Parry's White
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Parry's White
Origin/History
Of unknown origin, supposed to be a Pennsylvania apple. It is occasionally listed by nurserymen but had not yet become known to any considerable extent in New York as of 1905 (Beach).
Tree
Downing describes the tree as vigorous; Beach characterizes it as of medium size and moderately vigorous — a slight discrepancy between the two sources. Form at first upright spreading, but after bearing full crops it becomes roundish and somewhat drooping; dense. Despite its remarkable productiveness, it makes a pretty good growth. Twigs short, curved, stout with large terminal buds; internodes short. Bark brown tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels quite numerous, rather conspicuous, medium size, round, not raised. Buds medium to large, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent. The tree comes into bearing young and is an annual cropper, yielding good to very heavy crops. Downing also describes it as having a compact head and being a regular bearer.
Fruit
Size and Form: Usually medium but varies according to the abundance of the crop from below medium to rather large; quite uniform in size and shape. Downing describes the form as roundish oblate, slightly conic; Beach describes it as nearly globular varying to somewhat oblate or slightly inclined to ovate, quite regular. Pale yellow or whitish, waxen; quite attractive in appearance for an apple of its class (Beach).
Stem: Downing describes the stalk as short and small; Beach gives it as above medium to rather short, slender.
Cavity: The two sources conflict on this point: Downing describes the cavity as large and deep; Beach describes it as slightly acuminate, medium to shallow, medium in width, smooth, and symmetrical.
Calyx: Small, closed. Lobes medium in length, narrow, acute.
Basin: Downing describes the basin as rather shallow and a little uneven; Beach describes it as very shallow, moderately narrow to rather broad, obtuse, smooth or slightly wrinkled, symmetrical.
Skin: Smooth, moderately thick, rather tough, waxen yellowish-white or greenish, sometimes blushed or showing a slight tinge of red in the sun.
Dots: Medium size to very small, pale or brown, numerous, depressed.
Calyx Tube: Short, narrow, funnel-shape.
Stamens: Marginal to median.
Core and Seeds: Core medium to small, abaxile; cells open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels round, emarginate. Seeds medium or above, acute or inclined to obtuse, light brown.
Flesh and Flavor: White, rather fine, tender, juicy, subacid; good. Downing adds crisp and very tender; Beach describes it as quite firm — a slight tension between the two sources on firmness. Good in quality for either dessert or culinary use.
Season
Downing gives the season simply as August. Beach gives a fuller picture: very late August into or through October, beginning to ripen late in August or early in September and continuing in use into or through October.
Uses
Table, cooking, and market (Downing). Good for both dessert and culinary use (Beach).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
It is worthy of trial where an apple of its type is desired (Beach). The variety follows Yellow Transparent in season (Beach).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Parry's White.
Imperial White. Superior White. White Apple.
Of unknown origin, supposed to be Pennsylvania. Tree vigorous, upright, compact head, a regular bearer, and very productive; use, table, cooking, and market.
Fruit medium or below, roundish oblate, slightly conic; skin smooth, whitish, sometimes a slight tinge of red in the sun; stalk short, small; cavity large, deep; calyx closed; basin rather shallow, a little uneven; flesh fine, white, crisp, very tender, juicy, subacid; good. August.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)PARRY WHITE.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1872:25 app. 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:246. 3. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:263. 1895. 4. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:137. 1904.
SYNONYMS. Imperial White (1). PARRY WHITE (1, 2, 3, 4). Superior White (1). White Apple (1).
Fruit pale yellow or whitish, waxen, of medium size; quite attractive in appearance for an apple of its class. The flesh is white, juicy, subacid, good in quality for either dessert or culinary use. It follows Yellow Transparent in season, beginning to ripen late in August or early in September and continuing in use into or through October (4). The tree comes into bearing young and is an annual cropper, yielding good to very heavy crops. In spite of its remarkable productiveness it makes a pretty good growth. It is worthy of trial where an apple of its type is desired.
Historical. Origin unknown. It is supposed to be a Pennsylvania apple. It is occasionally listed by nurserymen (2). It has not yet become known to any considerable extent in New York.
TREE.
Tree of medium size and moderately vigorous. Form at first upright spreading but after bearing full crops it becomes roundish and somewhat drooping; dense. Twigs short, curved, stout with large terminal buds; internodes short. Bark brown tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels quite numerous, rather conspicuous, medium size, round, not raised. Buds medium to large, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit usually medium but varies according to the abundance of the crop from below medium to rather large; quite uniform in size and shape. Form nearly globular varying to somewhat oblate or slightly inclined to ovate, quite regular. Stem above medium to rather short, slender. Cavity slightly acuminate, medium to shallow, medium in width, smooth, symmetrical. Calyx small, closed; lobes medium in length, narrow, acute. Basin very shallow, moderately narrow to rather broad, obtuse, smooth or slightly wrinkled, symmetrical. Skin moderately thick, rather tough, waxen yellowish-white or greenish, occasionally blushed. Dots medium size to very small, pale or brown, numerous, depressed. Calyx tube short, narrow, funnel-shape. Stamens marginal to median. Core medium to small, abaxile; cells open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels round, emarginate. Seeds medium or above, acute or inclined to obtuse, light brown. Flesh white, quite firm, rather fine, tender, juicy, subacid, good. Season very late August into or through October.