Rambo.

ROMANITE OF NEW JERSEY—BREAD-AND-CHEESE, ETC.

This standard Eastern Pennsylvania variety is universally popular, and through the Western States it marks the progress of emigration from the Keystone State, though its admirers are not confined to that class of our population. It is a fall and early winter fruit, and some pomologists on the southern borders of its culture object to it that it will not keep long, and that it soon becomes dry and mealy when put away. When grown further north it is smaller, but more solid, and remains juicy until spring. It should be gathered early, even before it is well colored, and kept cool to make it retain its flavor and juiciness.

Tree upright, very thrifty, very productive ; shoots dark, foliage large, light green, and thus the variety may

Fig. 108.— RAMBO.

easily be distinguished in the orchard. Not very hardy ; whole nurseries and orchards were destroyed, in 1856, throughout the Northwest.

Fruit medium to small, when crowded upon the limbs as they generally are upon old trees, regular, oblate, or roundish-oblate, but sometimes unequal when overgrown ; large specimens are flattened at the ends so as to appear truncate ; Surface striped and splashed scarlet on greenish-yellow, in some the stripes coalesce so as to make the skin red, the ground color being covered ; Dots numerous, small, prominent, rich bloom.

Basin wide, abrupt, regular or plaited, sometimes quite shallow ; Eye small, closed.

Cavity wide, regular, always green ; Stem medium.

Core regular, closed, meeting and clasping the eye ; seeds numerous, large, angular ; Flesh greenish-white, tender, breaking, granular, juicy ; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, vinous ; Quality almost first rate for table, excellent for the kitchen ; Season October to December, and if gathered early in the North, until spring.

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

Rambo.

Fall Romanite. Romanite. Trumpington ? Gray Romanite. Seek-no-Further. Large Rambo? Striped Rambo. Bread-and-Cheese Apple. Terry's Redstreak Delaware. Rambouillet.

The Rambo is one of the most popular autumn or early winter fruits. It is a highly valuable Apple for the table or kitchen, and the tree thrives well on light sandy soil, being a native of the banks of the Delaware. The tree is of a vigorous, rather spreading habit, quite productive.

Fruit of medium size, flat, smooth, yellowish white in the shade, streaked and marbled with pale yellow and red in the sun, and speckled with large rough dots. Stalk long, rather slender, curved to one side, and deeply planted in a smooth funnel-like cavity. Calyx closed, set in a broad basin, which is slightly plaited around it. Flesh greenish white, very tender, rich, mild subacid. Very good. October to December.

There is claimed to be a distinct or sub-variety of this, called Red Rambo, the fruit of which is more red, otherwise there is no perceptible difference.

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

RAMBO

REFERENCES.

1. Dom. Encyc., 1804. (cited by 40). 2. Coxe, 1817:116. fig. 3. Thacher, 1822:134. 4. Buel, N. Y. Ed. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 5. Wilson, 1828:136. 6. Fessenden, 1828:131. 7. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831:28. 8. Kenrick, 1832:37. 9. Manning, Mag. Hort., 7:49. 1841. 10. Downing, 1845:93. fig. 11. N. Y. Agr. Soc. Trans., 1846:191. fig. 12. Elliott, Horticulturist, 1:388. 1847. 13. Kirtland, Ib., 2:544. 1848. 14. Thomas, 1849:151. 15. Cole, 1849:116. fig. 16. Phoenix, Horticulturist, 4:472. 1850. 17. Humrickhouse, Mag. Hort., 15:28. 1849. fig. 18. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:29. 1851. 19. Elliott, 1854:102. fig. 20. Horticulturist, 10:87. 1855. 21. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1856. 22. Hooper, 1857:73. 23. Ib., 1857:74. 24. Gregg, 1857:57. 25. Horticulturist, 13:144. 1858. 26. Mag. Hort., 30:162. 1864. 27. Warder, 1867:454. 28. Downing, 1869:319. fig. 29. Fitz, 1872:163. 30. Barry, 1883:352. 31. Hogg, 1884:184. 32. Wickson, 1889:245. 33. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 34. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:247. 35. Mathews, Ky. Sta. Bul., 50:32. 1894. 36. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:337. 1896. 37. Budd-Hansen, 1903:158. fig. 38. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:53. 1903. 39. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:140. 1904. 40. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:247. 1905.

