Ortley
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Ortley
Origin / History
Ortley is an old American variety, a native of New Jersey, originating in the orchard of Michael Ortley of South Jersey. Coxe first described it in 1817 under the name Woolman's Long Pippin. In 1825 Floy sent fruit of it to the Royal Horticultural Society in London under the name Ortley, and in the Transactions of the Society for that year Lindley described it under this name, giving Woolman's Long as a synonym. Kenrick (1832), Manning (1838), Thomas, Elliott, Charles Downing, and other American pomologists followed Floy rather than Coxe in adopting the name Ortley. Emmons gave Ortley as identical with the Warren Pippin of Coxe, but Beach considers it quite doubtful whether he was correct in this. In portions of the South and West Ortley has long been an old favorite for planting in home orchards, where it has been known under many different names, prominent among them White Bellflower and White Detroit. Elliott notes that he follows Lindley's name "Ortley" because it is as well known by that as by any other of its names. Hedrick describes Ortley as probably a seedling of Yellow Bellflower, surpassed in most respects by the better-known variety; the essential differences between the two are that the fruits of Ortley are paler in color and have less acidity than those of Yellow Bellflower, and the trees are less productive.
In strong rich soils throughout the entire Western States, Elliott reports it as one of the hardiest, most productive, profitable, and best varieties known, and there increases largely in size over specimens grown North, where the form is more oblong, the texture somewhat closer, and the sprightliness a little enhanced. Warder describes it as an excellent New Jersey apple, cultivated very satisfactorily over a great extent of the country and still seen in some Western collections exhibiting all its peculiar beauty; but in many places where it was a great favorite a few years earlier, it had become so defective from scab and bitter-rot that it was rapidly disappearing from nurseries and orchards. Beach echoes this, noting that scattering trees are found in some of the very oldest orchards of New York but it has never been grown to any considerable extent there and is now seldom or never planted, being less successful in New York than the Yellow Bellflower; it does better farther south and west. Thomas notes that it had a high reputation in the Ohio Valley but had become much affected with the black mildew or scab. Hedrick adds that it is a favorite in the South, parts of the Middle West, and on the Pacific slope. Lowther reports it as present in 4 stations in the Northern Division (and another division) and 14 stations in the Central Division (and another division). Beach further notes that Ortley is quite subject to attacks of various insects and of the scab fungus and requires thorough treatment to protect it from these troubles.
Tree
Vigorous, healthy, medium in size or under favorable conditions large, becoming large and spreading; upright in early growth, becoming roundish or spreading with maturity. Very productive; Elliott notes it bears abundantly. Shoots/twigs slender (Elliott, Beach, Hedrick), long, upright, long-jointed, brownish yellow (Elliott); Warder describes the shoots as stout and dark, with bearing limbs brittle and often broken by the fruit. Beach gives twigs as below medium to above, rather slender, straight, quite pubescent, with short internodes. Bark dull reddish-brown, often overlaid with thick scarf-skin. Lenticels small and scattering but rather conspicuous, mostly roundish, raised. Buds below medium, moderately projecting, roundish, slightly pubescent, free. Beach also notes the wood is brittle and the bearing limbs are often broken by the weight of the fruit, and that the fruit is apt to be marred on the tree by the chafing of the limbs. Hedrick reports the tree is vigorous, medium in size or large, with long slender shoots, and when mature spreading.
Fruit
Size and Form
Large, or medium to large; not very uniform in size or shape. Form oblong conic and flattened at the base, varying to somewhat roundish conic; described variously as oblong oval, occasionally or often roundish conical (Elliott); oblong, conic, truncated, regular (Warder); roundish oblong conic (Downing); roundish, somewhat oblong-ovate (Thomas); oblong conic (Budd-Hansen); oblong-conic and flattened at the base or round-conic, regular or obscurely ribbed (Beach, Hedrick). Lowther uniquely describes it as oblate in form and medium in size. As grown in the North the fruit tends to be more oblong, smaller, and of a paler yellowish-white color, with coarser texture and sprightlier flavor than when grown farther south.
Stem and Cavity
Stem long and slender (Warder, Downing — medium length, Budd-Hansen, Beach, Hedrick); varying from short and stout to long and slender (Elliott); Thomas gives it as about an inch long, sometimes short, but always slender. Cavity deep, acute, regular (Warder, Budd-Hansen); deep, narrow (Elliott, Thomas, Hedrick); deep, acute, surrounded by russet (Downing); large, acute or approaching acuminate, deep, varying from moderately narrow to wide, usually partly russeted, somewhat furrowed (Beach); brown (Warder); lined with russet (Budd-Hansen).
