Princely
ApplePrincely
Origin/History
Origin in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Downing). Thomas attributes it to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, suggesting the variety was known or grown across both states.
Tree
A good grower and good bearer (Downing). Not described further in sources.
Fruit
Size: Downing describes the fruit as medium; Thomas describes it as rather large. The two sources conflict on this point.
Form: Oblate, sometimes inclining to conic (Downing). Thomas describes it as roundish-oblate, omitting the conic tendency.
Stem: Stalk short (Downing).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open (Downing).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, shaded, marbled, and indistinctly splashed with red, with small light dots (Downing). Thomas characterizes the surface pattern as striped — a somewhat different rendering of the red markings than Downing's "marbled and indistinctly splashed."
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, pleasant, mild, almost sweet subacid (Downing). Thomas similarly notes subacid flavor and calls it fine.
Core/Seeds: Core small (Downing).
Season
October through January (Downing), indicating a fall harvest with some keeping into early winter. Thomas places it in autumn.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Quality rated good to very good (Downing).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Princely.
Origin, Bucks Co., Pa. Tree a good grower and good bearer.
Fruit medium, oblate, sometimes inclining to conic, yellow, shaded, marbled, and indistinctly splashed with red, small light dots. Stalk short. Calyx open. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, pleasant, mild almost sweet subacid. Core small. Good to very good. October, January.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Princely. Rather large, roundish-oblate, striped; sub-acid, fine. Autumn. N. J. and Pa.