McIntosh
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
McIntosh
Origin / History
A chance seedling on the McIntosh homestead, Matilda township, Dundas county, Ontario, where Allan McIntosh began propagating it in the nursery about 1870 (Beach; Lowther spells the name "Allen"). Distribution from the homestead began about that date. Downing instead gives the originator as John McIntosh, Dundela, Ontario, "some seventy years since." Stark Bros. calls it a seedling of Fameuse. Hansen calls it "a choice variety of the Fameuse type." Beach places it in the Fameuse group and says it is adapted to a wider range of localities than the Fameuse.
Downing calls it "not widely known," a good annual bearer of "fair, handsome fruit of excellent quality." Beach (1905) says it has been widely disseminated, is now commonly propagated by nurserymen, and is on the increase in cultivation in New York. He adds that it had not been tested enough to demonstrate fully its commercial value, but "it is regarded by many as one of the most promising varieties of its class for general cultivation in New York." Lowther says it is widely distributed throughout the northern half of the United States. Stark Bros. (1910) calls it "quite popular in the north Atlantic Coast states and in Canada; also in the Northwest, especially in Montana where it is at its best." The firm adds that "Montana orchardists who look ahead are planting fewer McIntosh, more Senator, and a great many more Stark Delicious."
Hedrick (1922) writes: "If one were compelled to choose the apple of apples as the season's varieties pass by, choosing in respect to the qualities which, united, gratify the greatest number of senses, few would hesitate in naming McIntosh sovereign of all."
Way (1979) says McIntosh was more important in the mid-1970s than thirty years earlier. In the mid-1960s it was second in the United States only to Delicious, accounting for about 11.5 per cent of United States production. It is produced in greater volume than any other variety in New York and is still planted there far more than any other. Way says its popularity is enhanced by its heavy annual crops, the market's familiarity with it, the increased use of stop-drop and Alar sprays, and the extensive use of controlled atmosphere storage.
Some growers will not plant new McIntosh trees because the variety is not always profitable. Produced in such volume "in mediocre sizes and quality grades," it is not always the highest-return variety. Way adds that many large orchardists, given accurate cost accounts by variety, would find their net returns for it negligible in some years. For these reasons and for its many horticultural weaknesses, some growers are eliminating it.
Tree
Vigorous, with a roundish or spreading head and numerous small, slender laterals. Twigs above medium to short, straight or nearly so, rather slender; internodes long to below medium. Bark bright reddish-brown, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small, oval or elongated, raised. Buds deeply set in the bark, medium to below, plump, obtuse to acute, free, slightly pubescent (Beach).
Very hardy (Thomas) and long-lived (Stark Bros.); Downing reports that the tree "is said to be very hardy, long-lived, vigorous." Hedrick calls the trees vigorous, hardy, and healthy. Beach says that in some localities it is reported a somewhat slow grower and not satisfactorily productive, but more often it is found a rather strong grower, hardy and healthy.
Comes into bearing rather young. A good annual bearer and productive, with heavy annual crops by Way's account. Beach calls it a reliable cropper yielding good crops biennially and sometimes annually. At Agassiz, B.C., where it was planted in spring 1890, it was "a vigorous and spreading grower, but not very productive."
The crop ripens unevenly. A considerable portion of the fruit is liable to drop before it is ready to pick, so Beach advises two or three pickings. Way says it drops before ripe in some seasons.
Susceptible to scab. Beach says scab may readily be controlled with proper treatment; Hedrick says the fungus seriously disfigures fruit and foliage; Way calls the variety especially susceptible. Way also finds it especially sensitive to above-optimal nitrogen fertilization, which results in poor skin color and soft flesh.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large. Most authors give medium or above to large ("full medium," Thomas). The Agassiz station gives simply medium, and Beach says it is sometimes large. Pretty uniform in shape and size (Beach).
Form: Roundish to roundish oblate or somewhat oblate, obscurely angular, regular or faintly ribbed. Hansen finds it slightly irregular, roundish oblate to roundish truncated. Hedrick writes that, well grown, "each apple seems to have been turned out of the same mould — a sphere modified by a little oblateness."
Stem: Short to medium, the medium end given by Hansen alone. Rather small (Downing); stout or moderately slender (Beach), stout (Hansen). Usually not exserted, often with irregular protuberances (Beach).
