem Nursery (John A. Francis , Proprietor), Salem , Virginia — 1897
- Arthur J. Collins & Sons , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1898
- Reading Nursery , Jacob W. Manning, Proprietor, Reading , Massachusetts — 1898
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- Mountain Grove Nurseries (Tippin & Moore , Proprietors; Geo. T. Tippin, J. W. Tippin, J. C. Moore), Mountain Grove , Missouri — 1901
- S.L. Watkins , Grizzly Flats, El Dorado County , California — 1901
- Yarbrough Bros. , Stephens , Arkansas — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Wm. J. Corse (successor to Robert Sinclair / Sinclair Nurseries) , Baltimore , Maryland — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- Holsinger Bros. Nurseries (Holsinger Brothers Nursery) , Rosedale , Kansas — 1916
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1918
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
- Stark Bro's Nurseries , Louisiana , Missouri — 1932
View original book sources (11)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 10. MAIDENS BLUSH.
This is an apple of large size, and great beauty; exhibiting a lively contrast: a yellow ground, with a bright red cheek, whence it derives its name, given to it by Samuel Allinson Esq. late of Burlington, who first brought it into notice: the form is flat, the skin smooth, the flesh white, tender and sprightly, remarkably light and fitted for drying, for which it is preferred to any apple of the season: the stalk is short, and grows in a deep hollow, as does the eye—the fruit ripens in August, and continues in perfection till the end of September, and is fit both for pies and the table: the tree is uncommonly handsome, as well as vigorous in its growth, forming a fine open and spreading head; it bears abundantly and constantly, and is a very popular apple in the Philadelphia market.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Maiden's Blush. American. Tree a rapid grower, forming a fine spreading head; succeeds, so far as producing annually and abundantly, in all soils; much the best, however, in those termed "limestone clay." Valued for cooking, for drying, and salable in market on account of its handsome appearance. Fruit, medium to large; form, roundish flattened; color, clear lemon yellow, with red cheek, varying from faint blush to rich crimson; stem, short; calyx, closed; basin, medium, abrupt; core, medium; flesh, white, fine-grained, tender, sprightly, rather sharp sub-acid unless fully ripened. September and October.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Maiden's Blush.
This beautiful and profitable fruit has received the unqualified approbation of thirteen out of the eighteen States that have reported to the American Pomological Society. It is a native of New Jersey, and is still held in high repute there as a market apple. The tree is hardy, vigorous, spreading and productive, beginning to bear quite early.
Fruit medium, to large, regular, flat and very handsome; Surface very smooth, polished, of a pale waxen yellow and blushed with bright carmine; Dots minute.
Basin shallow, regular or wavy; Eye small, closed.
Cavity wide, wavy; Stem medium to short.
Core regular, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, brown; Flesh white, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor acid, aromatic, and to most palates not agreeable at the dessert, but very good when cooked, and requiring but a short time to be reduced to a delicious pulp of light color. This apple is also used for drying and makes a very light colored product, that is much admired by dealers. Season September and October, but may be used in the kitchen during August.
Fig. 77.—Maiden's Blush.
Bachelor's Blush appears to be a variety of the above; found in Burlington County, New Jersey, and exhibited before the American Pomological Society at the Rochester meeting in 1864, by Wm. Parry, as a valuable and distinct variety. Having examined the trees as they grew together in the orchard, the resemblance to Maiden's Blush was very apparent. The fruit is larger, and for market purposes is considered more profitable. The two may be different, but are very much alike.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Maiden's Blush.
A remarkably beautiful Apple, a native of New Jersey, and first described by Coxe. It begins to ripen about the 20th of August, and continues until the last of October. It has all the beauty of color of the pretty little Lady Apple, and is much cultivated and admired, both for the table and for cooking. It is also very highly esteemed for drying.
Maiden's Blush.
This variety forms a handsome, rapid-growing tree, with a fine spreading head, and bears large crops. It is very valuable as a profitable market sort.