Calyx and Basin
Calyx small, closed (Elliott, Budd-Hansen); Downing also calls it closed; Warder describes the eye as small, very long, closed; Beach gives it as rather small to medium, closed or somewhat open, with lobes long, acute, usually converging and reflexed; Hedrick agrees with Beach. Budd-Hansen adds segments divergent. Basin: described variously as furrowed or plaited (Elliott, from surrounding angles or ribs often apparent in the fruit); medium, regular, plaited (Warder); abrupt, somewhat corrugated (Downing); rather deep, nearly even or slightly plaited (Thomas); narrow, shallow, with corrugations and fine wrinkles (Budd-Hansen); small to medium, shallow to moderately deep, narrow to moderately wide, usually abrupt and wrinkled or slightly furrowed (Beach); small, shallow, narrow, abrupt and wrinkled or furrowed (Hedrick).
Skin
Smooth (Elliott, Warder); pale yellowish white at the North, becoming a richer yellow at the South, with specks of dark red and a vermillion tinge surrounding when exposed to sun (Elliott); pale yellow, rarely blushed light carmine, with red spots (Warder); greenish yellow, becoming fine yellow at maturity, sometimes with a sunny cheek (Downing); pale yellow, slightly tinged with pink in the sun (Thomas); clear, pale yellow, rarely with light blush and red spots (Budd-Hansen); moderately thin, tough, smooth, waxy, pale whitish-yellow varying to rich yellow in well-developed fruit, rarely with a faint pinkish-red blush (Beach); thin, tough, smooth, waxy, yellow, rarely with a faint blush (Hedrick); yellow in color (Lowther). Beach notes the skin, being whitish and tender, is easily bruised or discolored in handling. Dots: minute, indented, with white bases seen only in the unripe fruit (Warder); sprinkled with green and brown dots (Downing, in the additional Downing entry where Green Seek-no-Further synonymy is treated); minute, obscure, indented, russet (Budd-Hansen); inconspicuous, usually whitish and submerged (Beach); inconspicuous, white and submerged (Hedrick).
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh yellowish white (Elliott, Budd-Hansen); yellowish, tender, breaking, juicy (Warder); white, fine-grained, tender, juicy (Downing); whitish tinged with yellow, moderately fine, crisp, tender, juicy (Beach); yellow, fine, crisp, tender, juicy (Hedrick); firm, tender, fine-grained, juicy (Budd-Hansen). Texture tender, crisp; sprightly (Elliott, Beach, Budd-Hansen, Hedrick). Flavor: mild acid (Elliott); acid to sub-acid, sprightly, refreshing (Warder); sub-acid, very pleasant (Downing); sub-acid, crisp, sprightly, rich, fine (Thomas); sprightly, very pleasant subacid (Budd-Hansen); sprightly subacid (Beach, Hedrick). Quality "best" (Warder), good to very good (Downing), very good (Beach, Lowther, Hedrick), very good to best (Budd-Hansen). Beach notes the fruit has less acidity than Yellow Bellflower and is more pleasant in flavor for dessert use, and Warder notes the tissue is so fine as to suit even the invalid or convalescent, who could not safely partake of a more solid apple.
Core and Seeds
Core large, open (Elliott, Downing); medium, oval, regular, open, meeting the very long eye (Warder); large, oval, open, distant, meeting (Budd-Hansen); large, widely abaxile, with cells usually symmetrical and wide open, sometimes closed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder (Beach, Hedrick). Calyx tube funnel-form approaching cylindrical, sometimes constricted at the base of the limb and enlarging below, often characteristically elongated and extending to the core; stamens median (Beach, Hedrick); Budd-Hansen gives tube conical, stamens median, cells abaxile, ovate, slit. Carpels roundish ovate, elongated, emarginate, mucronate (Beach, Hedrick). Seeds abundant, loose in the capsules (Elliott); numerous, short, plump, pointed, dark, easily loosened, so that they rattle in the large open capsules (Warder, with similar wording in Budd-Hansen: numerous, short, plump, pointed, easily loosened, rattling in the large cells); characteristically small and pointed, roundish, plump, light to medium brown (Beach); numerous, small and pointed, round, plump, light brown (Hedrick).
Season
January to April (Elliott); November to January (Warder, Budd-Hansen); November to February (Downing); October to February (Beach); October to January (Hedrick); winter (Lowther).