Cavity: Wide, medium to large, with "a trace of russet" (Hansen) or "often partly russeted" (Beach). Downing calls it medium; Beach calls it large, medium in depth, and somewhat broadly furrowed. The two disagree on its shape: Beach gives it acuminate or somewhat acute, while Hansen gives it obtuse and regular.
Calyx: Closed (Downing, Hansen). Beach gives it as small, closed or partly open, with lobes short to long, narrow, acute. Segments connivent (Hansen). Calyx tube funnel-shaped (Hansen), or short, conical or funnel-shape with a broad limb (Beach). Stamens marginal or median (Hansen) to median to basal (Beach).
Basin: Rather small, abrupt, smooth or obscurely furrowed; Downing calls it slightly plaited. Rather shallow (Hansen) to medium in depth (Beach). Beach describes it as narrow and pubescent.
Skin: Thin, moderately tender, smooth, readily separating from the flesh; very smooth and polished (Hansen).
Ground color whitish yellow, yellow, or light yellow, clear or greenish; greenish yellow at Agassiz. The ground is very nearly or almost wholly covered with bright deep red to bright crimson, "brilliant solid crimson" to Hansen, who alone finds the coloring brighter on the shaded side. Beach describes it as washed and deeply blushed with bright red and striped with carmine. Highly colored specimens become dark rich red, almost purplish, with the carmine stripes obscure or obliterated; Downing places the purplish color in the sun. The Agassiz station gives purple red.
The deep red is often heightened by lively contrast with one or more spots of the clear pale yellow ground color, where a twig or leaf pressed closely against the growing fruit (Beach). Lowther says that in the Rocky Mountain States and the Pacific Northwest it becomes "in many cases a deep, dark red, overspread with a thin lilac bloom."
The bloom is heavy to thin. Hansen calls it heavy and blue, Thomas heavy, and Hedrick "heavy and characteristic"; Beach describes it as thin and lilac.
A handsome, beautiful, very attractive fruit by common consent.
Dots: Small to minute, light, white or whitish, yellow, or grayish, moderately sprinkled to many. Beach calls them usually very small. Hansen calls them obscure. The Agassiz station gives them as small and grayish.
Flesh and flavor: White to snow-white, or slightly tinged with yellow (Beach). Marked with red: "stained with light red" (Thomas), "slightly stained pink" (Stark Bros.), "sometimes veined with red" (Beach), "rimmed and stained with red" (Hedrick).
Texture fine, crisp, tender to very tender, juicy to very juicy. Beach and Hedrick also call it firm. Way lists tender flesh among the variety's weaknesses.
Flavor subacid, sprightly, characteristically and agreeably aromatic, and perfumed. Hansen calls the fruit "highly perfumed," and Hedrick writes that "the whole apple is most agreeably perfumed." Downing gives the flavor as mild subacid, refreshing, with a "peculiar slight quince-like flavor." The Agassiz station describes "a pleasant acidity." Beach says the flavor becomes "mild and nearly sweet when very ripe." Hedrick calls it "rich, delicious, and very distinctive," a flavor "hardly surpassed." Stark Bros. calls the fruit "delicious with a delightful aroma."
Quality very good by most accounts. Beach rates it "very good to best for dessert," and Downing calls it "of excellent quality."
Core and seeds: Core medium (Downing, Beach), usually abaxile, with core lines nearly meeting (Beach). The two disagree on the core's openness: Hansen gives the core as close, with ovate, entire cells, while Beach gives the cells as usually wide open. Carpels roundish to elliptical, narrowing toward base and apex, smooth, much concave (Beach). Seeds plump (Hansen); medium brown, rather large, acute (Beach).
Season
The recorded season runs from late September into February. Most authors give an early-winter season, from November or December to as late as February.
Beach gives October to December or later. As grown at his Station, the fruit begins to ripen in late September or early October. In Western New York it cannot be expected to keep much later than October in ordinary storage without considerable loss, but in cold storage it may be held until December or January. Grown in more northern or elevated regions, it is often held in good condition till midwinter or later; Lowther says fruit from high altitudes may be marketed until January. Way gives it only medium storage life.
