Olympia
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Olympia
Origin / History
This strain of the Baldwin was discovered growing among some Baldwin trees in a small orchard of Mr. William Shincke, Olympia, Washington. The original tree from which Olympia was propagated was set forty years or more ago on the place of William Shincke, Sr., in Olympia, Washington. It was evidently planted for a Baldwin as it stood with other Baldwin trees. The fruit was at first sold as Baldwin, but Mr. Shincke noticed that it was larger and better colored than that of the common Baldwin. Mr. George Langridge was supplied with scions from this tree. When this stock came into bearing with Mr. Langridge, the fruit from these trees, like that of the original tree, was found to be larger and better colored than the fruit of the ordinary Baldwin. About 1890 it was first propagated for sale under different names. Finally the County Horticultural Society named it Olympia.
Olympia is best known in the vicinity of Olympia, where it is regarded as a valuable acquisition. It is attracting favorable attention also throughout the apple-growing districts of the state of Washington. It is regarded so highly in a region where the Baldwin succeeds well that it is considered likely to succeed equally well in the Baldwin districts of New York. It is recommended as worthy of extended trial by New York fruit growers.
Tree
The trees grow like the Baldwin and appear to have the general characteristics of the Baldwin. The twigs of one season's growth, as compared with Baldwin twigs, have darker bark with less red and more brown or olive-brown color. Other minor differences have been observed, including shorter internodes, heavier scarf-skin, less conspicuous lenticels, and more abundant pubescence on bark and buds. It has not been determined whether these minor differences are constant.
Fruit
Size: Averages distinctly larger than Baldwin fruit grown in the same locality, so far as can be judged from the rather limited quantities examined.
Form: Not described in source.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Clearly superior in color to Baldwin fruit grown in the same locality, with both the red and the yellow tones more brilliant.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Not described in source.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Not described in source.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Olympia is a strain of the Baldwin, distinguished from the common Baldwin chiefly by the characters given under Tree and Fruit above.
Other
A very careful comparison of the fruit of Olympia with that of Baldwin discloses no constant differences in structural characters. For a technical description of the fruit aside from size and color, the reader is referred to the description of Baldwin on page 59.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1910–1913) from Illinois
- W.S. Thornber , *Better Fruit* magazine — 1910
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)OLYMPIA.
This strain of the Baldwin was discovered growing among some Baldwin trees in a small orchard of Mr. William Shincke, Olympia, Washington. The trees grow like the Baldwin and appear to have the general characteristics of the Baldwin, except that the twigs of one season's growth as compared with Baldwin twigs have darker bark with less red and more brown or olive-brown color. Other minor differences have been observed, such as shorter internodes, heavier scarf-skin, less conspicuous lenticels and more abundant pubescence on bark and buds. We have not had opportunity to determine whether these minor differences are constant. The fruit, so far as we are able to judge from the rather limited quantities which we have had the privilege of examining, averages distinctly larger than Baldwin fruit grown in the same locality, and is clearly superior in color, both the red and the yellow tones being more brilliant. A very careful comparison of the fruit of Olympia with that of Baldwin discloses no constant differences in structural characters. For a technical description of the fruit aside from size and color, the reader is therefore referred to the description of Baldwin on page 59.
Olympia is best known in the vicinity of Olympia and is there regarded as a valuable acquisition. It is attracting favorable attention also throughout the apple-growing districts of the state of Washington. The fact that it is regarded so highly in a region where the Baldwin succeeds well is a good indication that it may succeed equally well in the Baldwin districts of New York. It is therefore recommended as worthy of extended trial by New York fruit growers.
Historical. The following account of this strain of the Baldwin apple has been obtained from correspondence with W. W. Whidden, George Langridge and William Shincke of Olympia, Washington. The original tree from which Olympia was propagated was set forty years or more ago on the place of William Shincke, Sr., in Olympia, Washington. It was evidently planted for a Baldwin as it stood with other Baldwin trees. The fruit was at first sold as Baldwin but Mr. Shincke noticed that it was larger and better colored than that of the common Baldwin. Mr. George Langridge was supplied with scions from this tree and when this stock came into bearing with Mr. Langridge it was found that the fruit from these trees, like that of the original tree from which the scions were taken, was larger and better colored than the fruit of the ordinary Baldwin. About 1890 it was first propagated for sale but under different names. Finally the County Horticultural Society named it Olympia.