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Simmons' Red

Apple

Simmons' Red

Origin / History

Originated with the late John W. Davis, near Perry, Houston County, Ga.; he planted the seed about 1840 (Downing). In Georgia it is considered one of their best summer apples (Downing). Thomas records it for Ala. Lowther's station table reports it from 1 station in the Southern Division, with cross-division reporting indicated by the asterisk, and none in the Northern or Central Divisions.

Tree

Thrifty, upright, compact grower; an early bearer, giving good crops nearly every year (Downing). Vigorous; profuse bearer (Thomas).

Fruit

Size: Medium to large (Downing); medium (Thomas, Lowther).

Form: Oblate, slightly conical, sides sometimes a little unequal, slightly oblique (Downing); oblate (Thomas, Lowther).

Stem: Short, small.

Cavity: Broad, deep, a little uneven, with light russet, sometimes extending out on the fruit in rays and patches.

Calyx: Closed, or nearly so.

Basin: Round, deep, nearly smooth.

Skin: Pale yellow, shaded with dark crimson where exposed to the sun, and on the opposite side rather obscurely striped and splashed with light and dark red. Thomas gives yellow with red blush; Lowther, yellow-red.

Dots: Pretty thickly sprinkled, yellowish russet, small, large, and irregular in form.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh pale yellow (Downing), yellow (Thomas); half fine, tender, juicy; mild subacid, slightly aromatic. Quality "very good" (Downing, Lowther); Thomas gives "good."

Core and seeds: Core rather small.

Season

Summer. Ripens in Georgia at the end of June, continuing in use two or three months (Downing).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 3 catalogs (1901–1913) from Arkansas, Illinois

View original book sources (3)

Simmons' Red.

Red Everlasting.

The Simmons' Red originated with the late John W. Davis, near Perry, Houston County, Ga. Mr. Davis planted the seed about 1840. Tree a thrifty, upright, compact grower; an early bearer, and gives good crops nearly every year. It ripens in Georgia the end of June, continuing in use two or three months, and is considered one of their best summer apples.

Fruit medium to large, oblate, slightly conical, sides sometimes a little unequal, slightly oblique; skin pale yellow, shaded with dark crimson where exposed to the sun, and on the opposite side rather obscurely striped and splashed with light and dark red, and pretty thickly sprinkled with yellowish russet dots, small, large, and irregular in form; stalk short, small; cavity broad, deep, a little uneven, with light russet, sometimes extending out on the fruit in rays and patches; calyx closed, or nearly so; basin round, deep, nearly smooth; flesh pale yellow, half fine, tender, juicy, mild subacid, slightly aromatic; quality very good; core rather small.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Simmon's Red. Medium, oblate, yellow with red blush; flesh yellow, good. Tree vigorous; profuse bearer. Summer. Ala.

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

Simmon's Red (22) is medium in size, oblate in form, with yellow-red skin. Quality is very good. Season is summer. Use is not specified. Reported by 1 station in the Southern Division, with cross-division reporting indicated by the asterisk. Northern Division and Central Division report no stations.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
Red Everlasting