Fruit of medium size, very regularly shaped, and a little narrower towards the eye. Skin smooth, with a delicate waxen appearance, pale lemon yellow in the shade, with a brilliant crimson cheek next the sun, the two colors often joining in brilliant red. Stalk short, planted in a rather wide deep hollow. Basin moderately depressed. Calyx closed. Flesh white, tender, sprightly, pleasant subacid. Good.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Maiden's Blush.* Rather large, oblate, smooth, and regular; with a fine, evenly shaded red cheek or blush on a clear pale yellow ground; stalk short; cavity rather wide; basin moderate, even; flesh white, fine-grained, tender, pleasant sub-acid, but not rich. Mid-autumn. Tree spreading. Although deficient in richness, it is valued for its fair, tender, and beautiful fruit, and uniform productiveness. Fig. 400. Valuable at the West. New Jersey.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)MAIDEN BLUSH.
REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:106. fig. 2. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 3. Wilson, 1828:136. 4. Fessenden, 1828:131. 5. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831:No. 704. 6. Kenrick, 1832:27. 7. Thacher, 1822:130. 8. Mag. Hort., 11:363, 396. 1835. 9. Downing, 1845:90. fig. 10. Thomas, 1849:157. fig. 11. Cole, 1849:113. fig. 12. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:40. 1851. col. pl. No. 30 and fig. 13. Barry, 1851:285. 14. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 18:544. 1852. fig. 15. Elliott, 1854:469 app. 16. Hooper, 1857:57. 17. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1860:240. 18. Warder, 1867:412. fig. 19. Fitz, 1872:143, 164. 20. Hogg, 1884:138. 21. Rural N. Y., 47:713. 1888. 22. Wickson, 1889:244. 23. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:294. 24. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:243. 25. Can. Hort., 15:65. 1892. 26. Ark. Sta. An. Rpt., 6:55. 1893. 27. Ib., 7:44. 1894. 28. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:279. 1894. 29. Ib., 55:7. 1896. 30. Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:331. 1896. 31. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:299. 1901. 32. Va. Sta. Bul., 130:124. 1901. 33. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1901:18. 34. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:48. 1903. 35. Budd-Hansen, 1903:122. fig. 36. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:130. 1904.
SYNONYMS. Lady Blush (36). MAIDEN BLUSH (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36). Red Cheek (11).
This is a beautiful apple of pale lemon-yellow color with crimson cheek. The flesh is white, sprightly, not superior in flavor but good in quality. It is valued especially for market and culinary uses. It makes very white evaporated stock. As grown in Western New York it is in season from September to November or December. Later than this although the fruit may appear sound it is deficient in quality. In cold storage its commercial limit appears to be about December 15th. It does not stand heat well before going into storage. It varies greatly in the time of maturing in different seasons. The earlier it matures the less satisfactory is it as a keeper (36). It is recognized as a standard market variety and usually sells above the average prices for varieties of its class. In many localities it has proven a very satisfactory variety for the commercial orchard, because the tree is a fine grower, hardy, pretty long-lived, comes into bearing rather young and is a reliable cropper, yielding good to heavy crops biennially or almost annually. In many cases the fruit does not mature uniformly and there is considerable loss from drops unless more than one picking is made in gathering the crop. Usually the fruit is pretty uniform in size but on unthrifty, old trees or under unfavorable circumstances a considerable amount of the fruit may be too small for market. It is sometimes badly injured by scab but this may readily be prevented by proper treatment.
Historical. Coxe described this variety in 1817 as very popular in the Philadelphia market and the best variety of its season for evaporating. He stated that it was named by Samuel Allinson, of Burlington, N. J., who first brought it to notice. In the American Pomological Society's Catalogue of fruits it is reported as either "wholly successful or successful" in nearly all the important apple-growing districts of the United States (33). It has long been well and favorably known in New York and it is still being planted both for commercial purposes and for home use.
TREE.
Tree medium size, moderately vigorous to vigorous. Form spreading, open. Twigs long, curved, slender; internodes short. Bark brown or reddish-brown, lightly mottled with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small, round, not raised. Buds medium size, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium or above, sometimes large, uniform in size and shape. Form oblate a little inclined to conic, regular, symmetrical. Stem short to medium, rather slender. Cavity rather large, acute to obtuse, medium to wide, moderately deep to shallow, usually symmetrical, sometimes russeted. Calyx medium size, closed; lobes separated at base, medium length, moderately broad, acute. Basin moderately shallow, medium to wide, obtuse, regular, smooth or slightly furrowed, symmetrical. Skin thin, tough, smooth, pale waxen yellow with crimson blush. Dots numerous, whitish and submerged or areolar. Calyx tube small, narrow, conical to funnel-shape. Stamens median to marginal. Core medium size, axile or somewhat abaxile, broadly elliptical; cells closed or slightly open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels very broadly ovate. Seeds medium brown, moderately wide, moderately long, plump, acute. Flesh white or with slight yellow tinge, fine, moderately crisp, tender, very juicy, subacid, good in quality especially for culinary uses. Season September to November or December.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Maiden Blush.—Origin, New Jersey; tree vigorous, productive; fruit much esteemed for table, market, cooking, and evaporating.
