Stump

Stump

Origin and History

The origin of this variety is disputed between the two principal pomological authorities. Downing (1900) gives the supposed origin as Delaware. Beach (1905), however, gives a specific account: it originated as a chance seedling growing in an old stump on the grounds of John Prue, Chili, N.Y., and its name derives from this circumstance. Beach notes it has been planted more in Western New York than in any other part of that state.

This very beautiful apple resembles Chenango in form, size, and general appearance. In Western New York it was considered by some a good variety for commercial planting, though others found difficulty in marketing it profitably, since it was esteemed chiefly for dessert purposes and ripened at a season when demand for apples was comparatively light. It showed bruises so readily that it was not well adapted for barreling, though it could be marketed in local markets or shipped in small packages. The crop ripens unevenly and requires more than one picking to secure the fruit in prime condition.

Tree

The two sources conflict on tree form: Downing describes the tree as spreading and productive, while Beach describes it as upright. Beach's account is the more detailed: the tree is a slow, stiff, upright grower in the nursery, apt to crack at the collar and not popular with nurserymen; in the orchard it becomes a moderately vigorous or vigorous grower. The form is very upright but eventually becomes somewhat roundish. Branches are long, moderately stout, curved, and filled with fruit spurs. The fruit is borne on short spurs close to the limbs.

Twigs are moderately long, curved, and moderately stout; internodes medium. Bark is brown tinged with green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, and pubescent. Lenticels are numerous, medium size, round, and not raised. Buds are medium size, broad, plump, obtuse, free, and slightly pubescent.

The trees are hardy, long-lived, and reliable croppers, yielding good to heavy crops biennially. Because of their upright, compact, stocky habit, they may stand closer together than common varieties in the orchard, or be used for alternating with more spreading trees.

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit medium or below (Beach), uniform in size and shape. The two sources conflict on form: Downing describes the fruit as oblate, while Beach describes it as roundish conic to oblong conic, regular or faintly ribbed, with sides sometimes unequal.

Stem

Stalk short and small (Downing). Beach gives more detail: stem very short, variable in thickness.

Cavity

Cavity acute or approaching obtuse, usually rather shallow, medium in width to rather broad, unsymmetrical, frequently furrowed, sometimes lipped, and partly russeted (Beach).

Calyx

Calyx closed or partially open (Downing); medium to small, slightly open or closed (Beach). Lobes short, rather narrow, and acute (Beach). Calyx tube broadly conical with a fleshy pistil point projecting into the base; stamens basal (Beach).

Basin

Basin shallow, narrow, and abrupt (Beach).

Skin

Skin smooth, clear pale yellow largely washed and mottled with bright pinkish-red, becoming deep red in highly-colored specimens, rather indistinctly striped and splashed with bright carmine (Beach). Downing describes the color as yellowish, shaded with light red nearly over the whole surface. Dots are numerous, rather large, areolar with russet point or with whitish point (Beach). The prevailing effect is red and yellow contrasting beautifully (Beach).

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh whitish or tinged with yellow (Beach; Downing says whitish). The two sources give slightly differing texture descriptions: Downing characterizes the flesh as rather firm and crisp; Beach describes it as rather fine and tender. Both agree it is juicy and subacid. Beach adds: rich, aromatic, sprightly, pleasant subacid; quality very good. Downing rates it Good.

Core and Seeds

The sources conflict on core size: Downing describes the core as small; Beach says it is below medium to rather large, usually abaxile, with cells open and core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels are elongated ovate, tapering toward base and apex. Seeds are rather dark brown, medium to small, usually very wide, short, very plump, and obtuse to acute (Beach).

Season

Begins to ripen in late August or early September. Commercial limit is September or early October; season for home use extends to November (Beach). Downing gives September and October.

Uses

Primarily a dessert apple. Not suited to barreling due to its tendency to bruise. Best marketed locally or shipped in small packages. Recommended for the garden and commercial orchard where a variety of this type is desired (Beach).