Quaker
AppleQuaker Apple
Origin/History
An old apple of unknown origin. It has been disseminated more in the western states than in New York, where it is but little grown. Regarded by some as a valuable market sort.
Tree
Vigorous, spreading. Downing describes it as an early and great bearer. Beach (citing Farrand, 1903) describes the tree as handsome and vigorous but not very productive. [Conflict: Downing calls it an early and great bearer; Farrand characterizes it as not very productive.]
Fruit
Size: Downing gives size as medium. Farrand (via Beach) gives size as medium to large. [Conflict on size.]
Form: Roundish, inclining to conic.
Stem: Medium length, slender.
Cavity: Large.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, splashed and striped with rich red; light dots. Farrand (via Beach) describes the color as yellow with a red cheek.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, crisp, juicy, pleasant, slightly aromatic subacid. Quality rated Good by Downing. Farrand (via Beach) rates quality as only fair. [Conflict: Downing rates Good; Farrand rates only fair quality.]
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives the keeping season as November through February, implying a late harvest. Farrand (via Beach) gives the season as October. [Conflict on season/harvest timing.]
Uses
Regarded by some as a valuable market sort.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach (1905) cites references dating to Rural New York (1870), Bailey (1892), Thomas (1897), Lyon (1898), Farrand (1903), Budd-Hansen (1903), and Ragan (1905), indicating the variety was in circulation and documented for at least thirty-five years prior to Beach's account.
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.