Summer Bellflower
AppleSummer Bellflower
Origin/History
Originated on the farm of John R. Comstock of Washington, Dutchess County, New York (Downing; Beach). Beach reports that Downing described it in 1848 as a new variety of promise and stated that it was raised by John R. Comstock from seed of the Esopus Spitzenburg. Thomas and Elliott both attribute the variety to Dutchess County, N. Y. It was entered on the list of the American Pomological Society in 1875 as a variety of value for Nebraska, and was dropped from that list in 1897 (Beach). Beach notes that it is not considered a satisfactory variety for commercial planting and was gradually becoming obsolete in New York at the time of his writing.
Elliott and Downing both record that a distinct variety, also called Summer Bellflower, is of Pennsylvania origin (Downing names Pennsylvania specifically; Elliott describes it as a separate "Summer Bellflower" without naming a state); Beach likewise notes "A distinct variety of Pennsylvania origin has also been known under the name Summer Bellflower." Elliott additionally notes a Summer Bellflower grown in Ohio, which he had seen only once, an inferior fruit distinct from the Comstock variety. See Subtypes/Variants below.
Tree
Vigorous, upright growth (Elliott: "strong, upright growth, spreading head"; Downing: "vigorous, upright, productive"). Beach describes the tree as erect, of medium size, a good grower, hardy, and a good cropper. Elliott calls it an early regular bearer, and Downing calls it productive. Young shoots clear reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Above medium (Elliott); medium or above (Downing); medium (Thomas).
Form: Roundish oblong, slightly conical, with two or three obscure ribs (Elliott); oval, inclining to conic (Downing); ovate (Thomas). Beach notes the fruit bears considerable resemblance in form and color to Yellow Bellflower.
Stem/Stalk: Long, stout at base (Elliott); an inch long (Downing).
Cavity: Shallow (Elliott and Downing).
Calyx: Closed, with small reflexed segments (Elliott and Downing).
Basin: Five-sided (Elliott); slightly five-sided (Downing).
Skin: Clear yellow, with few greenish dots and a faint orange blush (Elliott); clear yellow, with rarely a faint orange blush on the side of the sun (Downing); yellow (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: White, fine-grained, tender, sub-acid (Elliott and Downing); white, rich, sub-acid (Thomas); tender, subacid (Beach). Elliott rates the quality "best"; Downing rates it "excellent subacid. Good"; Thomas rates it "very good"; Beach rates it "good."
Core/Seeds: Core medium, hollow; small seeds (Elliott). Not described by other sources.
Season
August to September (Elliott: "Aug. to Sept."; Downing: "Middle of August to middle of September"; Thomas: "August"; Beach: "in season from the middle of August to the middle of September").
Uses
Not described in source. (Beach notes it is not considered a satisfactory variety for commercial planting.)
Subtypes/Variants
Summer Bellflower of Pennsylvania (Downing; called simply a second "Summer Bellflower" by Elliott; noted as a distinct variety of Pennsylvania origin by Beach): Quite distinct from the Comstock variety, and very much resembles Yellow Bellflower in shape and color, but has a very wide and deep cavity, and closed calyx. Flesh yellowish white, firm and fine texture, not very juicy, with a brisk, agreeable, pleasant subacid flavor (Downing: "pleasant subacid. Good"; Elliott: "decidedly the best of its season"). Last of August and first of September. Young shoots light reddish brown, downy (Downing).
Summer Bellflower of Ohio (Elliott): Elliott reports having only once seen a Summer Bellflower grown in Ohio, which he describes as an inferior fruit, distinct from the Comstock variety. No further description given.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Summer Bellflower. Summer Belle-fleur. From Dutchess Co., N. Y. Tree, strong, upright growth, spreading head, early regular bearer. Fruit, above medium, roundish oblong, slightly conical, two or three obscure ribs : clear yellow, few greenish dots, faint orange blush : stem, long, stout at base ; cavity, shallow ; calyx, closed, small reflexed segments ; basin, five-sided ; core, medium, hollow ; small seeds ; flesh, white, fine-grained, tender, sub-acid ; " best." New. Aug. to Sept. (Hort.) There is a Summer Bellflower grown in Ohio, which we have only once seen, which is an inferior fruit, distinct from above. There is also a Summer Bellflower which is distinct from the above, and very much resembles Yellow Bellflower in shape and color, but has a very wide and deep cavity, and closed calyx. Flesh, yellowish white, firm and fine texture, not very juicy, with a brisk, agreeable, very pleasant flavor, and decidedly the best of its season. Last of August and first of September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Summer Bellflower.
Origin, farm of J. R. Comstock, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Tree vigorous, upright, productive. Young shoots clear reddish brown.
Fruit medium or above, oval, inclining to conic, clear yellow, with rarely a faint orange blush on the side of the sun. Stalk an inch long, in a shallow cavity. Calyx closed, with small reflexed segments, slightly five-sided basin. Flesh white, fine-grained, tender, excellent subacid. Good. Middle of August to middle of September.
Summer Bellflower of Pennsylvania
is quite distinct from the above, and very much resembles Yellow Bellflower in shape and color, but has a very wide and deep cavity, and closed calyx. Flesh yellowish white, firm and fine texture, not very juicy, with a brisk, agreeable, pleasant subacid. Good. Last of August and first of September. Young shoots light reddish brown, downy.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Summer Bellflower. Medium, ovate, yellow; flesh white, rich, sub-acid, very good. August. Dutchess County, N. Y.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SUMMER BELLFLOWER.
REFERENCES. 1. Horticulturist, 3:168. 1848. fig. 2. Thomas, 1849:143. 3. Cole, 1849:104. 4. Waring, 1851:31. 5. Elliott, 1854:159. 6. Downing, 1857:196. 7. Warder, 1867:733. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1875:14.
SYNONYMS. SUMMER BELLEFLEUR (1, 8). Summer Belle-fleur (5). SUMMER BELLFLOWER (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Summer Bell-flower (1).
This fruit bears considerable resemblance in form and color to Yellow Bellflower. Flesh tender, subacid, good. It is in season from the middle of August to the middle of September. The tree is erect, of medium size, a good grower, hardy and a good cropper. It is not considered a satisfactory variety for commercial planting and so far as we can learn is gradually becoming obsolete in New York. Downing described it in 1848 as a new variety of promise and stated that it was raised by John R. Comstock of Washington, Dutchess county, N. Y., from seed of the Esopus Spitzenburg (1, 6). It was entered on the list of the American Pomological Society in 1875 as a variety of value for Nebraska (8). It was dropped from that list in 1897. A distinct variety of Pennsylvania origin has also been known under the name Summer Bellflower (6, 7).