Mellinger

Apple

Mellinger

Origin and History

An old variety of late introduction, found on the Mellinger property, now owned (as of 1900) by Dr. Mellinger, Manor Township, Pennsylvania. It was considered in that neighborhood one of the most valuable and showy apples of its season.

Tree

Tree healthy, vigorous, and spreading. Bears large crops in alternate years, with a light crop in the intervening years (biennial bearing habit).

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium to large, roundish or roundish conical.

Stem: Stalk short.

Cavity: Medium, with slight russet.

Calyx: Small, closed.

Basin: Medium, rather abrupt, deep, slightly corrugated.

Skin: Smooth, white ground, mostly covered with stripes and broken splashes of light and dark bright red; some splashes of a purplish red; moderately sprinkled with light dots.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh quite white, half fine, tender, juicy; flavor sprightly subacid or vinous.

Core: Medium.

Season and Uses

Ripens September, keeping through November. Regarded as a valuable and showy apple for its season.

The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) lists Mellinger with the abbreviated notation "M re VG b W," likely indicating medium size, red, very good quality, biennial bearing, and winter season — consistent with Downing's account, but offering no additional descriptive detail.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Mellinger.

An old variety of late introduction, found on the Mellinger property, now owned by Dr. Mellinger, Manor Township, Pa., and considered in that neighborhood one of the most valuable and showy apples of its season; tree healthy, vigorous, spreading, bearing large crops alternate years, and a light one the intervening ones.

Fruit medium to large, roundish, or roundish conical; skin smooth, white, mostly covered with stripes and broken splashes of light and dark bright red, some of the splashes of a purplish red, and moderately sprinkled with light dots; stalk short; cavity medium, slight russet; calyx small, closed; basin medium, rather abrupt, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh quite white, half fine, tender, juicy, sprightly subacid or vinous; core medium. September, November.

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

Mellinger. M re VG b W

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