Manchester

Origin / History

Received for testing in 1890 from J. D. Adams, Mapleton, Cayuga County, N.Y. The place and time of origin are unknown. The variety is sparingly cultivated in a few localities in Western New York and does not appear to be known in other portions of the state. It is not sufficiently attractive in form and color for a good market fruit, and it is not recommended for planting in New York.

Tree

Tree rather small, only moderately vigorous. Lateral branches willowy, slender. Form roundish or spreading, dense. Twigs below medium to short, rather slender, nearly straight; internodes medium. Bark clear reddish-brown with a light coat of streaked scarf-skin, slightly pubescent near the tips. Lenticels quite numerous, very small, roundish to oblong, sometimes slightly raised. Buds medium to small, plump, roundish, obtuse to acute, appressed, pubescent, deeply set in bark. The tree is not very slow in coming into bearing and is a reliable cropper.

Fruit

Size: Above medium to large. Often above medium or large, but not very uniform in size or shape.

Form: Roundish to oblong, inclined to conic, somewhat angular or elliptical, usually pretty symmetrical.

Stem: Medium to long.

Cavity: Broad, deep, varying from somewhat obtuse to acuminate, often obscurely furrowed, usually russeted.

Calyx: Small to medium, closed. Calyx tube narrow above, long, approaching cylindrical. Stamens marginal to median.

Basin: Usually small, often oblique, varying from very shallow and obtuse to moderately deep and abrupt, often irregular, usually distinctly furrowed and wrinkled.

Skin: Slightly rough, dull grass-green varying to a rather deep yellow, thinly blushed with red and sparingly and obscurely striped with dull carmine. Prevailing color yellow. The color is quite variable and lacks character, being yellow or dull green partly overspread with red.

Dots: Rather numerous, small to medium, pale or russet, often irregular, often submerged.

Flesh and flavor: Yellowish, moderately crisp, firm, moderately fine-grained, rather tender, juicy, sprightly subacid, good to very good. The flesh is liable to have brown discolorations commonly known as the "Baldwin spot."

Core and seeds: Core medium to large, varying from decidedly abaxile to nearly axile. Cells often closed but sometimes unsymmetrical and wide open. Core lines clasping. Carpels broadly ovate to roundish, mucronate, emarginate, distinctly tufted. Seeds above medium to rather small, plump, obtuse to acute.

Season

December to April or May.

Uses

The fruit is of good to very good quality for eating, with a sprightly subacid flavor. It is not sufficiently attractive in form and color for a good market fruit.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

In form, size, texture of flesh, and quality, the variety shows that it is of the Esopus Spitzenburg type. It is much inferior to the Esopus Spitzenburg in color and is not as good in quality.

References: Powell and Fulton, U.S.B.P.I. Bulletin 48:48 (1903); Beach and Clark, N.Y. Station Bulletin 248:131 (1904).