Quaker
AppleQuaker
Origin / History
An old apple; origin unknown (Downing). Disseminated more in the western states than in New York, and but little grown in New York (Beach). Farrand, whose account Beach cites from the Michigan Station (Bulletin 205, 1903), describes the tree and fruit as noted below.
Tree
Tree vigorous, spreading, handsome. An early and great bearer, regarded by some as a valuable market sort (Downing). Farrand finds it vigorous but not very productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large; medium (Downing), medium to large (Farrand).
Form: Roundish, inclining to conic.
Stem: Stalk medium, slender.
Cavity: Large.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, splashed and striped with rich red (Downing); Farrand gives yellow with a red cheek.
Dots: Light.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh whitish, crisp, juicy; pleasant, slightly aromatic subacid. Quality "Good" (Downing); "only fair" (Farrand).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November to February (Downing). Farrand gives October and calls it a late ripening variety.
Uses
Regarded by some as a valuable market sort (Downing).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Quaker.
An old Apple. Origin unknown. Tree vigorous, spreading, an early and great bearer, regarded by some as a valuable market sort.
Fruit medium, roundish, inclining to conic, yellow, splashed and striped with rich red, light dots. Stalk medium, slender. Cavity large. Calyx closed. Flesh whitish, crisp, juicy, pleasant, slightly aromatic subacid. Good. November, February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)QUAKER.
REFERENCES. 1. Rural N. Y., 1870 (cited by 7). 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:247. 3. Thomas, 1897:299. 4. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 152:224. 1898. 5. Farrand, Ib., 205:48. 1903. 6. Budd-Hansen, 1903:224. 7. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:371. 1905.
SYNONYMS. None.
This variety has been disseminated more in the western states than it has in New York. It is but little grown here. Farrand (5) describes it as a late ripening variety of only fair quality, size medium to large; color yellow with a red cheek; tree handsome, vigorous but not very productive; season October.