Fruit rather large, oblate, very regular, slightly conical; surface very smooth, polished, delicate waxen, clear pale yellow, with beautiful deep crimson cheek, the two colors often joining in brilliant red; cavity rather wide, deep, with trace of russet; stem short; basin wide, smooth, medium; calyx closed; segments erect convergent. Core closed; cells ovate; tube short, conical; stamens marginal; flesh white, tender, brisk, pleasant aromatic subacid, not rich, good. September, October.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Maiden's Blush is a medium-sized fruit of round form with yellow skin. Quality is rated good. Its use is both kitchen and market. Season is early autumn. It is reported by 10 stations in the Northern Division; the asterisk indicates the variety is also reported in more than one division of the American Pomological Society. The Central Division and Southern Division columns are blank.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Maiden Blush", pp. 239–239]
Maiden Blush
The Maiden Blush is one of the very best apples for use in September and October. It is pale yellow, with crimson cheeks, flesh white, sprightly and good in flavor when fully ripe. It is a good market variety, especially good for cooking, and usually sells above the average of apples in its season. It does not mature uniformly, and requires several pickings to get the best results.
The tree is moderately vigorous, form spreading, twigs long and curved, internodes short, bark brown or reddish brown, lightly mottled with scarf skin.
Fruit medium or above in size, form oblate, inclined to conic, regular and symmetrical. Stem short, medium, rather slender. Cavity large, acute to obtuse, medium to wide, moderately deep to shallow. Calyx medium sized, closed.
Historical. Coxe described this variety in 1817 as very popular in the Philadelphia market, and the best variety of its season for evaporating. In the American Pomological Society's Catalogue of Fruits it is reported as either wholly successful or successful in nearly all the important apple growing districts of the United States.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)MAIDEN BLUSH. Fig. 34. Lady Blush. Red Cheek. This old favorite, known by fruit-growers in America everywhere for over a century, attained and holds its popularity chiefly by virtue of its distinctive and very handsome crimson-cheeked, lemon-yellow apples. The fruits are unique in form as well as color, each an oblate sphere. The apples are not high enough in quality to relish out of hand, but are very good for cooking, evaporating, and for the markets. The crop does not mature uniformly, is very susceptible to the scab-fungus, and does not keep well in either ordinary or cold storage. The trees are above the mark in most characters. The variety was named by Coxe as very popular in Philadelphia as long ago as 1817. It is probably as widely disseminated in America as any other apple. Tree medium in size, vigorous, spreading, open. Fruit medium, sometimes large, uniform in size and shape, oblate, sometimes conic, regular, symmetrical; stem short, slender; cavity large, acute, medium to wide, shallow, usually symmetrical, sometimes russeted; calyx closed; lobes separated at base, broad, acute; basin shallow, medium to wide, obtuse, regular, smooth or furrowed, symmetrical; skin thin, tough, smooth, pale waxen yellow with crimson blush; dots numerous, white, submerged or areolar; calyx-tube small, narrow, conical; stamens median; core of medium size, axile or somewhat abaxile, broad-elliptical; cells closed or slightly open; core-lines meeting or clasping; carpels broad-ovate; seeds brown, wide, long, plump, acute; flesh white or with yellow tinge, fine, crisp, tender, very juicy, subacid; good; September to November or December.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1890. Tree a strong and spreading grower, and a regular bearer of fruit. Fruit of medium size, oblate, a little tapering at the stem end. Skin a greenish-lemon yellow, with a bright red cheek. Flesh white, tender, sprightly, sub-acid, quality good. Season September and October.
— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)Medium size, pale lemon yellow with crimson cheek next to the sun—good quality. An old, widely known sort, profitable and fairly hardy. Much used for drying, the product being noted for its whiteness, which is much admired by dealers. Everything considered, Wealthy is hardier and more valuable. CS