SYNONYMS. American Seek-No-Further (7). Bread and Cheese (27, 40, of New Jersey 18). Bread and Cheese Apple (2, 19, 28, of New Jersey 10, 15 and 17). Delaware (28, 40). Fall Romanite (28, 40). Gray Romanite (28, 40). Large Rambo? (28, 40). Rambo (5). Rambouillet (28, 40). RAMBOULETTE (23). Ramboulette? (40). ROMANITE (5). Romanite (2, 4, 7, 8, 15, 19, 28, 40, of New Jersey 10, 14, 17, 18 and 27). Seek-No-Farther (19, of Philadelphia 2). Seek-No-Further (4, 28, 40, of New Jersey 10, and 18, of Pennsylvania 22, of Philadelphia 8 and 15). Striped Rambo (17, 28, 40). Terry's Redstreak (19, 28, 40). Trumpington (40, ?28).

The accompanying plate shows the whole fruit of Rambo. The section is shown on the same plate as that which shows the whole fruit of Walbridge. This fruit belongs in the same group as the Domine. Downing states¹ that “Domine so much resembles the Rambo externally, that the two are often confounded together, and the outline of the latter fruit may be taken as nearly a facsimile of this. The Domine is, however, of a livelier color, and the flavor and season of the two fruits are very distinct, the Rambo being rather a high-flavored early winter or autumn apple, while the Domine is a sprightly, juicy, long-keeping winter fruit.”

Rambo when well grown is an apple of excellent quality but in this state it does not take first rank for any purpose. It is less attractive in size and color and less desirable for market than Baldwin or Northern Spy. For culinary uses it is easily surpassed by Rhode Island Greening and for dessert by Tompkins King, Hubbardston and other apples of Rambo season. When well colored it is rather attractive, the prevailing color being a good bright red which forms a pleasing contrast with the yellow ground color. Very often, however, the red color is not predominant and the fruit is rather dull and not particularly attractive. Often a considerable portion of the fruit does not reach good marketable size, particularly when borne on old trees that are overloaded. The tree is less hardy than some standard varieties of this region and in unfavorable locations it is sometimes more or less injured by winter. It seems to do particularly well on rather light, rich soils, either sandy or of limestone formation with well-drained subsoil. The wood is rather brittle and the trees often break with heavy crops.

Warder (27) says that “It is a fall and early winter fruit, and some pomologists on the southern borders of its culture object to it that it will not keep long, and that it soon becomes dry and mealy when put away. When grown further north it is smaller, but more solid, and remains juicy until spring. It should be gathered early, even before it is well colored, and kept cool to make it retain its flavor and juiciness.”

As grown at this Station its commercial limit appears to be November, although some of the fruit may be kept till March in apparently good condition. Storage men give its season as extending in cellar storage to November and in chemical cold storage to February. It does not stand heat well before going into storage and goes down quickly, losing in quality and firmness, shriveling, becoming mealy and bursting (39). It was formerly grown to some extent for market in some portions of the state but during the last half century it has gradually lost ground in competition with other better commercial sorts. It is not now recommended for planting in commercial orchards in New York, but on account of the agreeable dessert qualities of the fruit it will doubtless continue to be grown to a limited extent for home use.

Historical. Origin unknown. In 1817 Coxe (2) remarked that it was much cultivated in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The extent of its cultivation at that time indicates that it must have originated at least fifty years previous to that date. According to Coxe it takes its name from the families by whom it was brought into notice (2). It was introduced into Ohio by the early settlers from Pennsylvania and its cultivation gradually spread westward with the tide of emigration (27). In many localities in the central portion of the Mississippi valley it is still a favorite fruit. Wickson (32) says that on the Pacific Coast it has failed to sustain the reputation which it gained in the East. Generally speaking, it appears to be less popular and certainly less widely planted to-day than it was a quarter of a century ago.

TREE.