Uses
A dessert apple, very good to best. Downing calls it valuable for home use and market. Beach finds it desirable for local markets and special trade but, because of its lack of firmness, less suitable for general handling. Lowther says it "sells well in the markets, and brings good profits." Hedrick names three serious faults that detract from its value as a commercial fruit: scab, uneven ripening, and apples that "seldom hang until sufficiently mature."
Subtypes / Variants
Stark Bros. reports much confusion in McIntosh propagation and the dissemination of several inferior strains. The firm propagated from select strains of "the true McIntosh Red" taken from the finest bearing orchards in the Bitter Root Valley and other valleys of Montana.
Way knows a score or more color sports of nonspurred McIntosh, many indistinguishable from one another. Four of them, Summerland, Kress, Imperial, and Rogers McIntosh, have generally produced color slightly superior to most of the others. Way names three spur types, MacSpur, SpurMac, and Starkspur McIntosh, and says others will be introduced. The spur types are rather new, but their advantages over nonspurred McIntosh are reliably documented, and growers will generally elect to plant spur McIntosh.
Other
Way suggests it may be possible to apply Alar to an earlier variety, such as Jonamac, to delay its maturity. Beach's references for the variety run from Downing (1876) to Scriber (1905). They include colored plates in the Canadian Horticulturist (1893) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Yearbook (1901). He also cites scab-control reports in N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:399-418 (1899) and 22:321-386 (1903). Hedrick's entry carries Fig. 33. The Stark Bros. entry carries the notation "NNCS."
Book Sources
Described in 8 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as McIntosh (McIntosh Red)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as McIntosh Red
- Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902) — listed as McIntosh (McIntosh Red)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- Way, Apple Varieties Grown in New York State (1979)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) — listed as McIntosh Red
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as McIntosh Red
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 45 catalogs (1889–1955) from Alabama, California, England, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington
- Palouse Nursery and Pleasant Dale Fruit Farm , Colfax, Washington Territory (situated two miles northeast of Colfax) - undated (single-page broadside flyer; "Washington Territory" suggests pre — 1889 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Oregon Wholesale Nurseries , Salem , Oregon — 1893 — listed as McIntosh Red
- 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 McIntosh Red
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- Arthur J. Collins & Sons , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1898
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904 — listed as McIntosh Red
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906 — listed as McIntosh Red
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Milton Nursery Co./Montana Fruit Growers — 1910 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Samuel Fraser , Geneseo , New York — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Manalapan Nurseries , Englishtown , New Jersey — 1916 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1918 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Christopher Nurseries / John Stewart & Sons , Christopher , Washington — 1920 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Fresno Nursery Co. , Fresno , California — 1924
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Hudson's Wholesale Nurseries , Tangent , Oregon — 1926 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Stark Bro's Nurseries , Louisiana , Missouri — 1932 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Milton Nursery Co. , Milton-Freewater , Oregon — 1947 — listed as McIntosh Red
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Forest Grove , Oregon — 1955 — listed as McIntosh Red
View original book sources (10)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)McIntosh Red.
Originated with John McIntosh, Dundela, Ontario, some seventy years since, but is not widely known; the tree is said to be very hardy, long-lived, vigorous, with a spreading head; a good annual bearer of fair, handsome fruit of excellent quality, and valuable for home use and market.
Fruit medium or above, roundish oblate, regular; skin whitish yellow, very nearly covered with dark rich red or crimson, almost purplish in the sun, moderately sprinkled with light dots; stalk short, rather small; cavity medium; calyx closed; basin rather small, slightly plaited; flesh white, fine, very tender, juicy, mild subacid, refreshing, peculiar slight quince-like flavor; core medium. November, February.
