Robinson
AppleRobinson
Origin / History
Robinson originated on the farm of Moses W. Robinson, near Burlington, Iowa. It is valued in its locality for hardiness, keeping, and good quality as a table apple.
Tree
The tree is hardy, thrifty, and vigorous, forming a handsome round top that is a little spreading. It produces good crops annually.
Fruit
Size and Form
Sources differ on size: Downing describes the fruit as medium or below, and Thomas likewise characterizes it as rather small. Lowther, however, describes it as large. All three sources agree the form is roundish; Downing further specifies roundish oblate, conical, with sides sometimes a little unequal, slightly oblique, and a little flattened at the base. Thomas describes the form as roundish-conical.
Stem
Stalk short and slender.
Cavity
Cavity medium, narrow, thinly russetted.
Calyx
Calyx closed or nearly so.
Basin
Basin large, deep, slightly corrugated.
Skin
Skin pale greenish yellow, shaded with pale brownish red over one-third of its surface, and moderately sprinkled with light and brown dots. Thomas describes the color simply as greenish-yellow.
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh whitish yellow, half fine, tender, juicy, very mild subacid, or almost sweet, rather rich. Quality rated very good by Downing; good by Thomas and Lowther.
Core / Seeds
Core rather small.
Season
Downing places the season at January to March (winter keeping). Thomas confirms a winter season. Lowther records the season as autumn — conflicting with the winter designation given by the other two sources.
Uses
Valued as a table apple (Downing). Lowther records use as both kitchen and market.
Subtypes / Variants
Lowther records the synonym R.'s Superb in historical association with this variety.
Other
Lowther (1914) reports Robinson at 9 stations in the Central Division, with cross-division reporting indicated; no stations recorded in the Northern or Southern Divisions.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Robinson.
Originated on the farm of Moses W. Robinson, near Burlington, Iowa. Tree hardy, thrifty, vigorous, forming a handsome round top, a little spreading, producing good crops annually; it is valued in its locality for hardiness, keeping, and good quality as a table apple.
Fruit medium or below, roundish oblate, conical, sides sometimes a little unequal, slightly oblique, a little flattened at the base; skin pale greenish yellow, shaded with pale brownish red over one-third of its surface, and moderately sprinkled with light and brown dots; stalk short, slender; cavity medium, narrow, thinly russetted; calyx closed or nearly so; basin large, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh whitish yellow, half fine, tender, juicy, very mild subacid, or almost sweet, rather rich; quality very good; core rather small. January to March.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Robinson (synonym: R.'s Superb) is large in size. Form is not recorded. Color: a. Quality is good. Use is both kitchen and market. Season is autumn. No stations are reported in the Northern Division. The Central Division reports 9 stations, with cross-division reporting indicated. No stations are reported in the Southern Division.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Robinson. Rather small, roundish-conical, greenish-yellow; very mild sub-acid, good. Winter. Iowa.