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Minkler

Apple

Origin & History

The Minkler was first exhibited before the Illinois Horticultural Society in the early 1860s by Mr. S. G. Minkler of Kendall, Illinois. Having lost its name, he exhibited it for identification; as it was not recognized by anyone, the Society named it Minkler, pending further investigation. Its history is confused with that of several similar, or possibly identical, varieties. Warder (1867) states that it very closely resembles both Buchanan and Brandywine, adding that Minkler and Buchanan have "an entirely distinct origin," though Beach (1905) notes there is no evidence that this is the case. In 1869, Galusha found Minkler cultivated in some Illinois localities under the name Logan Northern Pippin, and Dunlap found it identical with Brandywine — a decision approved by some other pomologists. The origin of Brandywine is also unknown. Ragan makes Minkler identical with Mumper Vandevere, which according to Downing originated on the farm of John Mumper near Dillsbury, Pennsylvania.

The Minkler's cultivation was confined almost wholly to Illinois and adjoining states. It was popular in the Middle West because the tree is a strong grower and a good and regular cropper, rather than on account of the quality of its fruit. In appearance the fruit is very good, and dealers did not hesitate to take it in reasonable quantities, despite it being only fairly good in quality and sometimes scalding badly in storage. Beach (1905) considered it not a promising variety for New York fruit growers, competing as it did with the Baldwin and other good winter apples.

Tree

Tree large, very vigorous and thrifty. Branches large, strong, forming a very broad angle with the trunk, with a characteristically irregular, zigzag manner of growth. Form very spreading, frequently becoming drooping in old trees. Downing describes the tree as an irregular grower, a good bearer and keeper. Twigs short to long, moderately stout to moderately slender; internodes about medium, unequal in length. Bark dull brownish-red or reddish, irregularly overlaid with thin to thick scarf-skin, rather pubescent. Lenticels scattering, moderately conspicuous, raised, medium to small, roundish. Buds medium, moderately projecting, acute or roundish, pubescent, appressed or slightly adhering.

Fruit

Size: Medium to above medium, uniform in size and shape. Warder describes it as medium to large.

Form: Roundish inclined to oblate conic, rather regular. Warder describes the form as regular, globular-ovate; Downing as roundish oblate, slightly conic.

Stem: Medium to short, rather slender.

Cavity: Acute or slightly acuminate, deep, medium in width, greenish or brown, faintly russeted.

Calyx: Small to above medium, closed or slightly open; lobes medium in length, broad, acute, usually not separated at the base. Warder describes the eye as small and closed.

Basin: Shallow to medium in depth, wide, obtuse, smooth or slightly wrinkled. Warder describes the basin as wide, shallow, and regular.

Skin: Thin, slightly tough, smooth, rather glossy, greenish-yellow changing to pale yellow, almost entirely overspread with rather light pinkish-red obscurely striped and splashed with dark dull carmine. Downing describes the color as pale greenish yellow, striped and splashed with two shades of red. Warder describes the surface as smooth, greenish-yellow, covered with mixed red and stripes of dark dull red. Dots small to medium, yellow, grayish or russet, moderately conspicuous; Warder describes the dots as scattered, minute, and yellow. Prevailing effect rather light red.

Calyx Tube: Moderately short, rather wide, funnel-form with broad limb and narrow cylinder. Stamens median to marginal.

Core & Seeds: Core medium to rather large, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines meeting or somewhat clasping. Carpels roundish, usually deeply emarginate, tufted. Warder describes the core as large, closed, meeting the eye. Downing, in contrast, describes the core as small. Seeds dark brown, rather large and wide, long, plump or sometimes flat, acute, sometimes tufted. Warder describes the seeds as numerous, long, and pointed.

Flesh & Flavor: Strongly tinged with yellow or greenish, very firm, rather juicy, mild subacid, slightly aromatic. Beach describes the texture as a little coarse and not very crisp; Warder, in contrast, describes it as fine-grained and breaking. Downing describes it as compact and moderately juicy, with a mild, pleasant subacid flavor. Quality assessments vary: Warder rates it second quality; Downing rates it good; Beach rates it fairly good.

Season & Uses

A winter apple. Beach gives the season in common storage as November to April, and in cold storage till May. Warder gives March until May. Downing gives January to March. Warder lists uses as market and cooking. The fruit sometimes scalds badly in storage.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 16 catalogs (1894–1920) from Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Washington

View original book sources (4)

Minkler.

Produced by S. G. Minkler, of Kendall, Illinois.

This variety very closely resembles that described as Buchanan, though their origin is entirely distinct. The Minkler also bears a very close resemblance to an apple found at Quincy, Illinois, and known as the Brandywine.

Tree very thrifty, spreading, branches strong, forming a large angle with the stem.

Fruit medium to large, regular, globular-ovate; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, covered with mixed red, and stripes of dark dull red; Dots scattered, minute, yellow.

