Ragan
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Ragan
Origin/History
Ragan originated in Putnam County, Indiana, raised by Reuben Ragan (Warder gives the originator as "R. Ragan"; Downing names him "Reuben Ragan"). Multiple period sources also recorded the variety under the name "Ragan's Red."
Tree
The tree is hardy, vigorous, and productive (Warder: "vigorous, productive"; Downing: "hardy, vigorous, and fruitful"). Young wood is dull reddish brown, grayish (Downing).
Fruit
Size and form: Large (Warder, Elliott, Thomas), described as medium to large by Downing. Form is variously given as round and slightly conic, regular (Warder); roundish conic (Downing); roundish (Elliott); and roundish ovate (Thomas).
Stem: Long (Warder); long, rather stout, and curved (Elliott); medium length (Downing); medium to long (Thomas).
Cavity: Deep, acute, regular (Warder); very deep and narrow (Downing); deep (Elliott, Thomas).
Calyx/Eye: Eye (calyx) small and closed (Warder, Downing); small and nearly closed (Elliott).
Basin: Abrupt, deep, regular (Warder); deep and abrupt (Downing); open, deep, slightly plaited (Elliott); deep (Thomas).
Skin: Surface smooth (Warder). Color is bright red, splashed darker (Warder); marbled and striped with red on a green ground (Downing); pale yellow, overspread, striped, and marbled with light red, with an occasional russet patch (Elliott); striped and marbled with red on a light greenish yellow ground (Thomas). Dots numerous and small (Warder).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellow (Warder), yellowish white (Downing, Thomas), or white (Elliott); breaking and fine grained (Warder), crisp and a little coarse (Elliott), juicy (Downing). Flavor sub-acid and aromatic (Warder); pleasant, rather rich, spicy, subacid (Downing); sharp sub-acid (Elliott); rich, spicy, rather acid (Thomas). Quality rated good (Warder) to very good (Downing).
Core and seeds: Core small, pyriform, regular, nearly closed (Warder); core small (Elliott). Seeds numerous and plump (Warder); seeds abundant (Elliott).
Season
October and November (Warder; Downing). Early winter (Thomas; Elliott calls it promising as an early winter market variety).
Uses
Table and market (Warder). Promises valuable as an early winter market variety (Elliott).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
A seedling of Ralls.
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Ragan's Red.
Origin Putnam County, Indiana, by R. Ragan. Tree vigorous, productive.
Fruit large, round, slightly conic, regular; Surface smooth, bright red, splashed darker; Dots numerous, small.
Basin abrupt, deep, regular; Eye small, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, regular; Stem long.
Core small, pyriform, regular, nearly closed; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellow, breaking, fine grained; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality good; Use, table and market; Season, October and November.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)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.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)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.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)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.