Scribner
AppleSCRIBNER
Origin and History
A medium-sized midwinter apple of very good quality, originated with Elijah Scribner of Plattsburg, New York. The variety was first cited in the American Farmer in 1859, but by the time of Beach's 1905 catalog remained practically unknown among New York fruit growers.
Fruit Description
Form and Size: Medium-sized; angular, roundish conical in form.
Skin: Shaded with bright deep red.
Flesh and Flavor: Crisp, tender, and juicy; flavor subacid with slight aromatic character.
Season: In season from December to February — a midwinter keeper.
Remarks
This variety appears to be practically unknown among New York fruit growers, despite being described in Downing (1872) and subsequent horticultural references. The combination of very good quality and its obscurity suggests it may have been replaced by better-known Spitzenberg-type apples or simply did not propagate widely in commercial nurseries.
Cited sources: American Farmer (1859); Downing (1872); Burrill and McCluer, Illinois Exp. Sta. Bul. 45:340 (1896); Ragan, U.S.B.P.I. Bul. 56:277 (1905).
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)SCRIBNER.
REFERENCES. 1. American Farmer, 1859. (cited by 4). 2. Downing, 1872: app. 3. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul. 45:340. 1896. 4. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul. 56:277. 1905.
SYNONYMS. SCRIBNER'S SPITZENBERG (3). SCRIBNER'S SPITZENBURGH (2). Scribner's Spitsenburgh (4).
A medium-sized midwinter apple of very good quality which originated with Elijah Scribner, Plattsburg, New York. Downing describes the fruit as "angular, roundish conical, shaded with bright deep red; flesh crisp, tender, juicy, subacid, slightly aromatic; in season from December to February" (2). This variety appears to be practically unknown among New York fruit growers.