Scarlet Cranberry
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
SCARLET CRANBERRY
Origin and History
Originated in Scott county, Virginia, from seed of an unknown variety forty or more years ago (circa 1865). A southern variety characterized by vigorous growth and very productive bearing in its native region, yielding very large, handsome and showy fruit. It has been disseminated by nurserymen in the South Atlantic states and in the Central Mississippi valley, but remains practically unknown among northern fruit growers.
Note: This is a distinct variety from Cranberry Pippin.
Geographic Suitability
Northern Performance: When grown as far north as New York, Scarlet Cranberry does not develop properly either in quality or in size, although it often colors well. Not recommended for planting in New York state or other northern climates. This is a southern variety.
Fruit Description
Size and Form
Medium in size when grown in northern climates; grows notably larger in the South. Form roundish, varying to slightly oblate or broadly ovate, often somewhat ribbed, usually symmetrical.
Stem
Short to rather long, moderately thick.
Cavity
Moderately large, acute to acuminate, deep to moderately deep, rather narrow to moderately wide, pretty symmetrical, gently furrowed, sometimes lipped, often partly russeted.
Calyx
Medium to rather large, closed or partly open; lobes acute to acuminate, sometimes separated at the base.
Basin
Often oblique, very shallow to moderately shallow, narrow to moderately wide, obtuse, furrowed, wrinkled.
Skin
Rather thick and tough, smooth surface. Ground color yellow, largely overspread with pinkish-red striped with purplish-carmine. Mottled and striped over the base with thin scarf-skin which produces a grayish appearance. Prevailing effect: attractive red.
Skin Surface Details
Dots conspicuous, numerous, ranging small to large, pale in color, often areolar with russet center.
Calyx Tube
Wide, cone-shaped to urn-shaped. Stamens marginal to median.
Core
Small to above medium in size. Axile or sometimes abaxile; cells often not uniformly developed, usually symmetrical, closed or sometimes open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping.
Carpels
Rather flat, broadly ovate to somewhat elliptical, mucronate, usually not emarginate, smooth or slightly tufted.
Seeds
Medium or above medium in size, moderately narrow, plump, acute, sometimes tufted.
Flesh and Flavor
Whitish tinged with yellow. Texture: firm, rather coarse, moderately crisp, a little tough, moderately juicy. Flavor: slightly astringent, mild subacid. Quality: fair to good.
Season and Storage
Keeps in ordinary storage until late spring. Has been successfully held in cold storage until May without scald or decay, demonstrating good storage stability.
Uses
Commercial and home orchard variety in southern regions where it develops properly.
Sources:
- Rural New York, 45:593, 1886
- Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:249
- Dickens and Greene, Kansas Station Bulletin 106:55, 1902
- Powell and Fulton, U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 48:55, 1903
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 4 catalogs (1891–1912) from Illinois, Missouri, Washington
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)SCARLET CRANBERRY.
References. 1. Rural N. Y., 45:593. 1886. figs. 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:249. 3. Dickens and Greene, Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:55. 1902. 4. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:55. 1903.
This is a southern variety and when grown as far north as New York it does not develop properly either in quality or in size although it often colors pretty well. It keeps in ordinary storage till late spring and has been held in cold storage till May without scald or decay (4). It is not recommended for planting in this state.
This is a very different variety from Cranberry Pippin.
Historical. Originated in Scott county, Virginia, from seed of an unknown variety forty or more years ago (1). It is said to be a vigorous grower and very productive in that region, yielding very large, handsome and showy fruit. It has been disseminated by nurserymen in the South Atlantic states and in the Central Mississippi valley (2), but it is practically unknown among northern fruit growers.
Fruit. Fruit medium in size but in the South grows large (1, 4). Form roundish varying to slightly oblate or to broadly ovate, often somewhat ribbed, usually symmetrical. Stem short to rather long, moderately thick. Cavity moderately large, acute to acuminate, deep to moderately deep, rather narrow to moderately wide, pretty symmetrical, gently furrowed, sometimes lipped, often partly russeted. Calyx medium to rather large, closed or partly open; lobes acute to acuminate, sometimes separated at the base. Basin often oblique, very shallow to moderately shallow, narrow to moderately wide, obtuse, furrowed, wrinkled. Skin rather thick, tough, smooth, yellow, largely overspread with pinkish-red striped with purplish-carmine, mottled and striped over the base with thin scarf-skin which produces a grayish appearance. Dots conspicuous, numerous, small to large, pale, often areolar with russet center. Prevailing effect attractive red. Calyx tube wide, cone-shape to urn-shape. Stamens marginal to median. Core small to above medium, axile or sometimes abaxile; cells often not uniformly developed, usually symmetrical, closed or sometimes open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels rather flat, broadly ovate to somewhat elliptical, mucronate, usually not emarginate, smooth or slightly tufted. Seeds medium or above, moderately narrow, plump, acute, sometimes tufted. Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, moderately crisp, a little tough, moderately juicy, slightly astringent, mild subacid, fair to good.