Southern Porter
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Southern Porter
Origin / History
Originated about ten miles east of Chesterville, South Carolina. "An old and valuable apple" (Downing). One of the most popular apples of its locality and season (Downing).
Tree
Hardy, a strong grower; young wood hard and tough, rather spreading. Very productive in alternate years, with a moderate crop the intervening one.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish conical, regular (Downing); ovate (Thomas).
Stem: Short, small.
Cavity: Medium, deep.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Large, slightly corrugated.
Skin: Bright golden yellow to bright yellow.
Dots: A few, gray.
Flesh and flavor: Whitish, fine, half tender, juicy; rich mild subacid, slightly aromatic.
Core and seeds: Core small.
Season
A fall apple. Ripens near two months later than the Porter (Downing), or several weeks after it (Thomas). September at the South; September in California (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Southern Porter.
Porter. Kidd. Jones. Fall. Hog Peru Long.
An old and valuable apple, which originated about ten miles east of Chesterville, South Carolina; tree hardy, a strong grower, young wood hard and tough, rather spreading; very productive alternate years, and a moderate crop the intervening one; one of the most popular apples of its locality and season, ripening near two months later than the Porter.
Fruit medium, roundish conical, regular; skin bright golden yellow and a few gray dots; stalk short, small; cavity medium, deep; calyx open; basin large, slightly corrugated; flesh whitish, fine, half tender, juicy, rich mild subacid, slightly aromatic; core small. September at the South.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Southern Porter. Medium, ovate, bright yellow, rich sub-acid. Ripens several weeks after Porter, or in September in California.