Morrison's Red
AppleMorrison's Red
Origin/History
Morrison's Red originated in Medfield, Massachusetts. Downing specifies it as a supposed native from the farm of Mr. Fisher; Elliott corroborates the Medfield origin without further detail.
Tree
The tree is productive. Downing describes it as vigorous, while Elliott characterizes it as a good grower. Young shoots are dull grayish brownish red, slightly downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size: The sources differ: Downing rates the fruit as medium; Elliott rates it above medium.
Form: Both sources agree on a conical shape, but differ in detail. Downing gives "roundish conic"; Elliott gives "conical, angular" — without the roundish qualifier and with an explicit angularity.
Stem: Short and stout (both sources).
Cavity: Described as small by Downing; narrow by Elliott.
Calyx: Closed (both sources).
Basin: Very small (Downing); small (Elliott).
Skin: The ground color is light yellow (Downing) or whitish yellow (Elliott), shaded and striped with deep red. Downing qualifies the striping as obscure; Elliott describes the stripes without qualification.
Flesh/Flavor: Tender and crisp (both sources). The flavor is mild and pleasant. Downing adds a subacid character and assigns a quality rating of Very good.
Core/Seeds: Core large and open (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Season
November to March (Downing). Elliott gives January, which falls within Downing's range.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Morrison's Red.
Origin, supposed to be a native of Medfield, Mass., on the farm of Mr. Fisher. Tree vigorous and productive. Young shoots dull grayish brownish red, slightly downy.
Fruit medium, roundish conic, light yellow, shaded and obscurely striped with deep red. Stalk very short, stout. Cavity small. Calyx closed, in a very small basin. Flesh tender, crisp, with a very mild, pleasant subacid. Very good. November to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Morrison's Red. From Medfield, Mass. Tree, good grower, productive. Fruit, above medium, conical, angular : whitish yellow, shaded and striped with deep red ; stem, short, stout; cavity, narrow; calyx, closed ; basin, small; flesh, tender, crisp, mild, pleasant: core, large, open. January.