Missing Link
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
MISSING LINK
Origin and History
A variety of the Willow type recently introduced by Messrs. Shank, Clayton, Illinois. Some authorities believe it is identical with Willow; however, direct comparison of its fruit with Willow apples indicates it is a distinct variety. The distinction is evident in less vivid coloring and, most significantly, in its texture and flavor development.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. Roundish, nearly symmetrical, regular in outline; sides somewhat unequal.
Stem: Medium length.
Cavity: Acuminate, moderately broad, deep, somewhat russeted.
Calyx: Large, partly open.
Basin: Slightly oblique, medium in depth to deep, moderately wide, abrupt, ridged, wrinkled.
Skin: Smooth, glossy. Ground color light greenish-yellow or yellow, thinly mottled and striped with red on the exposed cheek. Prevailing effect green or yellowish—noticeably less highly colored than Willow.
Dots: Small, fine dots mingled with larger, conspicuous, irregular brownish-russet dots.
Flesh: Yellowish, firm, coarse, tough yet somewhat crisp, moderately juicy. Flavor mildly subacid initially but becoming distinctly sweet with time. Fair in quality.
Core and Seeds: Core below medium size or even small; cells closed; core lines nearly meeting. Carpels obcordate, tufted. Seeds few in number, large, dark, flat, tufted.
Storage and Uses
Undoubtedly a long keeper. As expected of an apple of the Willow type, it does not rank high in quality for fresh eating, though the flesh becomes distinctly sweet with storage. Best suited for keeping varieties.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)MISSING LINK.
REFERENCES. 1. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1897:161. 2. Jenkins, Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 45:66. 1902. 3. Shank, Missing Link Nur. Circ., 1903. 4. Erwin, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1903:253. 5. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 62:369. 1903. fig. 6. Buckman, Ib., 62:418. 1903. 7. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:199. 1905.
A variety of the Willow type recently introduced by Messrs. Shank, Clayton, Illinois (3). Some believe that it is identical with Willow (4, 7), but a comparison of its fruit with that of Willow leads us to endorse the opinion of Van Deman (5) and Buckman (6) that it is a distinct variety. The fruit is of good size, similar in form and appearance to Willow but less highly colored and different in texture and flavor becoming eventually distinctly sweet. It is undoubtedly a long keeper. As might be expected of an apple of this class it does not rank high in quality.
FRUIT.
Fruit large. Form roundish, nearly symmetrical, regular; sides somewhat unequal. Stem medium. Cavity acuminate, moderately broad, deep, somewhat russeted. Calyx large, partly open. Basin slightly oblique, medium in depth to deep, moderately wide, abrupt, ridged, wrinkled. Skin smooth, glossy, light greenish-yellow or yellow, thinly mottled and striped with red on the exposed cheek. Dots small, fine, mingled with others that are large, conspicuous, irregular and brownish-russet. Prevailing effect green or yellowish. Core below medium or even small; cells closed; core lines nearly meeting. Carpels obcordate, tufted. Seeds few, large, dark, flat, tufted. Flesh yellowish, firm, coarse, tough yet somewhat crisp, moderately juicy, mildly subacid but eventually becoming sweet, fair in quality.