Ragan

Apple

Origin/History

Originated with Reuben Ragan, Putnam County, Indiana (all sources agree). Also known as Ragan's Red (Downing).

Tree

Hardy, vigorous, and fruitful. Young wood dull reddish brown, grayish (Downing). Not described in other sources.

Fruit

Size: Large (Elliott, Thomas). Downing gives medium to large.

Form: Roundish (all sources). Downing further describes the form as roundish conic; Thomas as roundish ovate.

Stem: Medium length (Downing); medium to long (Thomas); long, rather stout, and curved (Elliott). Inserted in a very deep, narrow cavity (Downing).

Cavity: Very deep, narrow (Downing); deep (Elliott, Thomas).

Calyx: Small, closed (Downing); small, nearly closed (Elliott). Not described in Thomas.

Basin: Deep and abrupt (Downing); open, deep, slightly plaited (Elliott); deep (Thomas). Downing describes it as abrupt where Elliott describes it as open and slightly plaited.

Skin: Striped and marbled with red. Downing gives the ground color as green; Thomas as light greenish yellow; Elliott as pale yellow. Elliott additionally describes the surface as overspread with light red and notes occasional russet patches.

Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white (Downing, Thomas); white (Elliott). Juicy (Downing); crisp, slightly coarse (Elliott). Rich, spicy, subacid (Downing); rich, spicy, rather acid (Thomas); sharp sub-acid (Elliott).

Core/Seeds: Core small; seeds abundant (Elliott). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Season

October to November (Downing); early winter (Thomas).

Uses

Promising as an early winter market variety (Elliott). Quality rated Good to very good (Downing).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Ragan. Ragan's Red. Originated with Reuben Ragan, Putnam Co., Ind. Tree hardy, vigorous, and fruitful. Young wood dull reddish brown, grayish. Fruit medium to large, roundish conic. Color marbled and striped with red on a green ground. Stalk medium length, inserted in a very deep, narrow cavity. Calyx small, closed, set in a deep, abrupt basin. Flesh yellowish white, juicy, pleasant, rather rich, spicy, subacid. Good to very good. October to November.

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

Ragan.

Origin, Putnam Co., Ind. Fruit, large, roundish, pale yellow, overspread, striped, and marbled with light red, an occasional russet patch ; stem, long, rather stout, curved ; cavity, deep ; calyx, small, nearly closed ; basin, open, deep, slightly plaited ; core, small; seeds, abundant; flesh, white, crisp, little coarse, sharp sub-acid. Promises valuable as an early Winter market variety.

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

Ragan. Large, roundish ovate; striped and marbled with red on light greenish yellow ground; stalk medium to long, cavity deep, basin deep; flesh yellowish white, of a rich, spicy, rather acid flavor. Early winter. Putnam County, Ind.

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

Ragan's Red Ragan's Red