NO. 79. PRIESTLY.

This apple is said to be a native of the county of Bucks in Pennsylvania, where it was first cultivated by a person from whom it has obtained its name. The tree has a handsome, upright form, vigorous growth, and large leaves; it is well suited to light soils: the fruit is large, of an oblong form; the skin smooth, the colour usually a dull red, streaked faintly with green, with spots of the same colour: the flesh is white, has a pleasant spicy taste; it is an excellent table and kitchen apple; hangs late on the tree; is an abundant bearer, and makes good cider late in the season, but not of the first quality.

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

Priestley. Priestley's American, | Red Cathead. Large, roundish oblong, dull red, streaks of yellowish green; flesh, greenish white, inferior. December to March.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Priestly", pp. 196–196]

Priestley. Priestley's American, | Red Cathead. Large, roundish oblong, dull red, streaks of yellowish green; flesh, greenish white, inferior. December to March.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Priestly. Priestley's American. Origin, Pennsylvania. Tree vigorous, upright, and productive. Fruit large, roundish oblong, smooth, dull red, with small streaks of yellowish green. Flesh white, moderately juicy, with a spicy, agreeable flavor. Hardly good. December to March.

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

Priestley. Medium, roundish oblong, striped dull red; spicy, good. Winter. Pa.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Priestly", pp. 738–738]

Priestley. Medium, roundish oblong, striped dull red; spicy, good. Winter. Pa.

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

PRIESTLY.

REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:146. fig. 2. Thacher, 1822:132. 3. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 4. Wilson, 1828:136. 5. Kenrick, 1832:51. 6. Downing, 1845:126. 7. Horticulturist, 2:483. 1848. 8. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:72. 1851. 9. Elliott, 1854:176. 10. Hooper, 1857:72. 11. Warder, 1867:729.

SYNONYMS. PRIESTLEY (3, 5, 10). Priestley's American (6, 9). Red Cathead (9).

Fruit medium to large, blushed or faintly striped with red. Although it ranks only fair to good in quality it is an agreeable dessert apple especially in the spring when it is fresh, juicy and mildly subacid. It is less desirable for culinary uses because it lacks acidity. The tree is a pretty vigorous grower, hardy, healthy, long-lived and commonly bears good crops annually. The fruit hangs well to the tree. It is surpassed by standard varieties of its season and is not recommended for planting.

The following is Coxe's description of this variety: "This apple is said to be a native of the county of Bucks in Pennsylvania, where it was first cultivated by a person from whom it has obtained its name. The tree has a handsome, upright form, vigorous growth, and large leaves; it is well suited to light soils—the fruit is large, of an oblong form—the skin smooth, the colour usually a dull red, streaked faintly with green, with spots of the same colour; the flesh is white, has a pleasant spicy taste—it is an excellent table and kitchen apple; hangs late on the tree; is an abundant bearer, and makes good cider late in the season, but not of the first quality."

FRUIT.

Fruit large to medium. Form roundish oblate to roundish oblong, usually quite regular and symmetrical. Stem long, usually rather slender. Cavity acute to acuminate, moderately deep to very deep, broad, russeted and with outspreading russet rays, sometimes faintly furrowed. Calyx large, usually closed, sometimes partly open; lobes connivent, erect or reflexed, broad, acute. Basin very shallow to moderately deep, wide, obtuse or somewhat abrupt, distinctly furrowed and wrinkled. Skin tough, smooth, green or yellow washed and blushed with red and inconspicuously striped with dark carmine; highly colored specimens are nearly covered with deep red. Dots rather numerous toward basin, larger and more scattering toward cavity, gray or russet. Calyx tube rather wide, conical. Stamens median or below. Core medium to small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels roundish, emarginate. Seeds large, wide, flat, obtuse to somewhat acute, very dark brown.

Flesh yellowish, firm, rather coarse, crisp, juicy, agreeable mild subacid, somewhat aromatic, medium to good in quality.

Season December to April.

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