Uses
Table and kitchen (Warder); dessert use (implied by Beach, who notes it is more pleasant in flavor for dessert use than Yellow Bellflower); kitchen and market (Lowther). Warder notes the tissue is so fine as to suit even the invalid or convalescent who could not safely partake of a more solid apple.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach classifies Ortley as a pale yellow apple of the Yellow Bellflower type, which has long been known in cultivation. Hedrick reinforces this, suggesting it is probably a seedling of Yellow Bellflower.
Book Sources
Described in 9 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905) — listed as Green Seek-No-Further
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Green Seek-no-Further
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 37 catalogs (1881–1926) from California, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Washington
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Palouse Nursery and Pleasant Dale Fruit Farm , Colfax, Washington Territory (situated two miles northeast of Colfax) - undated (single-page broadside flyer; "Washington Territory" suggests pre — 1889
- Palouse Nursery and Pleasant Dale Fruit Farm , Colfax, Washington Territory (situated two miles northeast of Colfax) - undated (single-page broadside flyer; "Washington Territory" suggests pre — 1889 — listed as Seeknofurther
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1898
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- S.L. Watkins , Grizzly Flats, El Dorado County , California — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- Fancher Creek Nurseries , George C. Roeding, Fresno , California — 1918
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Christopher Nurseries / John Stewart & Sons , Christopher , Washington — 1920
- Fresno Nursery Co. , Fresno , California — 1924
- Hudson's Wholesale Nurseries , Tangent , Oregon — 1926
View original book sources (9)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Ortley.
Ortley Pippin Woolman's Long, White Bellefleur, White Bellflower, Green Bellflower, Willow Leaf Pippin, Ohio Favorite, Detroit, White Detroit, Van Dyne, Jersey Greening, Davis, erroneously. Hollow Core Pippin, Greasy Pippin, Melting Pippin, Crane's Pippin, Warren Pippin, White Pippin, erroneously. Yellow Pippin, Golden Pippin, of some., Woodward's Pippin, Tom Woodward Pippin, Inman, White Seek-no-farther, of some., erroneously.
American. Native of New Jersey. First described by Lindley as Ortley, and we therefore follow, as it is as well known by that as any other one of its names. In strong rich soils, throughout the entire Western States, it proves one of the hardiest, most productive, profitable, as well as best varieties known. In size, it is also largely increased over specimens grown North, where the form is more oblong, the texture somewhat closer, and sprightliness a little enhanced. Shoots, slender, brownish, yellow, upright, long jointed.
Fruit, large, when grown on rich soils ; skin, smooth ; form, oblong oval, occasionally or often roundish conical ; color, pale yellowish white, at the North—South it becomes a richer yellow, with specks of dark red, and a vermillion tinge surrounding when exposed to sun; stem, varying from short and stout to long and slender; cavity, deep, narrow; calyx, small, closed ; basin, furrowed or plaited, from the surrounding angles or ribs that are often apparent in the fruit ; flesh, yellowish white, tender, crisp, sprightly, mild acid; core, large, open; seeds, abundant, loose in the capsules. January to April.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Green Seek-No-Further", pp. 121–121]
White Seek-no-farther.
Green Seek-no-farther, Pomme Royal, of some. Flushing Seek-no-farther, Pound Royal, Seek-no-farther of Coxe, Bracy's Seek-no-farther.
From Long Island. Tree healthy, not strong grower ; abundant, not regular bearer. Fruit, medium to large, roundish oblong, conical, uneven or waived surface ; yellowish green, rarely a faint brownish blush, small brownish dots, light shade of green suffused around underneath skin ; stem, slender ; cavity, irregular, acuminate : basin, broad, abrupt, furrowed ; core, open : flesh, fine-grained, very juicy, tender, sub-acid : "best." November to February.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Ortley. WHITE BELLFLOWER, And Many Others. This excellent New Jersey apple has been cultivated very satisfactorily over a great extent of our country, and is still seen in some Western collections, exhibiting all its peculiar beauty, but in many places where it was a great favorite but a few years since, it has become so defective from scab and bitter-rot that it is rapidly disappearing from the nurseries and orchards. Tree vigorous, healthy, upright, becoming large and spreading, very productive; Shoots stout, dark, bearing limbs brittle, and often broken by the fruit. Fruit large, oblong, conic, truncated, regular; Surface smooth, pale yellow, rarely blushed light carmine, and red spots; Dots minute, indented, white bases seen only in the unripe fruit. Basin medium, regular, plaited; Eye small, very long, closed. Cavity deep, acute, regular, brown; Stem long, slender. Core medium, oval, regular, open, meeting the very long eye; Seeds numerous, short, plump, pointed, dark, easily loosened, when they rattle in the large open capsules; Flesh yellowish, tender, breaking, juicy; Flavor acid to sub-acid, sprightly, refreshing; Quality best; Use, table, kitchen; Season, November to January. The threatened failure of this fine fruit is much to be regretted. Its tissue is so fine as to suit even the invalid or convalescent, who could not safely partake of a more solid apple.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Green Seek-no-Further.
