Pewaukee.

Raised from seed of Duchess of Oldenburg by George P. Pepper, of Pewaukee, Wis., who sends us specimens, and writes that the tree is strong and vigorous, centre upright, very spreading, an annual bearer, and one of the hardiest and best for the Northwest; young shoots dark brownish red.

Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate; skin bright yellow, striped, splashed and mottled with light and dark red over most of the surface, covered with a thin grayish bloom, and many large and small light dots, a few being areole; stalk short, small; cavity small; calyx closed; basin medium, slightly corrugated; flesh white, a little coarse, breaking, half tender, juicy, subacid, slightly aromatic; good; core small. January to May.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Pewaukee—Originated by the late Geo. P. Peffer, Pewaukee, Wisconsin, by crossing Duchess with Northen Spy pollen. It does well in the lake section of eastern Wisconsin and has found favor in many states, but has not proved as hardy in the north as was hoped. Tree of strong, vigorous growth with upright center; an annual bearer—Fruit large, roundish, irregular and variable, angular, often ribbed, unequal, sometimes inclined; surface greenish yellow, striped, splashed and marbled with light and dark red, overlaid with thin grayish bloom; dots large, few, white, suffused, with russet centres; also many white, distinct, small dots; cavity very peculiar, often nearly flat, with a large lip or fleshy protuberance against the stem, in others shallow and wavy, with irregular russet patch; stem short, often fleshy at insertion, basin shallow, wavy, ribbed, rather narrow, angular; calyx half open. Core half open, distant, clasping; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds about twelve, plump, small; flesh yellowish white with yellow veinings, a little coarse, juicy, subacid; good. All winter.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

Pewaukee.* Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate; striped with dark red on a bright yellow ground; flesh white, tender, brisk sub-acid. Seedling of Oldenburg. Valued for its hardiness. Wisconsin.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

PEWAUKEE.

References. 1. Willey, Horticulturist, 1870. (cited by 2 and 20). 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:51. 3. Downing, 1872:26 app. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1875:12. 5. Barry, 1883:351. 6. Thomas, 1885:520. 7. Can. Hort., 14:139. 1891. 8. Ib., 14:260. 1891. 9. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:246. 10. Can. Hort., 17:69. 1894. 11. Ib., 17:251. 1894. 12. Ib., 18:379. 1895. 13. Munson, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 1896:71. 14. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:31. 1897. 15. Dickens & Greene, Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:54. 1902. 16. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:85. 1902. 17. Budd-Hansen, 1903:150. fig. 18. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:52. 1903. 19. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:137. 1904. 20. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:231. 1905.

Synonym. Peewaukee (7, 10).

Fruit above medium to large; often it is poorly colored, being greenish striped with dull red. When well colored it is of fairly good yellow color largely washed and mottled with red and splashed with dark carmine. It is overspread with a heavy bluish bloom which produces a rather dull effect, but it becomes bright and glossy when polished. Its quality ranks fair to good for either culinary or dessert uses.

Pewaukee varies much in keeping qualities in different seasons (19). In ordinary storage its commercial limit varies from November to January, or under favorable conditions till February. The rate of loss in the stored fruit is often high in November, then becomes lower till midwinter, after which it rises again. Its season in cold storage is variously reported as extending from November to February or March, or exceptionally to May (19).

This variety was produced by crossing Oldenburg with Northern Spy. As might be expected from its parentage, it is very hardy, although it has not proven as hardy in the North and Northwest as was at first expected, being inferior to Wealthy in this respect (16, 17).

Pewaukee makes a moderately vigorous root development in the nursery, but in the orchard it becomes a good, strong grower and succeeds well under ordinary care. Usually it is healthy and long-lived, but in some localities it is said to suffer from canker. The tree comes into bearing rather early and is a reliable cropper, bearing biennially or almost annually and often yielding heavy crops. It is not generally considered a desirable variety for commercial planting in New York, except in those portions of the state where hardiness is a prime requisite, for in spite of its vigor, hardiness and productiveness it is usually found less profitable than standard commercial varieties because it is deficient in color and in quality and generally is not very well known in market.

Historical. Originated by George P. Peffer, Pewaukee, Wisconsin, by crossing Oldenburg with Northern Spy. It was first brought to the notice of fruit growers about 1870 (1, 2, 3). It has been sparingly disseminated through this state but has not been cultivated largely in any locality and its planting does not appear to be increasing.

Tree.

Tree vigorous or moderately vigorous, medium to large, with stout curved branches. Form upright spreading or roundish, open. Twigs long to below medium, curved or irregularly bent, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark clear dark reddish-brown lightly mottled and streaked with gray scarf-skin; slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels conspicuous being of a clear light color, scattering, usually medium or below, elongated, not raised. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, free or nearly so, much pubescent; the shoulder of the bud is flattened so that it bulges slightly on the sides.

