Shackleford. Large, roundish, oblate, red; flesh yellow, mild sub-acid. Said to be hardy and free grower. West. Winter.

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

SHACKLEFORD.

REFERENCES. 1. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:57, 126, 129. 2. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1885:34. 3. Gano, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1889:130. 4. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:249. 5. Stinson, Ark. Sta. Bul., 43:104. 1896. 6. Thomas, 1897:653.

SYNONYM. Shackleford's Best (1).

An apple of the Ben Davis type. It ranks close to Ben Davis in quality but is less highly colored and is hardly as good a keeper as that variety. The fruit is smooth, uniform, of good size and under favorable conditions it develops good color but as grown at this Station on rather heavy clay loam its general appearance is not especially attractive. When grown as far north as this it evidently requires a warm slope and warm soil to develop good color. So far as tested in this region it sustains the reputation it has gained elsewhere of being very hardy, coming into bearing young and of producing good crops regularly. It is evidently less desirable than Ben Davis for planting in New York.

Historical. Originated near Athens, Missouri. It was generally disseminated in that locality as early as 1883 (1). Thus far it has been planted in New York only in an experimental way.

TREE.

Tree medium in size, moderately vigorous. Form rather flat, spreading, somewhat drooping, open. Twigs short to above medium, curved or nearly straight, moderately stout; internodes short. Bark clear brownish-red with some olive-green, partly streaked with scarf-skin, smooth or slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels inconspicuous, scattering, small to medium, varying from roundish to elongated, not raised. Buds set deeply in the bark, small, with large broad shoulders, flat, obtuse, appressed, slightly pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium to rather large, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish to roundish ovate, pretty regular and symmetrical. Stem long, rather slender. Cavity medium to rather small, acuminate or approaching acute, shallow to medium in depth, narrow to medium in width, usually symmetrical and slightly russeted. Calyx above medium to medium, usually closed; lobes long, moderately broad, acute to acuminate. Basin medium to rather large, medium in depth to sometimes deep, moderately wide to wide, rather abrupt to very abrupt, usually wrinkled and furrowed.

Skin moderately thick, tough, waxy, smooth, pale greenish-yellow becoming nearly clear yellow, washed with red, mottled and striped with carmine. Dots inconspicuous, small, numerous, sometimes submerged, sometimes russet. Calyx tube varies from short to long and from cone-shape to funnel-form, often with a fleshy pistil point projecting into the base. Stamens median to basal.

Core usually axile, above medium to rather small; cells usually symmetrical, closed or sometimes open; core lines meeting or clasping. Carpels pointed ovate, emarginate. Seeds numerous, medium or above, moderately wide, plump, acute or nearly so.

Flesh slightly tinged with yellow, firm, moderately coarse, crisp, moderately tender, juicy, mild subacid, fair to good.

Season November to April.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

SHACKLEFORD. Shackleford's Best. Shackleford is an apple of the Ben Davis type. The fruits of several rivals in season of the same group surpass it in flavor, in keeping qualities, and in appearance. The trees have the merits of bearing young and regularly, and of being productive, hardy. Shackleford was discovered near Athens, Missouri, some time previous to 1883.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, flat, spreading, drooping, open. Fruit large, uniform in size and shape, round or round-ovate, regular and symmetrical; stem long, slender; cavity small, acuminate, shallow, narrow, symmetrical, russeted; calyx usually closed; lobes long, broad, acute; basin large, deep, wide, abrupt, wrinkled and furrowed; skin thick, tough, waxy, smooth, yellow washed with red, mottled and striped with carmine; dots inconspicuous, small, numerous, sometimes submerged, sometimes russet; calyx-tube short, cone-shape, often with a fleshy pistil point projecting into the base; stamens median; core axile, small; cells symmetrical, closed or open; core-lines meeting; carpels pointed ovate, emarginate; seeds numerous, wide, plump, acute; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid; fair to good; November to April.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)