Scarlet Cranberry
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Scarlet Cranberry
Origin/History
Originated in Scott County, Virginia, from seed of an unknown variety forty or more years before 1886 (Beach). Said to be a vigorous grower and very productive in that region, yielding very large, handsome, and showy fruit. Disseminated by nurserymen in the South Atlantic states and in the Central Mississippi valley, but practically unknown among northern fruit growers (Beach). This is a very different variety from Cranberry Pippin (Beach).
Tree
Said to be a vigorous grower in its native southern region (Beach). The Central Experimental Farm trial at Agassiz, BC (planted spring 1892) likewise recorded the tree as a vigorous grower (CEF).
Fruit
Size: Medium in size in the North; grows large in the South (Beach). The Central Experimental Farm trial in Agassiz, BC recorded fruit below medium size, consistent with Beach's observation that the variety does not develop properly in size when grown as far north as New York (CEF; Beach).
Form: Roundish, varying to slightly oblate or to broadly ovate, often somewhat ribbed, usually symmetrical (Beach). The Central Experimental Farm describes the form as oblate, conical (CEF) — differing somewhat from Beach's roundish-to-ovate characterization, possibly reflecting the reduced development observed in northern trials.
Stem: Short to rather long, moderately thick (Beach).
Cavity: Moderately large, acute to acuminate, deep to moderately deep, rather narrow to moderately wide, pretty symmetrical, gently furrowed, sometimes lipped, often partly russeted (Beach).
Calyx: Medium to rather large, closed or partly open; lobes acute to acuminate, sometimes separated at the base (Beach).
Basin: Often oblique, very shallow to moderately shallow, narrow to moderately wide, obtuse, furrowed, wrinkled (Beach).
Skin: Rather thick, tough, smooth (Beach). Base color described as yellow by Beach, or green by the Central Experimental Farm — these conflict, possibly reflecting differences in maturity or growing region. Largely overspread with pinkish-red striped with purplish-carmine, mottled and striped over the base with thin scarf-skin which produces a grayish appearance (Beach); the Central Experimental Farm describes the surface as nearly covered with splashes of dark red (CEF). Prevailing effect attractive red (Beach). Dots conspicuous, numerous, small to large, pale, often areolar with russet center (Beach); the Central Experimental Farm describes them as grayish dots sprinkled over the surface (CEF) — both sources note the grayish character of the dots.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish tinged with yellow, firm, rather coarse, moderately crisp, a little tough (Beach). The Central Experimental Farm describes the flesh as white and firm (CEF). Juiciness is in conflict: Beach characterizes it as moderately juicy; the Central Experimental Farm records it as not juicy (CEF). Flavor also conflicts: Beach describes it as slightly astringent, mild subacid, fair to good; the Central Experimental Farm records it as of pleasant flavour, nearly sweet (CEF). The difference may reflect northern underdevelopment noted by Beach.
Core/Seeds: 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 (Beach).
Calyx tube: Wide, cone-shape to urn-shape. Stamens marginal to median (Beach).
Season
Keeps in ordinary storage until late spring; has been held in cold storage until May without scald or decay (Beach). The Central Experimental Farm records the season as February to May (CEF).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
A southern variety that does not develop properly in quality or size when grown as far north as New York, though it often colors well in the North. Not recommended for planting in New York state (Beach). The Central Experimental Farm trial at Agassiz, BC corroborates the reduced size observed in northern conditions.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 5 catalogs (1891–1912) from Illinois, Missouri, Washington
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
View original book sources (2)
— 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.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1892. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit below medium size, oblate, conical. Skin green, nearly covered with splashes of dark red, and sprinkled with grayish dots. Flesh white, firm, not juicy, but of pleasant flavour, nearly sweet. Season February to May.