Orange
Apple
Orange
Origin/History
The name "Orange" has been applied to several distinct apple varieties, making precise identification dependent on knowing the specific strain. Beach (1905) notes that "different varieties of the apple have been known under the name Orange," and that the name has sometimes been used as a synonym for the Lowell apple. The earliest reference to an Orange apple traces to M'Mahon's American Gardener's Calendar (1806). A separate variety known as the Fall Orange is treated as a distinct entry in Beach.
Three principal varieties are described in the pomological literature under this name: the Orange of New Jersey, the Orange of Pennsylvania, and the Orange of France.
Orange of New Jersey
Origin/History
The Orange of New Jersey is the oldest and most widely documented of the varieties bearing this name. Coxe (1817) records it as extensively cultivated in several of the middle counties of New Jersey, where it was regarded "as a highly estimable apple." It is referenced as early as M'Mahon (1806) and appears in Emmons, Hooper, Downing, Warder, and Bailey through 1892.
Tree
Coxe (1817) describes the tree as of moderate size, with an upright growth habit and great fruitfulness. Downing (as cited by Beach) states the tree is a vigorous grower and moderately productive. Young shoots are clear and reddish brown; buds are reddish and prominent.
Fruit
Size: Coxe (1817) describes the fruit as small. Downing gives it as above medium. These assessments conflict; both are reported from the same variety.
Form: Coxe (1817) gives the form as oblong. Downing gives it as roundish oblate. These descriptions conflict.
Skin: Coxe (1817) describes the color as greenish yellow. Downing describes the skin as orange yellow, with a few gray dots, and sometimes patches of russet.
Stem: Short, set in a large cavity (Downing).
Calyx: Closed (Downing).
Basin: Moderate (Downing).
Flesh: Yellow (Coxe; Downing). Coxe describes it as rich, juicy, and sprightly. Downing adds that it is subacid and pleasant.
Quality: Very good (Downing).
Season
Fall and early winter (Coxe). September and October (Downing).
Uses
Coxe (1817) regards it as a fine table fruit and notes it is thought to be a good cider fruit as well.
Orange of Pennsylvania
Origin/History
A variety that originated at Reading, Pennsylvania, was brought to public notice under the name Orange in the ad interim report of the Fruit Committee of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1853. Beach (1905) notes that no reports on this variety were received from correspondents, and that so far as known it is not in cultivation in New York.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing; Beach).
Form: Roundish, slightly oblate, faintly ribbed (Downing).
Skin: Warm yellow orange in color (Downing); described by Beach's cited sources as nearly orange-yellow.
Flesh: Yellowish, sprightly (Downing).
Quality: Good (Downing; Beach).
Tree
Not described in source.
Season
Not described in source.
Uses
Not described in source.
Orange of France
Origin/History
This variety was received from A. Leroy of Angers, France, and described by Downing. It is not mentioned by Beach or Coxe.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing).
Form: Roundish (Downing).
Skin: Fine yellow, shaded with crimson on the sun-exposed side, moderately sprinkled with gray and light dots (Downing).
Stem: Short (Downing).
Calyx: Small, closed (Downing).
Flesh: White, tender, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid (Downing).
Quality: Good (Downing).
Tree
Not described in source.
Season
October and November (Downing).
Uses
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 66. ORANGE APPLE.
This is a fine table fruit in the fall and early winter months; and is thought to be a good cider fruit: the size is small, the form oblong—the colour a greenish yellow—the flesh yellow, rich, juicy, and sprightly; the tree is of moderate size, the growth upright, and its fruitfulness great. It is much cultivated in several of the middle counties of New-Jersey as a highly estimable apple.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Orange.
There are several Apples under this name ; but as it is almost impossible to decide which has prior right to the name, we enumerate and describe in the order they are known to us.
The Orange of New Jersey origin is a vigorous grower, and moderately productive. Young shoots clear, reddish brown, buds reddish, prominent.
Fruit above medium, roundish oblate. Skin orange yellow, with a few gray dots, and sometimes patches of russet. Stalk short, in a large cavity. Calyx closed. Basin moderate. Flesh yellow, juicy, subacid, pleasant. Very good. September, October.
The Orange of Reading, Pa., has fruit roundish, slightly oblate, faintly ribbed, of a warm yellow orange color. Flesh yellowish, sprightly. Good.
The Orange of France, received from A. Leroy, Angers, is of medium size, roundish, fine yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun, moderately sprinkled with gray and light dots. Stalk short. Calyx small, closed. Flesh white, tender, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid. Good. October, November.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)ORANGE.
REFERENCES. 1. M'Mahon, Am. Gard. Cal., 1806:585. 2. Coxe, 1817:139. 3. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:91. 1851. 4. Horticulturist, 8:247. 1853. 5. Mag. Hort., 19:172. 1853. 6. Hooper, 1857:67. 7. Downing, 1857:178. 8. Warder, 1867:728. 9. Downing, 1869:294. 10. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:245.
SYNONYMS. None.
Different varieties of the apple have been known under the name Orange. The Fall Orange has already been described on page 60. Orange has sometimes been used as a synonym for Lowell which is described on page 128.
ORANGE OF NEW JERSEY (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Coxe (2) gives the following description of this variety: "This is a fine table apple in the fall and early winter months; and is thought to be a good cider fruit; the size is small, the form oblong the colour a greenish-yellow the flesh yellow, rich, juicy and sprightly; the tree is of moderate size, the growth upright, and its fruitfulness great. It is much cultivated in several of the middle counties of New-Jersey as a highly estimable apple."
Downing (7, 9) states that the tree is vigorous and moderately productive; the fruit pleasant subacid; very good; season September and October.
ORANGE OF PENNSYLVANIA. A variety which originated at Reading, Pa., was brought to notice under the name Orange by the ad interim report of the Fruit Committee of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1853 (4, 5). The fruit is described as medium size, roundish, nearly orange-yellow, sprightly, good (4, 5, 8, 9). We have received no reports concerning this variety from any of our correspondents and so far as we know it is not in cultivation in New York.