Munson
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
MUNSON (Munson Sweet, Munson Sweeting, Northern Sweeting, Orange Sweet, Meachem Sweet, Rag Apple)
Origin and History
Origin uncertain, but supposedly originated in Massachusetts. First recorded reference dates to 1849 (Genesee Farmer). The variety was still being propagated by nurserymen in the early 1900s, though it was declining in commercial cultivation in New York by that period, being superseded by varieties with better commercial demand.
General Description
An attractive pale yellow sweet apple, often somewhat blushed. The fruit is notable for its characteristically tough skin that separates readily from the tender flesh—a distinctive physical feature. Of below-medium to rather large size, averaging about medium overall. The variety is suitable for home use but not well-suited to commercial cultivation, as there is limited market demand for sweet apples of its season except in certain local areas.
Tree Characteristics
Large and moderately vigorous to vigorous in growth. Form spreading or roundish, rather dense in foliage. Twigs short to rather long, curved, stout to moderately slender, with large terminal buds and short internodes. Bark dark brown, heavily streaked with scarf-skin and pubescent near the tips. Lenticels quite numerous, rather conspicuous, medium size, roundish, and raised. Buds large, prominent, broad, plump, obtuse, free, and pubescent.
A good grower that comes into bearing rather early, producing reliable crops commonly yielded biennially.
Fruit Characteristics
Form and Size: Below medium to rather large, averaging about medium size. Form roundish oblate, often somewhat elliptical, with pronounced ribbing.
Stem: Rather short and moderately thick.
Cavity: Medium to rather large, acuminate, narrow to medium width, rather unsymmetrical, and lightly russeted.
Calyx: Medium to small, closed. Lobes rather narrow and acute. Calyx tube funnel-shaped with long cylinder. Stamens marginal to median.
Basin: Shallow to very shallow, narrow, obtuse or a little abrupt, furrowed, and often unsymmetrical.
Skin: Rather thick and tough, separating readily from the flesh. Smooth. Greenish-yellow, often somewhat blushed.
Flesh: Tinged with yellow, moderately fine-grained, tender, moderately juicy. Flavor sweet, quality good to very good.
Core: Medium to large, axile or sometimes abaxile. Cells often unsymmetrical, closed or somewhat open. Core lines clasping the cylinder. Carpels roundish to elliptical, emarginate, tufted.
Seeds: Medium size, rather short, flat, obtuse, and dark brown.
Season and Storage
Late September to December.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)MUNSON.
REFERENCES. 1. Genesee Farmer, 10:288. 1849. 2. Barry, 1851:285. 3. Humrickhouse, Mag. Hort., 19:163. 1853. 4. Elliott, 1854:148. 5. Downing, 1857:174. 6. Gregg, 1857:44. 7. Horticulturist, 17:104, 150. 1862. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 9. Warder, 1867:388. fig. 10. Thomas, 1875:198. 11. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:294. 12. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:245. 13. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:278. 1894. 14. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:333. 1896. 15. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1896:71. 16. Ib., 18:89. 1902. 17. Budd-Hansen, 1903:133. fig. 18. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:145. 1903. 19. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:50. 1903. 20. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:133. 1904.
SYNONYMS. Meachem Sweet (5). MUNSON (17, 18, 19, 20). MUNSON SWEET (2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16). Munson Sweet (17, 19, 20). MUNSON SWEETING (4, 6). Munson Sweeting (1). NORTHERN SWEETING (1). Orange Sweet (5, 9). Rag Apple (5).
In some parts of New York this variety is better known under either the names Meachem Sweet or Rag Apple than it is under the correct name of Munson.
The fruit commonly averages about medium size. It is attractive in appearance for a yellow apple, being pale yellow often somewhat blushed; skin characteristically tough separating readily from the tender flesh; season late September to December. It is a desirable variety for home use but is not very satisfactory for growing commercially because there is little demand for a sweet apple of its season except in certain local markets. The tree is a good grower, comes into bearing rather early and is a pretty reliable cropper commonly yielding good crops biennially.
Historical. Origin uncertain. Supposed to have originated in Massachusetts. It is still propagated by nurserymen (12) but it is not being planted in New York now as much as it was a generation ago.
TREE.
Tree large, moderately vigorous to vigorous. Form spreading or roundish, rather dense. Twigs short to rather long, curved, stout to moderately slender with large terminal buds; internodes short. Bark dark brown, heavily streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent near tips. Lenticels quite numerous, rather conspicuous, medium size, roundish, raised. Buds large, prominent, broad, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit below medium to rather large, averaging about medium size. Form roundish oblate, often somewhat elliptical, ribbed. Stem rather short, moderately thick. Cavity medium to rather large, acuminate, narrow to medium width, rather unsymmetrical, lightly russeted. Calyx medium to small, closed; lobes rather narrow, acute. Basin shallow to very shallow, narrow, obtuse or a little abrupt, furrowed, often unsymmetrical.
Skin rather thick and tough separating readily from the flesh, smooth, greenish-yellow often somewhat blushed.
Calyx tube funnel-shape with long cylinder. Stamens marginal to median. Core medium to large, axile or sometimes abaxile; cells often unsymmetrical, closed or somewhat open; core lines clasping the cylinder. Carpels roundish to elliptical, emarginate, tufted. Seeds medium size, rather short, flat, obtuse, dark brown.
Flesh tinged with yellow, moderately fine-grained, tender, moderately juicy, sweet, good to very good.
Season late September to December.