Stephenson's Winter
AppleStephenson's Winter
Origin / History
Originated in Marshall County, Mississippi (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) gives conflicting geographic attributions: the first entry assigns the variety to Arkansas, while a second entry in the same volume (pp. 343) attributes it to Alabama.
Tree
A moderate grower (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914), described as productive (Budd & Hansen 1914) and a good bearer (Downing 1900). Thomas (1903) describes the tree as vigorous and prolific. Young shoots smooth, reddish brown, slightly grayish (Downing 1900).
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish oblate (Downing 1900; Thomas 1903 second entry; Budd & Hansen 1914). Lowther (1914) gives the form as roundish (oblate).
Skin / Color: Greenish yellow, shaded and sometimes striped with red (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) second entry describes it as greenish yellow and dark red. Thomas (1903) first entry describes it as green, russeted. Lowther (1914) describes the skin simply as yellow.
Stem / Stalk: Long, slender (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Basin: Not described in source.
Flesh / Flavor: Whitish, rather firm, juicy, pleasant, brisk subacid (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) first entry describes the flesh as firm and juicy. Quality good (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914; Lowther 1914).
Core / Seeds: Core small (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Season
Winter — January to April (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914); winter (Thomas 1903 first entry; Lowther 1914). Thomas (1903) second entry conflictingly gives the season as Autumn.
Uses
Primary use is family (Lowther 1914).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther (1914) reports the following station distribution: Northern Division — no stations reported; Central Division — 6 stations (also reported in another division); Southern Division — 14 stations (also reported in another division).
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as Stephenson
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) — listed as Stevenson's Winter
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Stevenson's
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1886–1894) from Alabama, Oregon
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Stephenson's Winter. Origin, Marshall Co., Miss. Tree a moderate grower and a good bearer. Young shoots smooth, reddish brown, slightly grayish. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, shaded and sometimes striped with red. Stalk long, slender. Calyx open. Flesh whitish, rather firm, juicy, pleasant, brisk subacid. Core small. Good. January to April.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Stevenson's. Medium, green, russeted; flesh firm, juicy. Winter. Ark. Stevenson's Winter, p. 318.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Stevenson's Winter", pp. 343–343]
Stevenson's Winter. Medium, roundish oblate; greenish yellow and dark red; vigorous and prolific. Autumn. Alabama.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Stephenson (Stephenson's Winter). — Origin, Marshall Co., Mississippi; tree of moderate growth, productive.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, shaded, and sometimes striped with red; stem long, slender; calyx open. Core small; flesh whitish, rather firm, juicy, pleasant, brisk subacid, good. January to April.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Stevenson's Winter is medium in size, roundish (oblate) in form, with yellow skin. Quality is good; primary use is family. Season is winter. Northern Division: no stations reported; Central Division: 6 stations (also reported in another division); Southern Division: 14 stations (also reported in another division).