Morton's Red
AppleMorton's Red
Origin and History
This variety originated on the farm of the late Elkannah Morton in Bill Town, Nova Scotia. It has become a favorite apple for both market and home use.
Tree Characteristics
The tree is moderately vigorous, forming a round rather spreading head. It is an early and good bearer, producing fruit annually and reliably.
Fruit Description
Size and Form: Medium-sized fruit, regular and well-formed, roundish oblate with a slightly conic tendency.
Skin: Whitish ground color nearly covered with light and dark rich red coloring, becoming quite dark in the sun. The surface sometimes displays obscure stripes and splashes, and in some instances shows nettings of russet.
Stem: Medium length, slender.
Cavity: Medium in size with slight russet coloring.
Calyx: Closed or nearly so.
Basin: Small and slightly corrugated.
Flesh: Quite white in color, half fine in texture, tender and juicy. The flavor is brisk subacid.
Core: Large.
Season and Storage
December and January.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Morton's Red.
Origin, supposed to be on the farm of the late Elkannah Morton, Bill Town, Nova Scotia; tree moderately vigorous, forming a round rather spreading head; an early and good bearer annually, and a favorite apple for market and home use.
Fruit medium, regular, roundish oblate, slightly conic; skin whitish, nearly covered with light and dark rich red, quite dark in the sun, sometimes a few obscure stripes and splashes, and sometimes nettings of russet; stalk medium, slender; cavity medium, slight russet; calyx closed or nearly so; basin small, slightly corrugated; flesh quite white, half fine, tender, juicy, brisk subacid; core large. December, January.