Nero
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Nero
Origin and History
Nero originated in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey (Budd-Hansen; Beach). It is a variety of the Minkler group (Beach). It has been regarded with favor in Central New Jersey and disseminated to a considerable extent in regions farther west and south. At the time of Beach's writing it was practically unknown in New York, and Beach considered that its group affiliation made it unlikely to prove well adapted to New York conditions, as none of the Minkler group had become a leading commercial variety in that state.
Tree
Vigorous, spreading (Budd-Hansen). In the nursery the trees appear to be almost identical with those of the Minkler (Beach).
Fruit
Size
The two sources differ on size: Beach describes the fruit as above medium, while Budd-Hansen describes it as large.
Form
The two sources conflict on form. Beach describes the fruit as roundish, a little inclined to conical, pretty regular and symmetrical. Budd-Hansen describes it as roundish oblate.
Stem
Short to medium, moderately thick (Beach). Budd-Hansen gives the length as one-half inch and describes it as medium in thickness.
Cavity
The sources differ on width. Beach describes the cavity as acute to somewhat acuminate, medium in depth to deep, medium in width to rather broad, often russeted and with outspreading russet rays. Budd-Hansen describes it as narrow, deep, regular, and russeted.
Calyx
The sources conflict here. Beach describes the calyx as medium or above, usually closed, with lobes pubescent, often erect or convergent, usually not separated at the base. Budd-Hansen describes the calyx as large and open, with segments long. Calyx tube short, conical or funnel-shaped (Beach; Budd-Hansen concurs on funnel-shaped). Stamens below median to basal (Beach).
Basin
The sources conflict on basin character. Beach describes it as obtuse to somewhat abrupt, shallow to moderately deep, rather wide, sometimes gently furrowed, wrinkled. Budd-Hansen describes it as very broad, saucer-shaped, and ribbed.
Skin
Moderately thick, tough, glossy (Beach). The ground color is clear greenish-yellow (Beach) or clear yellow (Budd-Hansen). The two sources differ in their characterization of the red overcolor: Beach describes the fruit as mostly covered with bright red marked with numerous narrow rather inconspicuous carmine stripes, giving a prevailing effect of good bright red; Budd-Hansen describes the surface as nearly covered with dull red, deepening into dark red, with patches and marblings of russet. The dots are also described differently: Beach says they are mostly small, whitish or russet; Budd-Hansen says they are few, large, roundish, with grayish centres.
Flesh and Flavor
The flesh color is described as yellowish by Beach and as whitish by Budd-Hansen. Both sources agree the flesh is firm and crisp. Beach adds that it is moderately coarse, moderately tender, and moderately juicy. The flavor is a mild subacid mingled with sweet, slightly aromatic (Beach), or mild subacid, slightly aromatic (Budd-Hansen). Quality good to very good (Beach); good (Budd-Hansen).
Core and Seeds
Core median or inclined to sessile, rather small, axile or nearly so; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels roundish to elliptical, smooth or nearly so, deeply emarginate. Seeds large, moderately narrow, long, irregular, obtuse to acute (Beach). Not described in Budd-Hansen.
Season
January to April (Budd-Hansen). Beach notes that the fruit keeps late but is inclined to scald considerably after midwinter unless highly colored.
Uses
The fruit is attractive in color, firm, has a tough skin, and handles well (Beach). Its late keeping season (January–April) and good handling qualities indicate it as a storage and commercial variety, though its tendency to scald after midwinter is a drawback for uncolored specimens.
Other
The references cited by Beach for this variety are: Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 23:79 (1889); Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:245; Brown, Rural N. Y., 55:1 (1896), with figure; Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 169:187 (1899); Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:19; Blackwell, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1899:198; Budd-Hansen, 1903:134; Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:50 (1903). Budd-Hansen's fruit description cites Mich. Exp. Sta. Bul., 169, p. 187 as its source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1891–1913) from Illinois, Missouri
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)NERO.
REFERENCES. 1. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 23:79. 1889. 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:245. 3. Brown, Rural N. Y., 55:1. 1896. fig. 4. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 169:187. 1899. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:19. 6. Blackwell, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1899:198. 7. Budd-Hansen, 1903:134. 8. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:50. 1903.
This is a variety of the Minkler group. It resembles Minkler in fruit and in the nursery its trees appear to be almost identical with those of the Minkler. The fruit is of good medium size, attractive red color, firm, has a tough skin, handles well and keeps late, but it is inclined to scald considerably after midwinter unless highly colored (8). It has not yet been sufficiently tested here to demonstrate whether it is a desirable variety for this region but the fact that none of the group of apples to which Nero belongs has become a leading commercial variety in this state indicates that probably it will not be found well adapted to New York conditions.
Historical. Origin Princeton, New Jersey (7). It is regarded with favor in Central New Jersey (6) and has been disseminated to a considerable extent in regions farther west and south. As yet it is practically unknown in New York.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium. Form roundish, a little inclined to conical, pretty regular and symmetrical. Stem short to medium, moderately thick. Cavity acute to somewhat acuminate, medium in depth to deep, medium in width to rather broad, often russeted and with outspreading russet rays. Calyx medium or above, usually closed; lobes pubescent, often erect or convergent, usually not separated at the base. Basin obtuse to somewhat abrupt, shallow to moderately deep, rather wide, sometimes gently furrowed, wrinkled. Skin moderately thick, tough, glossy, clear greenish-yellow mostly covered with bright red marked with numerous narrow rather inconspicuous carmine stripes. Dots mostly small, whitish or russet. Prevailing effect good bright red.
Calyx tube short, conical or funnel-shape. Stamens below median to basal.
Core median or inclined to sessile, rather small, axile or nearly so; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels roundish to elliptical, smooth or nearly so, deeply emarginate. Seeds large, moderately narrow, long, irregular, obtuse to acute.
Flesh yellowish, firm, moderately coarse, rather crisp, moderately tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid mingled with sweet, slightly aromatic, good to very good.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Nero. — Origin, Princeton, Mercer Co., New Jersey; tree vigorous, spreading. Fruit large, roundish oblate; surface clear yellow, nearly covered with dull red, deepening into dark red, with patches and marblings of russet; dots few, large, roundish, with grayish centres; cavity narrow, deep, regular, russeted; stem one-half inch long, medium; basin very broad, saucer-shaped, ribbed; calyx large, open; segments long; tube short, funnel-shaped; flesh whitish, juicy, firm, crisp, with a mild, subacid, slightly aromatic flavor, quality good. Season, January to April. (Mich. Exp. Sta. Bui., 169, p. 187.)