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)McIntosh (McIntosh Red)—A choice variety of the Fameuse type; origin, Ontario, Canada; tree vigorous, with spreading head, a good annual bearer—Fruit above medium to large, roundish oblate to roundish truncated, slightly irregular and obscurely angular, highly perfumed; surface very smooth, polished, yellow, almost wholly covered with brilliant solid crimson, the coloring brighter on shaded side, with heavy blue bloom, a beautiful fruit; dots many, obscure, minute, white; cavity obtuse, wide, regular, with a trace of russet; stem short to medium, stout; basin smooth, rather shallow, abrupt; calyx closed, segments connivent. Core close, cells ovate, entire; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal or median; seeds plump; flesh snow-white, crisp, very tender, juicy, sprightly aromatic subacid, very good. December to January.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)McIntosh Red. Full medium, roundish, bright crimson on light yellow skin; heavy bloom, flesh white, stained with light red, tender, juicy, sub-acid. Early winter. Very hardy. Ontario.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)McINTOSH.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1876:155. app. fig. 2. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 5:17. 1879. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1883:12. 4. Thomas, 1885:517. 5. Hoskins, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886:220. 6. Ib., Rural N. Y., 47:558. 1888. 7. Budd, Can. Hort., 13:24. 1890. 8. Ib., 15:19, 92, 124. 1892. 9. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:244. 10. Can. Hort., 16:369. 1893. col. pl. 11. Hoskins, Am. Gard., 15:288. 1894. 12. Craig, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1894:125. 13. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:279. 1894. 14. Ib., 54:238. 1895. 15. Ib., 55:656; 691. 1896. 16. Ib., 55:738, 819. 1896. 17. Ib., 56:839. 1897. 18. Can. Hort., 22:506. 1899. 19. Whitney, Ont. Fr. Gr. Assn. An. Rpt., 31:12. 1899. 20. Ib., Can. Hort., 23:24. 1900. fig. of tree. 21. Ib., 23:45. 1900. figs. 22. Vt. Sta. Bul., 83:91. 1900. figs. 23. Taylor, U. S. Dept. Agr. Yr. Bk., 1901:383. col. pl. 24. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:299. 1901. 25. Ib., Rural N. Y., 61:781. 1902. figs. 26. Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:54. 1902. 27. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:72. 1902. 28. Budd-Hansen, 1903:119. 29. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:45. 1903. 30. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:48. 1903. 31. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:130. 1904. 32. Scriber, Can. Hort., 28:277. 1905.
SYNONYMS. MacIntosh Red (18). McIntosh (14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 25, 29). McIntosh Red (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20, 26, 32). McIntosh Red (22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31).
This variety belongs in the Fameuse group. It is adapted to a wider range of localities than is the Fameuse. The fruit is very attractive in appearance, of bright deep red color and good size. The flesh is very tender, perfumed and delicious. It is desirable for local markets and special trade but because of its lack of firmness it is less suitable for general handling. As grown at this Station it begins to ripen in late September or early October. In Western New York it cannot be expected to keep much later than October in ordinary storage without considerable loss but in cold storage it may be held until December or January (31). When grown in more northern or elevated regions it is often held in good condition till midwinter or later. It is susceptible to scab but this may readily be controlled with proper treatment.¹ The crop ripens unevenly and a considerable portion of the fruit is liable to drop before it is ready to pick. On this account it is best to make two or three pickings. In some localities the tree is said to be a somewhat slow grower and not satisfactorily productive, but more often it is found to be a rather strong grower, hardy and healthy. It comes into bearing rather young and is a reliable cropper yielding good crops biennially and sometimes annually. It has not been sufficiently tested to demonstrate fully its value for commercial purposes but it is regarded by many as one of the most promising varieties of its class for general cultivation in New York.
¹ N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:399-418. 1899. Ib., 22:321-386. 1903.
Historical. Originated as a chance seedling on the McIntosh homestead, Matilda township, Dundas county, Ontario, where Allan McIntosh began the propagation of this variety in the nursery about 1870 (20). It has been widely disseminated. It is now commonly propagated by nurserymen and its cultivation is on the increase in New York.
TREE.