Tree medium size, moderately vigorous to vigorous. Form upright spreading, open. The old bark is peculiarly rough. Twigs medium to long, moderately stout, broad; internodes medium. Bark brownish-red mingled with olive-green, lightly blotched and irregularly streaked with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels numerous, small to medium, round, not raised. Buds medium, broad, plump, obtuse, free or nearly so, slightly pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium or sometimes large, often averaging no more than medium size, pretty uniform in size and shape. Form usually roundish and somewhat oblate but varies to roundish oblong approaching truncate, symmetrical, usually regular but sometimes faintly ribbed. Stem short to medium in length, rather slender. Cavity pretty regular, moderately wide, rather deep, acute or acuminate, sometimes smooth but usually with some outspreading russet. Calyx small to medium, usually closed; lobes medium to long, rather narrow, acute to acuminate. Basin wide, moderately deep, rather abrupt, often furrowed and somewhat wrinkled. Skin thin, a little tough, smooth or slightly roughened with russet dots, pale greenish-yellow, mottled with red, striped with carmine and overspread with grayish bloom. Dots conspicuous, rather large, whitish, gray or russet. In highly colored specimens the red is predominant. Calyx tube funnel-form, rather long with wide limb. Stamens median to marginal. Core medium to small, axile; cells closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish to broadly obovate, emarginate, slightly tufted. Seeds medium to rather large, broad, rather flat, obtuse, slightly tufted, light and dark brown. Flesh whitish with tinge of yellow or green, firm, rather fine, very crisp, tender, juicy, mildly subacid, aromatic, good to very good. Particularly desirable for dessert.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Rambo.

Romanite, Seek-no-further, Bread and Cheese Apple, Terry's Red Streak.

American. A native of Delaware, it succeeds in all soils and locations, and has no superior, as a whole, in the general estimation. It succeeds on sandy soils, but the largest and best fruit is grown on strong limestone soils, giving evidence of the food suited best to it, clay or loam.

Fruit, medium ; form, flat, or roundish flattened, sometimes ribbed or angular ; color, yellowish white, marbled and streaked with yellow and red, and with large rough spots ; stem, long, slender, often curved ; cavity, acuminate : calyx, nearly closed ; basin, broad, slightly furrowed ; flesh, greenish white, tender, sprightly, mild sub-acid ; core, large, rather hollow ; seeds, abundant, ovate pyriform. October to December, but often keeps to March.

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

Rambo.* (Romanite of New Jersey.) Size medium, oblate, smooth; streaked and marbled with dull yellowish red on pale yellowish ground; dots large, whitish; stalk an inch long, rather slender; basin broad, slightly plaited; flesh tender, rich, mild sub-acid, fine flavored, often excellent. Fine in nearly all localities. Late autumn and early winter. Known by the erroneous name of Seek-no-further in Philadelphia market. Pa. Fig. 374. Tender far West.

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

Rambo. — Origin, eastern Pennsylvania; tree vigorous, rather spreading, very productive, shoots dark, with large, light green foliage.

Fruit medium, regular, oblate, large specimens roundish oblate and flattened at ends; surface greenish yellow, with bright red stripes and splashes, coloring sometimes nearly solid on sunny side, with a rich bloom; dots many, small, distinct, some large russet specks; cavity wide, deep, regular, green; stem medium to long; basin wide, shallow, abrupt, slightly corrugated; calyx small, closed. Core open, clasping; cells obovate; tube conical; stamens marginal; seeds many, large, angular; flesh greenish white, tender, delicate, juicy, aromatic, vinous subacid, very good. October to December.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

RAMBO. Fall Romanite. Gray Romanite. Large Rambo. Striped Rambo. Externally, the fruit of Rambo is almost a counterpart of that of the better-known Domine. The flavor and the season of the two apples, however, is quite distinct. Rambo is a mildly and richly flavored late autumn apple, while Domine is much more sprightly in flavor and is a long-keeping winter apple. The trees of Rambo are doubtfully hardy, with wood so brittle as often to break under heavy loads. The variety has never taken a prominent place among commercial apples, and is surpassed for home use by several of its orchard associates. Its origin is unknown, but Coxe, in 1817, noted that it was much grown in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey whence it spread westward to parts of the Mississippi Valley, in many localities of which it is still a favorite fruit. Tree of medium size, vigorous, upright-spreading, open, the old bark peculiarly rough. Fruit medium in size, uniform in size and shape, round-oblate or round-oblong, symmetrical, usually regular but sometimes faintly ribbed; stem short, slender; cavity regular, wide, deep, acute, usually with outspreading russet; calyx small, usually closed; lobes narrow, acute; basin wide, deep, abrupt, often furrowed and wrinkled; skin thin, tough, smooth or roughened with russet dots, pale yellow, mottled with red, striped with carmine and overspread with gray bloom; dots conspicuous, large, white, gray or russet; calyx-tube funnel-form, long with wide limb; stamens median; core small, axile; cells closed; core-lines clasping; carpels round to broadly obovate, emarginate, tufted; seeds large, broad, flat, obtuse, tufted, light and dark brown; flesh yellow, firm, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, aromatic; good to very good; October to December or January.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)