Fruit.

Fruit above medium, often large, fairly uniform in size but not in shape. Form roundish oblate, sometimes approaching roundish ovate, characteristically rounded toward the cavity, ribbed, more or less irregularly elliptical. Stem usually short, often fleshy and often inserted under a lip. Cavity varies from moderately large to small, sometimes being scarcely at all developed, narrow to wide, very shallow to moderately deep, often furrowed and sometimes thinly russeted. It is acuminate at the insertion of the stem but the outer portion is often moderately obtuse. Calyx below medium to large, partly open or sometimes closed. Basin medium in depth and width, usually somewhat abrupt, wrinkled. Skin smooth, moderately thin, rather tough, grass-green becoming yellow washed and mottled with orange-red or red, striped and splashed with carmine, often covered with bloom. Dots moderately conspicuous, pale gray or whitish, some being large, obscurely defined and areolar. Calyx tube funnel-form varying to cone-shape. Stamens median to basal. Core below medium to large, axile to somewhat abaxile; cells irregularly developed, usually closed or slit; core lines clasp the funnel cylinder. Carpels obcordate, tufted. Seeds numerous, medium to large, rather long, moderately narrow, acute, plump, tufted, light brown. Flesh nearly white, moderately firm, slightly coarse, rather tender, very juicy, subacid, slightly aromatic, fair to good.

Season variable; commonly November to April in Northern and Western New York.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Pewaukee.— Originated by the late Geo. P. Peffer, Pewaukee, Wis., by crossing Oldenburg with Northern Spy pollen. It does well in the lake section of eastern Wisconsin and has found favor in many States, but has not proven as hardy in the North as was hoped. Tree of strong, vigorous growth, with upright centre, an annual bearer.

Fruit large, roundish, irregular and variable, angular, often ribbed, unequal, sometimes inclined; surface greenish yellow, striped, splashed and marbled with light and dark red overlaid with thin grayish bloom; dots few, large, white, suffused, with russet centres; also many white, distinct, small dots; cavity very peculiar, often nearly flat, with a large lip or fleshy protuberance against the stem, in others shallow and wavy, with irregular russet patch; stem short, often fleshy at insertion; basin shallow, wavy, ribbed, rather narrow, angular; calyx half open. Core half open, distant, clasping; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds about twelve, plump, small; flesh yellowish white, with yellow veinings, a little coarse, juicy, subacid, good. All winter.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

Pewaukee. Size: large. Form: flat. Color: yellow-red. Quality: very good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter. Northern Division: 6 reporting stations (also reported in another division). Central Division: 19 reporting stations (also reported in another division). Southern Division: 2 reporting stations (also reported in another division).

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

PEWAUKEE.

Pewaukee is unusual in its fruits, which are distinguished by bluish bloom, characteristically rounded basal end, and a short stem inserted under a large lip. The apples can scarcely be said to be attractive in color—green striped with dull red; nor in shape oblong and not uniform; nor, least of all, in the flesh, which is coarse in texture and austere in flavor. The trees, however, have health, vigor, longevity, early bearing, great productiveness, and remarkable hardiness to commend them. Pewaukee is a cross between Northern Spy and Oldenburg made by George F. Peffer, Pewaukee, Wisconsin, who brought the variety to the attention of fruit-growers about 1870. It is grown only where hardiness is a prime requisite.

Tree vigorous, large, upright-spreading or round, open, with stout, curved branches. Fruit large, uniform in size but not in shape, round-oblate, sometimes round-ovate, characteristically rounded toward the cavity, ribbed, more or less irregularly elliptical; stem short, often fleshy, inserted under a lip; cavity large, sometimes scarcely developed, narrow, very shallow, often furrowed and sometimes thinly russeted; calyx large, open or closed; basin medium in depth and width, usually abrupt, wrinkled; skin smooth, thin, tough, yellow washed and mottled with orange-red or red, striped and splashed with carmine, covered with bloom; dots conspicuous, pale gray or white, some large, obscurely defined and areolar; calyx-tube funnel-form; stamens median; core large, axile to abaxile; cells irregularly developed, usually closed or slit; core-lines clasping the funnel cylinder; carpels obcordate, tufted; seeds numerous, large, long, narrow, acute, plump, tufted, light brown; flesh white, firm, coarse, tender, very juicy, subacid, aromatic; fair to good; November to April.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

Planted Spring 1890. Tree a vigorous grower and a regular bearer. Fruit above medium size, roundish, oblate. Skin greenish yellow, striped and spotted with dull red. Flesh white, crisp, juicy. Slightly acid, quality good. Season early Winter.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)