Malinda
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Malinda
Origin/History
Originated by Mr. Rollins of Orange County, Vermont, and named for one of his daughters. Introduced into Minnesota by his son, J. W. Rollins (given as I. W. Rollins in Budd-Hansen 1914) of Elgin, Minnesota, about 1858 or 1860 (Hansen 1902, Budd-Hansen 1914); Beach (1905) and Hedrick (1922) place the introduction to Minnesota as early as 1860. The variety was as yet untested in New York at the time of Beach's 1905 account, and he judged it not worthy of testing for New York except possibly in regions where hardiness is a prime requisite. Hedrick (1922) lists it among the "ironclad" varieties recommended in the northern states of the Great Plains for its hardiness.
Tree
A slender, straggling grower in the nursery, and a tardy bearer that does not come into bearing young. The tree lacks vigor on its own roots in the orchard (Hedrick 1922), but is very hardy, and has done well in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota when top-grafted on the very hardy Hibernal apple or on Virginia crab stock, on which it bears early. When an especially hardy tree is wanted, Malinda is top-worked on Hibernal (Hedrick 1922). In the Station orchard at Brookings, young trees of Malinda top-grafted on Whitney crab killed back very severely in the winter of 1898–99 (Hansen 1902).
Twigs medium, rather slender, comparatively blunt at the tips, nearly straight; internodes short to medium. Bark dull brownish-red, uniformly overlaid with thin scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels rather inconspicuous, rather few, medium or below, elongated or roundish, not raised. Buds rather small, hardly moderately projecting, somewhat pubescent, free from bark or slightly adhering.
Fruit
Size
Above medium to large (Hansen 1902, Beach 1905, Budd-Hansen 1914); Hedrick (1922) gives medium to large.
Form
Sharply conical, somewhat angular and ribbed.
Stem
Short, stout (Hansen 1902, Beach 1905, Budd-Hansen 1914); Hedrick (1922) gives stem as short.
Cavity
Acute, medium, regular, with a stellate russet patch (Hansen 1902, Beach 1905, Budd-Hansen 1914); Hedrick (1922) describes the cavity as acute, regular, with stellate russet dots.
Calyx
Closed.
Basin
Narrow, abrupt, deep, wavy, corrugated/wrinkled.
Skin
Smooth, rich yellow with a dull red blush (Hansen 1902, Beach 1905, Budd-Hansen 1914); Hedrick (1922) gives skin as smooth, rich yellow with a dull blush. Dots minute, distinct, numerous, white.
Flesh/Flavor
Flesh yellowish-white, firm, juicy, very mild subacid with a sweet after-taste; quality fair. Hedrick (1922) describes the flesh as yellowish-white, very juicy, mild subacid with a sweet after-taste, quality fair.
Core/Seeds
Core closed, with core lines meeting. Calyx tube conical. Stamens median.
Season
Late winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1901–1914) from Illinois, Missouri
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Melinda
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as Melinda
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1914
View original book sources (4)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Malinda—Originated by Mr. Rollins, of Orange County, Vermont; named for one of his daughters, introduced into Minnesota by his son, J. W. Rollins, of Elgin, Minnesota, about 1858 or 1860. Tree a slender straggling grower in nursery, and tardy bearer; tree has done well in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota and bears early when top-grafted on Hibernal apple or Virginia crab. In the Station orchard at Brookings, young trees of Malinda top-grafted on Whitney crab killed back very severely in winter of 1898-99—Fruit above medium to large, sharply conical, somewhat angular, and ribbed; surface smooth, rich yellow, with dull red blush; dots minute, white, distinct, numerous; cavity acute, medium, regular, with stellate russet patch; stem short, stout; basin narrow, abrupt, wavy, corrugated, deep; calyx closed. Core closed, meeting; tube conical; stamens median; flesh yellowish white, firm, juicy, very mild subacid, with sweet after taste, fair. Late winter.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)MALINDA.
REFERENCES. 1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1877:46. 2. Van Deman, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1891:390. 3. Craig, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1896:132. 4. Macoun, Can. Hort., 22:396. 1899. 5. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:73. 1902. fig. 6. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:84. 1902. 7. Budd-Hansen, 1903:122. fig. 8. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:190. 1905.
SYNONYM. Melinda (8).
This variety is as yet untested in New York. It originated in Orange county, Vt., and was introduced into Minnesota about 1860. The tree does not come into bearing young. It has done well in Iowa and Minnesota when top-worked on the very hardy Hibernal apple or on the Virginia crab stock (5). The fruit ranks only fair in quality. The variety does not appear worthy of testing for New York except possibly in those regions of the state where hardiness is a prime requisite.
TREE (5).
Tree a slender, straggling grower in the nursery. Twigs medium, rather slender, comparatively blunt at the tips, nearly straight; internodes short to medium. Bark dull brownish-red, uniformly overlaid with thin scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels rather inconspicuous, rather few, medium or below, elongated or roundish, not raised. Buds rather small, hardly moderately projecting, somewhat pubescent, free from bark or slightly adhering.
FRUIT (5).
Fruit above medium to large. Form sharply conical, somewhat angular and ribbed. Stem short, stout. Cavity acute, medium, regular, with stellate russet. Calyx closed. Basin abrupt, narrow, deep, wavy, wrinkled. Skin smooth, rich yellow with dull red blush. Dots minute, distinct, numerous, white. Calyx tube conical. Stamens median. Core closed; core lines meeting. Flesh yellowish-white, firm, juicy, very mild subacid with sweet after-taste, fair. Season late winter.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Malinda. — Originated by Mr. Rollins of Orange Co., Vermont, named for one of his daughters, introduced into Minnesota by his son, I. W. Rollins, of Elgin, Minn.; about 1858 or 1860. Tree a slender, straggling grower in nursery, and tardy bearer; tree has done well in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, and bears early when top-grafted on Hibernal apple or Virginia crab.
Fruit above medium to large, sharply conical, somewhat angular and ribbed; surface smooth, rich yellow with dull red blush; dots minute, white, distinct, numerous; cavity acute, medium, regular, with stellate russet patch; stem short, stout; basin narrow, abrupt, wavy, corrugated, deep; calyx closed. Core closed, meeting; tube conical; stamens median; flesh yellowish white, firm, juicy, very mild subacid, with sweet after-taste, fair. Late winter.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)MALINDA. This is one of the ironclad varieties recommended in the northern states of the Great Plains for its hardiness. When an especially hardy tree is wanted, Malinda is top-worked on Hibernal, the tree on its own roots being a rather poor grower. The fruit ranks very fair in quality. The variety originated in Orange County, Vermont, and was taken to Minnesota as early as 1860. Tree very hardy, a slender, straggling grower in the nursery and lacking vigor on its own roots in the orchard. Fruit medium to large, sharply conical, angular and ribbed; stem short; cavity acute, regular, with stellate russet dots; calyx closed; basin abrupt, narrow, deep, wrinkled; skin smooth, rich yellow with dull blush; dots numerous, minute, distinct, white; calyx-tube conical; stamens median; core closed with core-lines meeting; flesh yellowish-white, very juicy, mild subacid with a sweet after-taste; quality fair; late winter.