Tree vigorous with numerous, small, slender laterals. Form roundish or spreading. Twigs above medium to short, straight or nearly so, rather slender; internodes long to below medium. Bark bright reddish-brown, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small, oval or elongated, raised. Buds deeply set in bark, medium to below, plump, obtuse to acute, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium, sometimes large, pretty uniform in shape and size. Form roundish to somewhat oblate, regular or faintly ribbed, obscurely angular. Stem short, stout or moderately slender, usually not exserted, often with irregular protuberances. Cavity large, acuminate or somewhat acute, wide, medium in depth, somewhat broadly furrowed, often partly russeted. Calyx small, closed or partly open; lobes short to long, narrow, acute. Basin pubescent, rather small, medium in depth, narrow, abrupt, smooth or obscurely furrowed. Skin thin, moderately tender, smooth, readily separating from the flesh, clear whitish-yellow or greenish washed and deeply blushed with bright red and striped with carmine; highly colored specimens become dark, almost purplish-red with the carmine stripes obscure or obliterated, overspread with thin, lilac bloom. Often the effect of the deep red is heightened by lively contrast with one or more spots of the clear pale yellow ground color where some twig or leaf pressed closely against the growing fruit. Dots whitish or yellow, usually very small. Calyx tube short, conical or funnel-shape with broad limb. Stamens median to basal. Core medium size, usually abaxile; cells usually wide open; core lines nearly meeting. Carpels roundish to elliptical, narrowing toward base and apex, smooth, much concave. Seeds medium brown, rather large, acute. Flesh white or slightly tinged with yellow, sometimes veined with red, firm, fine, crisp, tender, very juicy, characteristically and agreeably aromatic, perfumed, sprightly, subacid, becoming mild and nearly sweet when very ripe, very good to best for dessert. Season October to December or later.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)McIntosh (McIntosh Red).— A choice variety of the Fameuse type; origin, Ontario, Canada; tree vigorous, with spreading head; a good annual bearer. Fruit above medium to large, roundish oblate to roundish truncated, slightly irregular, and obscurely angular, highly perfumed; surface very smooth, polished, yellow, almost wholly covered with brilliant solid crimson, the coloring brighter on shaded side, with heavy blue bloom, a beautiful fruit; dots many, obscure, minute, white; cavity obtuse, wide, regular, with a trace of russet; stem short to medium stout; basin smooth, rather shallow, abrupt; calyx closed; segments connivent. Core closed; cells ovate, entire; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal or median; seeds plump; flesh snow-white, crisp, very tender, juicy, sprightly, aromatic subacid, very good. December to January.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)McIntosh Red
This fruit is a bright red color and very attractive in appearance. It belongs to the Fameuse group, but is adapted to a wider range of localities than the other varieties of this group. The flesh is very tender, perfumed and delicious. Skin smooth, readily separating from the flesh, clear whitish yellow or greenish washed and deeply blushed with bright red and striped with carmine. In the Rocky Mountains States and in the Pacific Northwest it becomes in many cases a deep, dark red, overspread with a thin lilac bloom. Form roundish to somewhat oblate, regular or faintly ribbed, obscurely angular. Stem short, moderately slender. Cavity large acuminate or somewhat acute. Calyx small, closed or partly open. This variety originated on the McIntosh homestead, Matilda township, Dundas county, Ontario, where Allen McIntosh began its propagation in the nursery about 1870. It originated as a seedling, and is now widely distributed throughout the northern half of the United States. It is very good for dessert, sells well in the markets, and brings good profits. Season, October to December or, when grown on high altitudes, may be marketed until January.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)McINTOSH. Fig. 33. McIntosh Red. If one were compelled to choose the apple of apples as the season's varieties pass by, choosing in respect to the qualities which, united, gratify the greatest number of senses, few would hesitate in naming McIntosh sovereign of all. The fruits of McIntosh are uniquely beautiful, outwardly and inwardly, the flavor is hardly surpassed, and the whole apple is most agreeably perfumed. The bright deep-red color is made more attractive by a heavy and characteristic bloom. Well grown, each apple seems to have been turned out of the same mould — a sphere modified by a little oblateness. When the apples are cut, flesh of snowy whiteness rimmed and stained with red is exposed — firm, fine, crisp, tender, and juicy, with a rich, delicious, and very distinctive flavor. The trees are vigorous, hardy, and healthy. Three serious faults detract from its value as a commercial fruit: apple-scab fungus seriously disfigures fruit and foliage; the crop ripens unevenly; and the apples seldom hang until sufficiently mature. The variety originated in Dundas County, Ontario, on the McIntosh homestead, from which its distribution was begun about 1870. Tree vigorous, round or spreading, with numerous small, slender laterals. Fruit large, uniform in shape and size, round-oblate, regular; stem short, stout, slender, usually not exserted, often with irregular protuberances; cavity large, acuminate, wide, broadly furrowed, often partly russeted; calyx small, closed or partly open; lobes short, narrow, acute; basin pubescent, small, narrow, abrupt, smooth or obscurely furrowed; skin thin, tender, smooth, readily separating from the flesh, pale-yellow washed and deeply blushed with bright red and striped with carmine, highly-colored specimens dark red with the carmine stripes obscure, overspread with bloom; dots white or yellow, small; calyx-tube short, conical, with broad limb; stamens median; core abaxile; cells wide open; core-lines meeting, carpels elliptical, smooth, concave; seeds brown, large, acute; flesh white, sometimes veined with red, firm, fine, crisp, tender, very juicy, perfumed, sprightly subacid; very good to best; October to December or later.
