Rock

Apple

Rock Apple

Origin/History

Originated in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Recommended by Robert Wilson of Keene as an excellent fruit. Elliott (1865) confirms the New Hampshire provenance. A distinct variety also called Rock Apple comes from Pennsylvania and is described separately under Subtypes/Variants.

Tree

Tree vigorous, with long, slender branches; very productive.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large, roundish, slightly flattened. (Elliott and Thomas corroborate: large, roundish.)

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Striped and splashed with dark and bright red on a yellowish ground.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, tender, juicy; flavor subacid. Rated Good. Thomas rates it "very good."

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

September–October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Rock Apple (Pennsylvania): A separate variety bearing the same name, originating from Pennsylvania. Fruit medium, oblate, inclining to conic, whitish, sprinkled with a few indistinct gray and light dots. Flesh white, tender, juicy, lively subacid. Rated Good. Core small. Season: August. (Downing only.)

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Rock.

Origin, Peterborough, N. H., recommended by Robert Wilson, of Keene, as an excellent fruit. Tree vigorous, with long, slender branches, very productive.

Fruit large, roundish, slightly flattened, striped and splashed with dark and bright red on a yellowish ground. Flesh white, tender, juicy, flavor subacid. Good. September, October.

Another Rock Apple comes from Pennsylvania.

Fruit medium, oblate, inclining to conic, whitish, sprinkled with a few indistinct gray and light dots. Flesh white, tender, juicy, lively subacid. Good. Core small. August.

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

Rock Apple. From New Hampshire. Fruit, large, roundish ; red on yellow; flesh, white, tender, juicy, sub-acid. September.

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

Rock Apple. Large, roundish, striped; sub-acid, very good. Autumn. N. H.

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

Rock Apple Rock Pippin Of Eastern New York