Maiden's Favorite
AppleMaiden's Favorite
Origin/History
Maiden's Favorite originated on the farm of J. G. Sickles, Stuyvesant, Columbia County, New York. The variety is referenced in Downing (1857), Warder (1867), and Thomas (1875). According to Downing, its delicacy and beauty make it desirable for the amateur grower. Beach (1905) notes that the variety is not cultivated outside the vicinity of its origin and was no longer being propagated at the time of that writing; Beach also states he was not personally acquainted with the variety. Elliott (1865) describes it as a dessert apple.
Tree
The tree is a rather slow grower with upright, slender branches, and is an annual and good bearer (Downing; confirmed by Beach). Elliott similarly describes the tree as a slow grower and productive. Young shoots are smooth and clear reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form
Fruit is medium or below in size. Downing describes the form as roundish, sometimes slightly conic, generally cylindric, but often very obscurely ribbed. Elliott describes it as oblong rounded. Beach concurs on medium size or below.
Stem
Stalk short and small, surrounded by thin russet (Downing; Elliott similarly notes stem short).
Cavity
Cavity deep and uniform, with thin russet (Downing). Elliott describes the cavity as deep and thinly russeted.
Calyx
Calyx firmly closed, with persistent segments (Downing; Elliott). Elliott specifically notes the segments as persistent.
Basin
Basin slightly corrugated, deep, and open (Downing). Elliott describes the basin as regular.
Skin
Skin whitish or pale waxen yellow, shaded and sometimes slightly mottled with crimson, and sparsely sprinkled with minute dots (Downing; Beach concurs on whitish or pale waxen yellow, sometimes mottled with crimson). Elliott describes the skin as pale yellow, shaded with blush, sometimes mottled carmine, with few minute dots.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh whitish, tender, crisp, with a pleasant, very delicate, vinous subacid flavor; rated good to very good (Downing). Beach describes the flesh as tender, crisp, very delicate, vinous, and sweet, rated good to very good. Elliott describes the flesh as whitish, crisp, and very delicate, vinous, rating it "very good."
Note on flavor: Downing characterizes the flavor as subacid; Beach characterizes it as sweet. Both agree on the vinous and very delicate quality.
Core and Seeds
Core small (Downing). Not described in source (Elliott, Beach).
Season
Downing gives the season as October to January. Elliott gives December to February. Beach describes it as a late fall and early winter variety.
Uses
Described as a dessert apple (Elliott). Downing characterizes it as desirable for the amateur on account of its delicacy and beauty.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Maiden's Favorite.
Maiden's Apple.
Origin, farm of J. G. Sickles, Stuyvesant, N. Y. Its delicacy and beauty will make it desirable for the amateur. Tree of rather slow growth, upright slender branches, an annual and good bearer. Young shoots smooth, clear reddish brown.
Fruit medium or below, roundish, sometimes slightly conic, generally cylindric, but often very obscurely ribbed, whitish or pale waxen yellow, shaded and sometimes slightly mottled with crimson, and sparsely sprinkled with minute dots. Stalk short, small, surrounded by thin russet, in a deep, uniform cavity. Calyx firmly closed. Basin slightly corrugated, deep, open. Flesh whitish, tender, crisp, with a pleasant, very delicate, vinous subacid. Good to very good. Core small. October to January.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)MAIDEN FAVORITE.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1857:167. 2. Warder, 1867:725. 3. Thomas, 1875:505.
SYNONYMS. Maiden's Apple (1). MAIDEN FAVORITE (1, 2, 3).
A late fall and early winter variety which originated in Stuyvesant, Columbia county, N. Y. According to Downing it is a desirable amateur variety of delicacy and beauty, medium size or below, whitish or pale waxen yellow sometimes mottled with crimson. Flesh tender, crisp, very delicate, vinous, sweet, good to very good. Tree a rather slow grower with upright, slender branches, and a good bearer. We are not acquainted with this variety. So far as we have been able to learn it is not cultivated outside of the vicinity of its origin and is no longer propagated.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Maiden's Favorite.
Maiden's Apple.
From Stuyvesant, N. Y. Tree, a slow grower, productive. Fruit, below medium, oblong rounded, pale yellow, shaded with blush, sometimes mottled carmine, and few minute dots ; stem, short ; cavity, deep, thin, russeted ; calyx, closed; segments persistent ; basin, regular; flesh, whitish, crisp, very delicate, vinous ; "very good ;" a dessert apple. December to February.