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.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

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.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

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.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

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.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

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.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (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.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

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.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

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.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)