Palouse
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Palouse
Origin / History
Palouse originated in Whitman County, Washington, from seed brought from Illinois in 1879. The original tree is located five miles east of Colfax, Washington. The variety was introduced about 1892 by George Ruedy of Colfax, Washington. It is a comparatively new variety that has become widely planted in commercial orchards in Washington, where many regard it as one of the most valuable seedling varieties which have originated in that region.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Form: Oblong. (Some early descriptions characterized it as roundish oblate, but the typical fruit is distinctly oblong.)
Color, Texture, Flavor, Aroma: In color, texture, flavor and aroma, Palouse is so much like Tompkins King that some suppose it to be a seedling of that variety, though the two differ substantially in form.
Size, Cavity, Calyx, Basin, Skin, Flesh, Stem, Core, Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Late fall variety, in season from October to early winter.
Storage and Keeping
Not as good a keeper as Tompkins King.
Uses
Grown commercially in Washington orchards. More productive than Tompkins King.
Subtypes / Variants
None described.
Other
Palouse appears to be worthy of testing in New York, according to early twentieth-century pomologists. The variety's productive capacity and commercial value in Washington suggest merit for broader cultivation.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 7 catalogs (1901–1912) from Oregon, Washington
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish, Washington (on Yakima Indian Reservation) - [undated; companion to the 1912 "Sixth Edition" descriptive catalogue; same cover design and incorporated 1903 date; dated as c.1912]
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)PALOUSE.
REFERENCES. 1. Van Deman, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1891:390. 2. Rural N. Y., 50:815. 1891. 3. Hexamer, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1891:159. 4. Williams, Gard. and For., 5:11. 1892. 5. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:246. 6. Craig, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1896:133. 7. Macoun, Ib., 1901:197.
SYNONYMS. None.
Palouse is a comparatively new variety which originated in Washington. In color, texture, flavor and aroma it is so much like Tompkins King that some suppose it to be a seedling of that variety. Its form, however, is quite different from that of Tompkins King, typical fruit being oblong, as described by Craig (6) and others (1, 2), rather than oblate or roundish oblate, as described by Hexamer (3) and Macoun (7). It is hardly as good a keeper as Tompkins King and would probably be classed as a late fall variety, being in season from October to early winter. It is, however, more productive than Tompkins King and is being much planted in commercial orchards in Washington where many regard it as one of the most valuable of the seedling varieties which have originated in that region. It appears to be worthy of testing in New York.
Historical. Palouse originated in Whitman county, Washington, from seed brought from Illinois in 1879. The original tree is located five miles east of Colfax¹. It was introduced about 1892 by George Ruedy, Colfax, Wash., whose
¹ Ruedy, Letter and Circular, 1904.