White Seek-no-Further. Flushing Seek-no-Further. Seek-no-Further of Coxe.
Origin in the garden of the late Wm. Prince, Flushing, L. I.
Tree while young very slow in its growth, but makes a compact, well-formed head in the orchard.
Fruit apt to be knotty and unfair. Rather large, roundish conical, yellowish green, sprinkled with green and brown dots. Stalk short, in a moderate cavity. Calyx closed, in a rather deep basin. Flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant, mild subacid. Very good. October, January.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Ortley", pp. 321–321]
Ortley Pippin. Woolman's Long. Greasy Pippin. White Bellefleur. Van Dyne. Melting Pippin. Yellow Pippin. Woodward's Pippin. Davis White Bellflower. Ortley. White Bellflower. White Detroit. Hollow Cored Pippin. Green Bellflower. Jersey Greening. Crane's Pippin. Inman. Tom Woodward Pippin. Marrow Pippin. Ohio Favorite. Willow Leaf Pippin. White Pippin. Detroit. Davis. Warren Pippin. Golden Pippin. White Seek-no-Further. Tod's Golden Pippin.
Origin, orchard of Michael Ortley, South Jersey. It grows pretty strongly, with upright slender shoots, and bears abundantly.
Fruit medium to large, roundish oblong conic, greenish yellow, becoming fine yellow at maturity, sometimes with a sunny cheek. Stalk slender, of medium length, inserted in a deep, acute cavity, surrounded by russet. Calyx closed, set in an abrupt, somewhat corrugated basin. Flesh white, fine-grained, tender, juicy subacid, very pleasant. Good to very good. Core large. November to February.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Ortley.* (White Detroit, Ortley Pippin, Warren Pippin, White Bellflower, Woolman's Long, Detroit, Jersey Greening, Detroit of the West.) Large, roundish, somewhat oblong-ovate; pale yellow, slightly tinged with pink in the sun; stalk about an inch long; sometimes short, but always slender; cavity deep and narrow; basin rather deep, nearly even or slightly plaited; flesh sub-acid, crisp, sprightly, rich, fine. Shoots slender. This fine fruit has had a high reputation in the Ohio Valley, but it is becoming much affected with the black mildew or scab. Fig. 476. New Jersey.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Green Seek-no-further", pp. 365–365]
Green Seek-no-further. Large, often quite large, roundish, slightly approaching oblong obtuse conical; greenish yellow becoming yellow, specks large and conspicuous; stalk very short; calyx large, basin slightly ribbed, deep; flesh rather coarse, sub-acid, of good flavor.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)ORTLEY.
REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:169. 2. Lindley, Trans. Royal Hort. Soc. London, 6:415. 1825. (cited by 4, 5). 3. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831:39. 4. Kenrick, 1832:49. 5. Floy-Lindley, 1833:57. 6. Mag. Hort., 1:364. 1835. 7. Manning, 1838:57. 8. Downing, 1845:142. 9. Floy-Lindley, 1846:412 app. 10. Kirtland, Horticulturist, 2:545. 1848. 11. Downing and Ernst, Horticulturist, 4:74. 1849. fig. 12. Horticulturist, 4:144. 1849. 13. Thomas, 1849:183, 188. fig. 14. Cole, 1849:130. 15. Phoenix, Horticulturist, 4:472. 1850. 16. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 378. 1851. col. pl. 17. Elliott, 1854:95. fig. 18. Downing, 1857:90. 19. Hooper, 1857:67. 20. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 27:60. 1861. 21. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 22. Warder, 1867:673. fig. 23. Fitz, 1872:150. 24. Barry, 1883:351. 25. Hogg, 1884:249. 26. Wickson, 1889:246. 27. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 28. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:245. 29. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:252. 30. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:334. 1896. 31. Budd-Hansen, 1903:144.
