Progress

Apple

Progress

Origin/History

A native of Middlefield, Connecticut (Downing 1900; Thomas gives "Connecticut"; Warder, quoting Downing, gives "Middletown, Connecticut"). The original tree stood on the land of Enoch Coe, formerly of Isaac Miller Esq., and for some time the variety was called "Esquire Miller's Best Sort."

Tree

A moderate grower (Downing; Warder), forming a handsome head; bears early and is very productive. Elliott describes the tree as vigorous and productive.

Fruit

Size: Reports vary. Warder (quoting Downing) gives "above medium"; Downing (1900) gives "medium"; Thomas gives "rather large"; Elliott gives "large"; Lowther gives "medium."

Form: Roundish oblate (Downing 1900); roundish, inclining to conic, sometimes oblate, somewhat angular (Warder, quoting Downing); roundish-conical, often slightly oblate (Thomas); conical (Elliott); roundish (oblate) (Lowther).

Stem: Short, inserted in a round cavity, surrounded by russet. Thomas notes the cavity is russeted.

Calyx: Large, partially closed (Downing, Warder); large (Thomas).

Basin: Shallow and open (Warder, quoting Downing); open (Downing 1900); shallow (Thomas).

Skin: Smooth, yellow, with a sunny cheek, sometimes with a few scattered gray dots (Downing, Warder). Elliott describes the skin as yellow, specked with greenish russet, with a blush in the sun. Thomas describes it as smooth, yellow, often with a brownish cheek. Lowther gives the color as greenish yellow.

Flesh/Flavor: Solid, tender, crisp, juicy. Warder (quoting Downing) describes the flavor as "very refreshing, vinous"; Downing (1900) describes it as "refreshing, subacid"; Thomas describes it as crisp with a pleasant sub-acid flavor; Elliott simply describes the flesh as tender. Quality rated good to very good (Downing); best (Lowther).

Core/Seeds: Core small (Downing). Seeds not described in source.

Season

Ripe October to April (Downing, Warder); keeps till spring (Elliott); season given as autumn (Lowther).

Uses

Both kitchen and market (Lowther).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Lowther's tabular notations: "N. Div.: 16 (also reported in another division). C. Div.: 16 (also reported in another division)."

Book Sources

Described in 5 period pomological works

View original book sources (5)

Progress.

Not having had the good fortune to study this apple, I quote the description given by Downing;

"A native of Middletown, Connecticut. Tree a moderate grower and forms a handsome head, bears early and very productive.

"Size above medium, rather globular, inclining to conic, sometimes oblate, somewhat angular; Stem short, inserted into a round cavity, surrounded by russet; Calyx large, partially closed, set in a shallow, open basin; Skin smooth, yellow, with a sunny cheek, sometimes a few scattered, gray dots; Flesh solid, tender, crisp, juicy, with a very refreshing, vinous flavor. Ripe October until April."

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Progress. "Esquire Miller's Best Sort." A native of Middlefield, Conn. Tree a moderate grower, and forms a handsome head, bears early, and very productive. The original tree stands on the land of Enoch Coe, formerly of Isaac Miller Esq., and for some time was called "Esquire Miller's best Sort." Fruit medium, roundish oblate. Stalk short, inserted in a round cavity, surrounded by russet. Calyx large, partially closed, set in an open basin. Skin smooth, yellow, with a sunny cheek, sometimes with a few scattered gray dots. Flesh solid, tender, crisp, juicy, refreshing, subacid. Good to very good. Core small. Ripe, October to April.

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

Progress. Size: medium. Form: roundish (oblate). Color: greenish yellow. Quality: best. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: autumn. N. Div.: 16 (also reported in another division). C. Div.: 16 (also reported in another division).

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

Progress, Esquire, | Miller's Best Sort. From Connecticut. Tree, vigorous, productive. Fruit, large, yellow, specked with greenish russet, blush in sun, conical; flesh, tender. Keeps till Spring.

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

Progress. Rather large, roundish-conical, often slightly oblate; smooth, yellow, often with a brownish cheek; stalk short, cavity russeted; calyx large, basin shallow; flesh crisp, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor. Connecticut.

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

Esquire Esquire Miller's Best Sort Miller's Best Sort Progres