Basin wide, shallow, regular; Eye small, closed.

Cavity acute, rather deep, brown; Stem medium.

Core large, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, long, pointed; Flesh yellow, or greenish-yellow, fine-grained, breaking, juicy; Sub-acid; Second quality; Use market and cooking; from March until May.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Minkler.

Brandywine ?

This is an old variety which was first exhibited before the Illinois Horticultural Society, and because it could not be identified, received, for the time being, the name of its exhibitor. At some future time it will probably be found identical with some variety long since named and described. Tree an irregular grower, good bearer and keeper.

Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly conic, pale greenish yellow, striped and splashed with two shades of red. Flesh yellowish, compact, moderately juicy, mild, pleasant subacid. Good. Core small. January to March.

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

MINKLER.

REFERENCES. 1. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 2. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1865:51. 3. Warder, 1867:444. fig. 4. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1869:36. 5. Downing, 1869:276. 6. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1875:128. 7. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1875:411. 8. Downing, 1876:59 app. 9. Downing, 1876:11 index, app. 10. Thomas, 1885:518. 11. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1889:10. 12. Bailey, Am. Hort., 1892:244. 13. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 143:200, 202. 1897. 14. Budd-Hansen, 1903:129. 15. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:45. 1903. 16. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:49. 1903. 17. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:132. 1904. 18. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:53, 181, 199, 205. 1905.

SYNONYMS. Brandywine (18, ?8). Logan's Northern Pippin (4, 9, 18). MUMPER VANDEVERE (6, 8). Mumper Vandevere (18).

The Minkler was brought to notice in Illinois something over forty years ago. Its cultivation is confined almost wholly to that and adjoining states. Like many other varieties of the Middle West it is popular because the tree is a strong grower and a good and regular cropper rather than on account of the quality of its fruit. In appearance the fruit is very good and dealers do not hesitate to take it in reasonable quantities in spite of the fact that it is only fairly good in quality and sometimes scalds badly in storage. It is not a promising variety for New York fruit growers, competing as it does with the Baldwin and other good winter apples.

Historical. The history of this variety is confused with that of several similar, or as some have thought possibly identical, varieties. The Minkler, as such, was first exhibited before the Illinois Horticultural Society something over forty years ago by Mr. S. G. Minkler. Having lost its name he exhibited it for identification. As it was not recognized by any one the Society named it Minkler, pending further investigation (5). Warder (3) in 1867 states that it very closely resembles Buchanan and Brandywine and adds that Minkler and Buchanan have "an entirely distinct origin," but there is no evidence that this is the case. In 1869 Galusha stated that he found Minkler cultivated in some localities in Illinois under the name Logan Northern Pippin and Dunlap found it identical with Brandywine (4) a decision which is approved by some other pomologists. The origin of Brandywine is also unknown (5, 18). Ragan makes Minkler identical with Mumper Vandevere (18) which according to Downing (8) originated on the farm of John Mumper near Dillsbury, Pa. Minkler is not grown to any considerable extent in New York.

TREE.

Tree large, very vigorous; branches large, strong, forming a very broad angle with the trunk and having a characteristically irregular, zigzag manner of growth. Form very spreading, frequently becoming drooping in old trees. Twigs short to long, moderately stout to moderately slender; internodes about medium, unequal in length. Bark dull brownish-red or reddish, irregularly overlaid with thin to thick scarf-skin, rather pubescent. Lenticels scattering, moderately conspicuous, raised, medium to small, roundish. Buds medium, moderately projecting, acute or roundish, pubescent, appressed or slightly adhering.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium to above, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish inclined to oblate conic, rather regular. Stem medium to short, rather slender. Cavity acute or slightly acuminate, deep, medium in width, greenish or brown, faintly russeted. Calyx small to above medium, closed or slightly open; lobes medium in length, broad, acute, usually not separated at the base. Basin shallow to medium in depth, wide, obtuse, smooth or slightly wrinkled. Skin thin, slightly tough, smooth, rather glossy, greenish-yellow changing to pale yellow, almost entirely overspread with rather light pinkish-red obscurely striped and splashed with dark dull carmine. Dots small to medium, yellow, grayish or russet, moderately conspicuous. Prevailing effect rather light red. Calyx tube moderately short, rather wide, funnel-form with broad limb and narrow cylinder. Stamens median to marginal. Core medium to rather large, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines meeting or somewhat clasping. Carpels roundish, usually deeply emarginate, tufted. Seeds dark brown, rather large and wide, long, plump or sometimes flat, acute, sometimes tufted. Flesh strongly tinged with yellow or greenish, very firm, a little coarse, not very crisp, rather juicy, mild subacid, slightly aromatic, fairly good. Season in common storage November to April; in cold storage till May.

S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Minkler............... L fl ...... G m W 6*

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
Brandywine Logan's Northern Pippin Mumper Vandevere Brandywine