— Roger D. Way, Apple Varieties Grown in New York State (1979)
- McIntosh is more important in the mid-1970's than it was 30 years earlier. In the mid-1960's, it was the second most important variety in the United States, surpassed only by Delicious and accounting for about 11.5 per cent of the United States production. McIntosh is produced in greater volume than any other variety in New York (Fig. 1) and is still being planted far more than any other variety (Fig. 2).
The popularity of McIntosh is enhanced by its heavy annual crops, by the market's familiarity with the variety, by the increased use of stop-drop and Alar sprays, and by the extensive use of controlled atmosphere storage.
Although McIntosh is the most important variety being planted in New York, some growers will elect not to plant any new McIntosh trees because to do so is not always profitable. If accurate cost accounts could be made by varieties, many large orchardists would discover that their net returns for McIntosh might be negligible in some years. Because McIntosh is produced in such large volume in mediocre sizes and quality grades, it is not always the highest return variety. Furthermore, McIntosh has many horticultural weaknesses. It has tender flesh; drops before ripe in some seasons; has only medium storage life; is especially sensitive to above optimal nitrogen fertilization, resulting in poor skin color and soft flesh; is especially susceptible to apple scab; and so forth. For these reasons, some growers are changing their varietal structure by eliminating McIntosh. It may be possible to apply Alar to an earlier variety, such as Jonamac, to delay maturity.
Although the spur types of McIntosh are rather new, their advantages over nonspurred McIntosh are reliably documented, and growers will generally elect to plant spur McIntosh. Three spur types are MacSpur, SpurMac, and Starkspur McIntosh; others will be introduced.
A score or more color sports of nonspurred McIntosh are known. Many are indistinguishable from each other. Four of them that generally have produced color slightly superior to most of the others are Summerland, Kress, Imperial, and Rogers McIntosh.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1890. Tree a vigorous and spreading grower, but not very productive. Fruit of medium size, roundish, oblate, skin greenish yellow, nearly covered with purple red and sprinkled with small grayish dots. Flesh white, fine, tender. juicy, with a pleasant acidity, quality very good. Season November and December.
— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)A seedling of Fameuse, very attractive in appearance. Size medium to large, bright, deep red; flesh white, slightly stained pink, very tender and delicious with a delightful aroma. Quite popular in the north Atlantic Coast states and in Canada; also in the Northwest, especially in Montana where it is at its best. Tree a vigorous grower, long-lived and productive. We propagate from select strains of the true McIntosh Red from the finest bearing orchards in the Bitter Root Valley and other valleys of Montana. There has been much confusion in McIntosh propagation and several inferior strains have been disseminated. Therefore to be absolutely sure, we are propagating from orchards that are producing premium apples. Montana orchardists who look ahead are planting fewer McIntosh, more Senator, and a great many more Stark Delicious. NNCS
A seedling of Fameuse, very attractive in appearance. Size medium to large, bright, deep red; flesh white, slightly stained pink, very tender and delicious with a delightful aroma. Quite popular in the north Atlantic Coast states and in Canada; also in the Northwest, especially in Montana where it is at its best. Tree a vigorous grower, long-lived and productive. We propagate from select strains of the true McIntosh Red from the finest bearing orchards in the Bitter Root Valley and other valleys of Montana. There has been much confusion in McIntosh propagation and several inferior strains have been disseminated. Therefore to be absolutely sure, we are propagating from orchards that are producing premium apples. Montana orchardists who look ahead are planting fewer McIntosh, more Senator, and a great many more Stark Delicious. NNCS