May
Apple
May
Origin/History
An old apple, origin unknown, widely disseminated throughout the West. A reputed foreign origin is discredited (Warder). Its history has not been established; it has been exhibited at winter meetings and finds favor on account of its productiveness and its long-keeping properties (Warder). Downing states its only value is because of its long keeping quality. The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC, planted trees in spring 1896.
Tree
Sources disagree on vigor. Warder describes the tree as healthy, vigorous, and productive, believed to be hardy. Downing characterizes it as a poor grower but a good bearer. The Central Experimental Farm (Agassiz, BC) describes it as a medium grower. Young shoots dark reddish brown, downy somewhat towards the end (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: Warder and Downing describe the fruit as medium; the Central Experimental Farm describes it as small. Form roundish conical (Downing), round inclined to conical and regular (Warder); the Central Experimental Farm records it simply as conical.
Stem: Long, rather slender (Warder). Not described in the other sources.
Cavity: Deep, narrow, regular, brown (Warder). Not described in the other sources.
Calyx: Eye small, closed (Warder). Not described in the other sources.
Basin: Shallow, generally regular (Warder). Not described in the other sources.
Skin: Surface smooth, often shining (Warder). Ground color pale greenish yellow (Warder; Downing), or greenish yellow (Central Experimental Farm). Sun exposure produces a faint blush or bronzing (Warder), a slight brownish coloration (Downing), or a dull red cheek (Central Experimental Farm).
Flesh and Flavor: Sources disagree on flesh color: Warder describes it as yellow; Downing as whitish; the Central Experimental Farm as white. Texture compact and fine (Warder), fine-grained and compact (Downing), or solid (Central Experimental Farm). Sources disagree on juiciness: Warder rates it sufficiently juicy, while Downing says not very juicy and the Central Experimental Farm says not juicy. Flavor mild subacid (Downing), mildly acid (Central Experimental Farm). Warder rates the quality as fair; Downing rates it Good.
Core and Seeds: Core large, regular, heart-shaped, reaching the eye (Warder); rather large and open (Downing). Seeds numerous, pointed, plump, brown (Warder).
Season
February to June (Downing). Spring and into summer (Warder). The Central Experimental Farm records season as February.
Uses
Market and kitchen (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 7 catalogs (1894–1913) from Alabama, Illinois, Oregon, Washington
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894 — listed as Winter May
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894 — listed as Winter May
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as May of Myers
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900 — listed as Winter May
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as May of Myers
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912 — listed as May of Myers
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as May of Myers
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)May. MAY (of Myers)—RHENISH MAY (of Illinois.)
This long-keeping apple has been widely disseminated throughout the West, and yet I do not find its history nor origin. It has been exhibited at all our winter meetings, and finds favor on account of its productiveness and its long-keeping properties. Tree healthy, vigorous and productive—believed to be hardy. Its reputed foreign origin is discredited.
Fruit medium, round, inclined to conical, regular; Surface smooth, often shining, pale greenish-yellow, often faintly blushed, or bronzed.
Basin shallow, generally regular; Eye small, closed. Cavity deep, narrow, regular, brown; Stem long, rather slender. Core large, regular, heart-shaped, reaching the eye; Seeds numerous, pointed, plump, brown; Flesh yellow, compact, fine, sufficiently juicy; Quality fair; Use market and kitchen; Season spring and into summer.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)May. May Apple. Pilliken. Plymouth Greening. Rhenish May. Winter May. May of Myers. May Seek-no-further of some.
An old Apple, considerably grown at the West. Origin unknown. Its only value is because of its long keeping quality. Tree a poor grower, but a good bearer. Young shoots dark reddish brown, downy somewhat towards the end.
Fruit medium, roundish conical, pale greenish yellow, slight brownish in sun. Flesh whitish, fine-grained, compact, not very juicy, mild subacid. Core rather large, and open. Good. February to June.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1896. Tree a medium grower. Fruit small, conical. Skin greenish yellow, with a dull red cheek. Flesh white, solid, not juicy, but mildly acid. Season February.