Repka Malenka
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Repka Malenka
Origin / History
Origin, Russia. Malenka means small. Hansen calls Repka Malenka "probably the best keeper of the Russians." A. G. Tuttle of Baraboo, Wisconsin, finds the fruit keeps easily until June, and writes: "Repka Malenka with me bears early and keeps until apples come again. I find it is fully as good a keeper as Little Romanite and a much better apple in quality." (Rus. Nom. Com.) Taylor (Maine Pomological Society Report, 1892), cited by Beach, says it is said to be one of the best keepers among the Russian varieties "but the fruit is too small to be valuable."
Tree
Upright, symmetrical, of rather slow growth. Bears early with Tuttle at Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Fruit
Size: Below medium; size 4 in Hansen's group description.
Form: Conical to roundish conical, obscurely angular, somewhat irregular and unequal; given in the group description as round, conical, angular.
Stem: Medium to long.
Cavity: Regular, obtuse, with considerable radiating russet; in the group description deep, russeted at the bottom.
Calyx: Open or closed (closed in the group description); segments erect, convergent, very long. Tube funnel-shaped, sometimes linear (long and very narrow). Stamens marginal or median.
Basin: Abrupt, narrow, shallow, slightly corrugated and wrinkled.
Skin: Yellow, striped, splashed, mixed and dotted with dull red on the sunny side; in the group description light green, striped with dull red.
Dots: Obscure, few, very minute, white.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, firm; greenish white in the group description. Flavor mild subacid. Quality good; Tuttle holds it a much better apple in quality than Little Romanite.
Core and seeds: Core closed, clasping; cells round, small. Seeds about ten, large, plump, packed tightly in the small cells.
Season
Late winter and spring; January to April in the group description. Keeps easily until June (Tuttle).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
This is probably Little Rep-ka. Bul. 8 is in error.
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 (3)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Repka Malenka—Origin, Russia. Malenka means small. This is probably the best keeper of the Russians. A. G. Tuttle of Baraboo, Wisconsin, finds the fruit keeps easily until June—Fruit below medium, conical to roundish conical, obscurely angular, somewhat irregular and unequal; surface yellow, striped, splashed, mixed and dotted dull red on sunny side; dots obscure, few, very minute, white; cavity regular, obtuse, with considerable radiating russet; stem medium to long; basin abrupt, narrow, shallow, slightly corrugated and wrinkled; calyx open or closed, segments erect convergent, very long. Core closed, clasping; cells round; tube funnel-shaped, sometimes linear (long and very narrow); stamens marginal or median; seeds about ten, large, plump, packed tightly in the small cells; flesh white, firm, mild subacid, good. Late winter and spring.
REPKA MALENKA GROUP.
Repka Malenka, 4rn; Little Seedling; Green Sweet; 169, (spurious).
DESCRIPTION: Repka Malenka—Size 4; form, round, conical, angular; color, light green, striped with dull red; cavity, deep, russeted at the bottom; basin, narrow, abrupt, wrinkled; calyx, closed; flesh, greenish white, firm; flavor, mild, subacid; season, January to April; origin, Russia; tree, upright, symmetrical and of rather slow growth.
A. G. Tuttle: "Repka Malenka with me bears early and keeps until apples come again. I find it is fully as good a keeper as Little Romanite and a much better apple in quality." (Rus. Nom. Com.)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)REPKA MALENKA.
REFERENCES. 1. Budd, Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880:525. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:118. 3. Webster, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1883:113. 4. Budd, Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1885:16. 5. Ib., 1890:24. 6. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:248. 7. Taylor, Me. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1892:57. 8. Harris, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1892:274. 9. Budd, Ia. Sta. Bul., 19:541. 1892. 10. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:20. 11. Ragan, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1901:49. 12. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:92. 1902. fig. 13. Budd-Hansen, 1903:163. fig. 14. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:181. 1905. 15. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:260. 1905.
SYNONYMS. Dept. No. 418 (4). Green Sweet (12). LITTLE REPKA (14). LITTLE SEEDLING (2). Little Seedling (3, 12, 14, 15). No. 410 (1, 5, 9, 12, 13). Reipka Melenkaya (14). Repka Malenka (14).
Repka Malenka is said to be one of the best keepers among the Russian varieties but the fruit is too small to be valuable (7). Hansen (12) gives the following description of this variety: "Fruit below medium, conical to roundish conical, obscurely angular, somewhat irregular and unequal; surface yellow, striped, splashed, mixed and dotted dull red on sunny side; dots obscure, few, very minute, white; cavity regular, obtuse, with considerable radiating russet; stem medium to long; basin abrupt, narrow, shallow, slightly corrugated and wrinkled; calyx open or closed, segments erect convergent, very long. Core closed, clasping; cells round; tube funnel-shaped, sometimes linear (long and very narrow); stamens marginal or median; seeds about ten, large, plump, packed tightly in the small cells; flesh white, firm, mild subacid, good. Late winter and spring."
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Repka Malenka. — Origin, Russia. Malenka means small. This is probably the best keeper of the Russians. A. G. Tuttle, of Baraboo, Wis., finds that the fruit keep easily till June.
Fruit below medium, conical to roundish conical, obscurely angular, somewhat irregular and unequal; surface yellow, striped, splashed, mixed and dotted dull red on sunny side; dots obscure, few, very minute, white; cavity regular, obtuse, with considerable radiating russet; stem medium to long; basin abrupt, narrow, shallow, slightly corrugated and wrinkled; calyx open or closed; segments erect convergent, very long. Core closed, clasping; cells round; tube funnel-shaped, sometimes linear (long and very narrow); stamens marginal or median; seeds about ten, large, plump, packed tight in the small cells; flesh white, firm, mild subacid, good. Late winter and spring.