Taunton
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Taunton
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Some claim it for Alabama, others for Georgia. Reported by 1 station in the Northern Division and 10 stations in the Central Division of the Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture survey (1914), with notation indicating the variety is adapted to more than one division.
Tree
A vigorous but straggling grower, very productive. Young shoots reddish brown, slightly downy.
Fruit
Size: Rather large. Lowther gives the size simply as "large."
Form: Oblate conic. Lowther gives the form as "roundish conical."
Stem: Slender.
Cavity: Deep, russeted.
Calyx: Closed. Segments long and slender.
Basin: Slightly corrugated.
Skin: Greenish yellow, striped and splashed with red, darkest on the sun side. Dots large, light.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, tender, juicy, aromatic, acid. Quality rated Good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September–October.
Uses
Kitchen and market (dessert and culinary).
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 (1886–1913) from Alabama, Illinois
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Taunton.
Origin unknown. Some claim it for Alabama, others Georgia. The tree is a vigorous but straggling grower, very productive. Young shoots reddish brown, slightly downy.
Fruit rather large, oblate conic, greenish yellow, striped and splashed with red, darkest on sun side, large light dots. Stalk slender. Cavity deep, russeted. Calyx closed. Segments long, slender. Basin slightly corrugated. Flesh whitish, tender, juicy, aromatic, acid. Good. September, October.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Taunton. Size: large. Form: roundish conical. Color: yellow-red. Quality: good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: autumn. Reported by 1 station in the Northern Division and 10 stations in the Central Division; the asterisk indicates the variety is reported as adapted to more than one division.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Taunton. — Origin unknown; some claim it for Alabama, others Georgia; tree a vigorous but straggling grower, very productive. Fruit rather large, oblate conic; surface greenish yellow, striped and splashed with red, darkest on sun side; dots large, light; cavity deep, russeted; stem slender; basin slightly corrugated; calyx closed; segments long, slender; flesh whitish, tender, juicy, aromatic, acid; good. September, October.