Minnesota

Crab Apple

Minnesota

Origin/History

Originated in Minnesota. Referenced in pomological literature from 1872 onward, beginning with Gideon's notice in The Horticulturist. The variety is listed under the synonym Minnesota Crab in most subsequent references.

Tree

As grown at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, the tree is of spreading form, moderately vigorous, and not very productive. Not described in Thomas.

Fruit

Size and Form: Very large for its class. Roundish; Thomas additionally notes the form is irregular.

Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Pale yellow ground, blushed or mottled on the sunny side (Beach); shaded or marbled with red (Thomas). Thomas notes the presence of russet dots, not mentioned by Beach. Both sources describe an overlying thin whitish bloom.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white, firm, crisp, juicy, and fine-grained (Beach). Flavor subacid to mild subacid or nearly sweet, slightly astringent; quality rated good (Beach). Thomas characterizes the flavor as mild and juicy, crisp, good.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

September and October (Beach). Thomas characterizes the season simply as late, consistent with Beach's dating.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 5 catalogs (1901–1912) from Oregon, Washington

The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1901
Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912

View original book sources (2)

MINNESOTA.

REFERENCES. 1. Gideon, Horticulturist, 27:244. 1872. 2. Gibb, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1883:125. 3. Ib., Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 10:36. 1884. 4. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:244. 5. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 15:277. 1896. 6. Budd-Hansen, 1903:223. 7. Thomas, 1903:349.

SYNONYMS. Minnesota Crab (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Minnesota (1).

This variety originated in Minnesota. The fruit is very large for its class, roundish; skin pale yellow blushed or mottled on the sunny side and overspread with thin whitish bloom; flesh white, firm, crisp, juicy, fine-grained, subacid to mild subacid or nearly sweet, slightly astringent, good. Season September and October. As grown at this Station the tree is of spreading form, moderately vigorous and not very productive.

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

Minnesota. Very large, roundish, irregular; skin pale yellow; shaded or marbled with red and with russet dots, covered with a thin, white bloom; flesh juicy, crisp, mild, good. Late. Minn.

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

Minnesota Crab