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. Size: large. Form: flat. Color: not recorded. Quality: good. Use: market. Season: winter. Northern Division stations reporting: 6 (variety also reported in another division).

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

Minkler. — Probably an old unidentified Eastern variety; named after S. G. Minkler, of Illinois, and popluar in that State; tree very vigorous, of irregular, spreading growth; branches strong, forming a large angle with the trunk; productive. Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate, regular; surface smooth, greenish yellow, mostly covered with mixed red, with indistinct darker dull red stripes; dots many, minute, distinct, yellow, and russet; cavity regular, rather deep, acute, light brown russet; stem medium; basin wide, shallow, smooth; calyx small, closed. Core closed, small; cells obovate, entire, small; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal; seeds long, pointed; flesh yellowish white, firm, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid, good. January to May.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

MINKLER. Brandywine. Two characters make Minkler more or less popular in the Corn Belt of the Middle West; the trees are vigorous and they bear large crops. The apples are attractive in appearance and keep very well in common storage but scald badly in cold storage; the quality is distinctly inferior. The variety is probably an old one renamed by S. G. Minkler of Illinois, about 1865.

Tree large, vigorous, spreading, becoming drooping; branches strong, forming a broad angle with the trunk and having a characteristically irregular, zigzag manner of growth. Fruit medium to large, uniform in size and shape, round to oblate-conic, regular; stem medium in length, slender; cavity acute, deep, green or brown, faintly russeted; calyx small, closed or open; lobes broad, acute; basin shallow, wide, obtuse, smooth or wrinkled; skin thin, tough, smooth, glossy, pale yellow, overspread with light red, obscurely striped and splashed with dull carmine; dots small, yellow, gray or russet, conspicuous; calyx-tube short, wide, funnel-form with broad limb and narrow cylinder; stamens median; core large, axile; cells closed or partly open; core-lines meeting or clasping; carpels round, usually deeply emarginate, tufted; seeds dark brown, large, long, plump or sometimes flat, acute, sometimes tufted; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, juicy, mild subacid, aromatic; good; November to April.

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