Sheddan

SHEDDAN.

REFERENCE. 1. Tenn. Sta. Bul., 1:29. 1896. fig.

Although this is a variety of Tennessee origin it appears to have considerable merit as grown in New York and is worthy of further testing in this region. As grown at this Station the tree is thrifty, comes into bearing young and gives promise of being productive. The fruit is of desirable size and good quality and is suitable for either home use or market. It somewhat resembles a well-grown Rhode Island Greening in color but has the advantage over that variety in being a much better keeper and evidently not liable to scald.

Historical. Originated as a chance seedling with John E. Sheddan, Friendsville, Blount county, Tennessee, about 1882 (1). It probably grew from a seed of Green Crank near which the original Sheddan tree stood. So far as we know this variety has not been grown in New York except at this Station.

TREE.

Tree vigorous. Form upright spreading, rather open. Twigs short, rather stout to sometimes slender. Bark dull green and reddish. Lenticels numerous, very small, roundish, dark. Buds small, appressed, rather obtuse.

FRUIT.

Fruit above medium to large. Form roundish, slightly oblate, regular, symmetrical. Stem moderately long and rather slender to short and thick, sometimes swollen at the base. Cavity medium in size, obtuse to acute, moderately shallow to deep, rather broad, usually obscurely furrowed, sometimes lipped, somewhat russeted. Calyx small, closed or partly open. Basin shallow to moderately deep, narrow to moderately wide, obtuse to rather abrupt, somewhat furrowed, wrinkled. Skin smooth, grass-green changing to yellow with an orange blush which sometimes deepens to red. Dots often submerged, numerous, pale or yellowish especially toward the basin but toward the cavity they are larger, more scattering and more often areolar with russet point. Prevailing effect attractive yellow when the fruit is fully ripe. Calyx tube nearly urn-shape or approaching funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium to rather small, somewhat abaxile to nearly axile, sometimes with hollow cylinder in the axis; cells not always uniformly developed, symmetrical, closed or partly open; core lines clasping. Carpels thin, smooth or nearly so, broadly roundish to broadly obovate, mucronate, emarginate. Seeds moderately dark reddish-brown, medium to small, plump, acute to obtuse, sometimes slightly tufted; often some are abortive. Flesh tinged with yellow or greenish, hard, firm, moderately fine-grained or slightly coarse, crisp, somewhat tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid, good to very good. Season January to May.

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