SYNONYMS. Crane's Pippin (11, 17). Detroit (11, 13, 17, 19). Detroit of the West (13, 14). Golden Pippin (11, 19, of some 17). Greasy Pippin (11, 17, 18). Green Bellflower (11, 15, 17). Hollow Core Pippin (11, 17, 19). Hollow Cored Pippin (18). Inman (17). Jersey Greening (13, 17, but not of Coxe 11). Melting Pippin (11, 17). Ohio Favorite (11, 17, 18). Ortley (16, 25). ORTLEY APPLE (5). Ortley Apple (8, 11, 14). ORTLEY PIPPIN (7, 19). Ortley Pippin (8, 10, 11, 13, 17, 18). Tom Woodward Pippin (17). Van Dyme (16). Van Dyne (11, 17, 25, of some 8). WARREN PIPPIN (16). Warren Pippin (11, 13, 17). WHITE BELLEFLEUR (10, 11, 12). White Bellefleur (17, 23). WHITE BELLFLOWER (15, 29). White Bellflower (11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26). White Detroit (11, 13, 17, 18, 27). White Pippin (11, 18, erroneously 17). Willow Leaf Pippin (17, 18). Woodman's Song (18). Woodward's Pippin (11, 17). WOOLMAN'S LONG (8, 14, 23, 25). Woolman's Long (10, 11, 13, 17, 24). WOOLMAN'S LONG PIPPIN (1). Woolman's Long (6). Yellow Pippin (11, 17).
A pale yellow apple of the Yellow Bellflower type which has long been known in cultivation. Scattering trees of it are found in some of the very oldest orchards of the state, but it has never been grown to any considerable extent in New York and is now seldom or never planted, being less successful here than the Yellow Bellflower. It does better farther south and west. As grown in the North the fruit tends to be more oblong, smaller and of a paler yellowish-white color, coarser texture and sprightlier flavor than when grown farther south (17). The fruit has less acidity than Yellow Bellflower and is more pleasant in flavor for dessert use. The skin being whitish and tender, is easily bruised or discolored in handling. It is also apt to be marred on the tree by the chafing of the limbs. The wood is brittle and the bearing limbs are often broken by the weight of the fruit (22). Ortley is quite subject to attacks of various insects and of the scab fungus, and requires thorough treatment to protect it from these troubles.
Historical. This is an old New Jersey variety which Coxe described under the name Woolman's Long Pippin (1). In 1825 Floy sent fruit of it to the Royal Horticultural Society, London, under the name of Ortley and in the Transactions of the Society for that year Lindley described it under this name giving Woolman's Long as a synonym. Kenrick (4), Manning (7), Thomas (13), Elliott (17), Charles Downing (18), and other American pomologists have followed Floy instead of Coxe and describe the variety under the name Ortley. Emmons (16) gives Ortley as identical with Warren Pippin of Coxe but it is quite doubtful whether he was correct in this case. In portions of the South and West Ortley is an old favorite for planting in home orchards and has there been known under many different names prominent among which are White Bellflower and White Detroit.
TREE.
Tree moderately vigorous and medium in size or under favorable conditions large. Form at first upright with long slender shoots but when mature the tree becomes roundish or spreading. Twigs below medium to above, rather slender, straight, quite pubescent; internodes short. Bark dull reddish-brown often overlaid with thick scarf-skin. Lenticels small and scattering but rather conspicuous, mostly roundish, raised. Buds below medium, moderately projecting, roundish, slightly pubescent, free.
FRUIT.
Fruit large or medium, not very uniform in size or shape. Form oblong conic and flattened at the base, varying to somewhat roundish conic, regular or obscurely ribbed. Stem long, often slender. Cavity often large, acute or approaching acuminate, deep, varying from moderately narrow to wide, usually partly russeted, somewhat furrowed. Calyx rather small to medium, closed or somewhat open; lobes long, acute, usually converging and reflexed. Basin small to medium, shallow to moderately deep, narrow to moderately wide, usually abrupt and wrinkled or slightly furrowed. Skin moderately thin, tough, smooth, waxy, pale whitish-yellow varying to rich yellow in well developed fruit, rarely with a faint pinkish-red blush. Dots inconspicuous, usually whitish and submerged.
Calyx tube funnel-form approaching cylindrical, sometimes constricted at the base of the limb and enlarging below, often characteristically elongated and extending to the core. Stamens median. Core large, widely abaxile; cells usually symmetrical and wide open, sometimes closed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels roundish ovate, elongated, emarginate, mucronate. Seeds numerous, characteristically small and pointed, roundish, plump, light to medium brown. Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, moderately fine, crisp, tender, juicy, sprightly subacid, very good. Season October to February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)GREEN SEEK-NO-FURTHER.
REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:131. fig. 2. Kenrick, 1832:53. 3. Thomas, 1849:181. fig. 4. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:38. 1851. fig. 5. Elliott, 1854:137. 6. Warder, 1867:720. 7. Downing, 1869:202.
SYNONYMS. Autumn Secknofurther (4). Bracy's Seck-no-further (5). Flushing Seek-no-further (7). GREEN SEEK-NO-FURTHER (3, 5, 6, 7). SEEKNOFURTHER (4). Secknofurther (5, 7, of Coxe 3). SEEK-NO-FURTHER (1). White Seek-no-further (7). WINTER SEEK-NO-FURTHER (2).
A large yellowish-green apple with faint blush of orange-red, very good in quality; season early winter. The tree is a rather slow grower, but eventually forms a regular, compact head and is quite productive. Desirable for the home orchard (1, 7.)
Historical. The earliest description of this variety which we find is that given by Coxe (1) who remarks that it is a native of one of the eastern states. Downing states that it originated in the garden of William Prince, Flushing, N. Y. (7). It is now seldom found in cultivation in New York.
FRUIT.
Fruit large. Form roundish conic or a little inclined to oblate conic, ribbed. Stem short to medium, thick. Cavity large, acute to somewhat acuminate, deep, broad, more or less marked with faint greenish-russet. Calyx moderately large, closed or slightly open. Basin deep, rather wide, abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin moderately thick, tough, greenish-yellow or yellow with faint orange-red blush. Dots variable, large and small, often irregular, areolar with russet center or whitish and submerged.
Calyx tube large, moderately long, wide, conical. Stamens median. Core small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels roundish to broadly ovate, tufted. Seeds rather numerous, above medium, narrow, long, acute to acuminate, tufted. Flesh yellowish-white, moderately coarse, crisp, tender, very juicy, sprightly, rich subacid, very good. Season October to January.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Ortley.—Origin, orchard of Michael Ortley, New Jersey; tree vigorous, large, spreading, very productive.
Fruit large, oblong conic; surface smooth, clear, pale yellow, rarely with light blush and red spots; dots minute, obscure, indented, russet; cavity deep, acute, regular, lined with russet; stem long, slender; basin narrow, shallow, with corrugations and fine wrinkles; calyx small, closed; segments divergent. Core large, oval, open, distant, meeting; cells abaxile, ovate, slit; tube conical; stamens median; seeds numerous, short, plump, pointed, easily loosened, so that they rattle in the large cells; flesh yellowish white, firm, tender, fine-grained, juicy, sprightly, very pleasant subacid, very good to best. November to January.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Ortley (16) is medium in size, oblate in form, and yellow in color. Quality is very good. Primary use is both kitchen and market. Season is winter. Reported by 4 stations in the Northern Division (also reported in another division) and 14 stations in the Central Division (also reported in another division).
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)ORTLEY. Golden Pippin. Greasy Pippin. Green Bellflower. Yellow Pippin. Ortley is probably a seedling of Yellow Bellflower, surpassed in most respects by the better-known variety. The essential differences between the two are: the fruits of Ortley are paler in color and have less acidity than those of Yellow Bellflower, and the trees are less productive. Ortley is an old variety first described by Coxe in 1817. It is a favorite in the South, parts of the Middle West, and on the Pacific slope. Tree vigorous, medium in size or large, with long slender shoots, when mature spreading. Fruit large, non-uniform in size and shape, oblong-conic and flattened at the base or round-conic, regular or obscurely ribbed; stem long, slender; cavity large, acute, deep, narrow, partly russeted, furrowed; calyx small, closed or open; lobes long, acute, usually converging and reflexed; basin small, shallow, narrow, abrupt and wrinkled or furrowed; skin thin, tough, smooth, waxy, yellow, rarely with a faint blush; dots inconspicuous, white and submerged; calyx-tube funnel-form, sometimes constricted at the base of the limb and enlarging below, often elongated and extending to the core; stamens median; core large, widely abaxile; cells symmetrical and wide open, sometimes closed; core-lines clasping the funnel-like cylinder; carpels round-ovate, elongated, emarginate, mucronate; seeds numerous, small and pointed, round, plump, light brown; flesh yellow, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, sprightly; very good; October to January.