Tewksbury
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Tewksbury
Origin / History
Coxe (1817) records that this apple was brought from the township of Tewksbury in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Warder (1867) and Thomas (1903) likewise attribute its origin to New Jersey, Warder noting it was described by Coxe. Beach (1905) characterizes it as an old variety, but observes that despite its age it is "but very little grown in New York state, which is pretty good evidence that it does not possess superior value for New York fruit growers." It was first described in print by Coxe under the name "Tewksbury Winter Blush." Multiple sources (Warder, Elliott) note that the variety called Fink's Seedling resembles Tewksbury so closely as to be thought identical by many; Beach lists "Fink" as a synonym applied incorrectly.
Tree
The tree is of vigorous, rapid growth, straight and well-formed (Coxe; Downing notes it "grows rapidly and straight"). It is upright in habit (Warder; Elliott describes it as "rather upright") and very productive (Warder, Elliott, Thomas). It holds its apples well, and the fruit hangs late into the autumn (Coxe, Warder, Downing). Elliott adds that the tree is "always fair" and a great keeper. Downing notes the young shoots are grayish reddish brown.
Fruit
Size: Small (all sources).
Form: Round (Coxe); regular and flat (Warder); rather flat (Downing); round oblate (Thomas); round ovate flattened (Elliott).
Stem: Slender (Elliott). Not otherwise described.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small (Elliott). Not otherwise described.
Basin: Shallow (Elliott). Not otherwise described.
Skin: Smooth (Coxe, Warder, Downing). Color yellow with a bright red cheek or blush (Coxe, Downing, Thomas); Warder describes the surface as smooth, yellow, blushed. Beach describes the color as bright yellow or greenish with a beautiful pinkish-red blush, somewhat like that of Maiden Blush, and decidedly attractive. Elliott gives the color as yellowish green with minute russet dots and occasionally a red cheek.
Flesh / Flavor: Flesh yellow (Coxe, Warder, Downing, Thomas); Elliott gives it as yellowish white. It is tolerably juicy (Coxe), juicy (Warder, Thomas, Elliott), and described as breaking (Warder) or firm and tender (Elliott). Coxe calls it well flavored with a considerable degree of sprightliness, and notes more flavor and juiciness than is usually found in keeping apples. Downing states it has more juice and flavor than any other long-keeping variety, and characterizes the flavor as mild, pleasant subacid. Warder calls it well flavored and notes it retains its characters for a long time. Elliott gives it as sub-acid. Thomas calls the flavor good. Beach notes it holds its quality well late in the season.
Core / Seeds: Core medium; seeds light brown (Elliott). Not otherwise described.
Season
A long-keeping winter variety. Coxe reports eating them in good condition in August of the second year, preserved without particular care, perfectly plump and sound. Downing gives the season as January to July, stating they may be kept till August without particular care, quite plump and sound. Elliott gives January to August. Thomas states it keeps till midsummer. The fruit hangs late on the tree into the autumn.
Uses
Valued chiefly as a long keeper that holds its quality well late in the season (Beach). Its chief excellence consists in its superior keeping qualities (Warder).
Subtypes / Variants
No named subtypes or sports are described. Fink's Seedling is noted by Warder and Elliott as so closely resembling Tewksbury as to be thought identical by many; Beach lists "Fink" / "Fink's Seedling" as synonyms applied incorrectly.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 6 period pomological works
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Tewksbury Winter Blush
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867) — listed as Tewksbury Winter Blush
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Tewkesbury Winter Blush
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Tewksbury Blush
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Tewksbury Blush
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Tewksbury Blush
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as Tewksbury Blush
View original book sources (6)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 94. TEWKSBURY WINTER BLUSH.
This apple was brought from the township of Tewksbury in Hunterdon county, New-Jersey—it is a very handsome fair fruit, with more flavour and juiciness than is to be usually found in keeping apples; I have eaten them in good condition in August of the second year, preserved without particular care, perfectly plump and sound. The size is small; the form round; the skin smooth: the colour yellow, with a bright red cheek—the flesh yellow, tolerably juicy, and well flavoured, with a considerable degree of sprightliness: the tree is of vigorous growth, straight, and well formed—the fruit hangs late in the autumn.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Tewksbury Winter Blush.
This long-keeping variety was described by Coxe as having its origin in New Jersey. It has already been named in connection with the Fink, which resembles it very closely, and, like it, the chief excellence of this variety consists in its superior keeping qualities.
The tree is vigorous, upright, productive, and holds the apples well.
Fruit small, regular, flat; Surface smooth, yellow, blushed; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy, well flavored, and retains its characters for a long time.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Tewkesbury Winter Blush. Tewkesbury Blush. Coxe says this Apple was brought from Tewkesbury, Hunterdon Co., N.J. It is a handsome, fair fruit, with more flavor and juiciness than is usual in long-keeping apples. They may be kept till August, without particular care, quite plump and sound. The tree grows rapidly and straight, and the fruit hangs till late in the autumn. Young shoots grayish reddish brown. The size is small, rather flat. The skin smooth, yellow, with a red cheek. Flesh yellow, with more juice and flavor than any other long-keeping variety. Mild, pleasant subacid. January to July.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)TEWKSBURY.
REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:156. fig. 2. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1820:476. 3. Wilson, 1828:136. 4. Downing, 1845:140. 5. Thomas, 1849:186. 6. Cole, 1849:136. 7. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:88. 1851. 8. Elliott, 1854:160. 9. Hooper, 1857:93. 10. Gregg, 1857:59. 11. Warder, 1867:406, 416. 12. Downing, 1869:382. fig. 13. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1871:10. 14. Barry, 1883:355. 15. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:298. 16. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:251. 17. Amer. Gard., 16:14. 1895. 18. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:309. 1905.
SYNONYMS. FINK (9), but incorrectly. Fink (11), but incorrectly. Fink's Seedling (8, 18). TEWKESBURY WINTER BLUSH (10, 12, 16). Tewkcsbury Blush (12). TEWKSBERRY WINTER BLUSH (3). TEWKSBERY WINTER BLUSH (2). TEWKSBURY BLUSH (5, 7, 8, 17). Tewksbury Blush (18). TEWKSBURY WINTER BLUSH (1, 4, 6, 11, 13, 14). Tewksbury Winter Blush (5, 8, 9, 18).
Valued chiefly because it is a long keeper and holds its quality well late in the season. The color is bright yellow or greenish with a beautiful pinkish-red blush somewhat like that of Maiden Blush; decidedly attractive. Although it is an old variety it is but very little grown in New York state which is pretty good evidence that it does not possess superior value for New York fruit growers.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Tewksbury Blush, Tewksbury Winter Blush. From New Jersey. Tree, rapid, rather upright growth, very productive, always fair, great keeper. Fruit, small, round ovate flattened, yellowish green, with minute russet dots and occasionally a red cheek ; stem, slender ; calyx, small ; basin, shallow ; core, medium ; seeds, light brown ; flesh, yellowish white, juicy, firm, tender, sub-acid, January to August. Fink's Seedling so closely resembles this, as to be by many thought identical.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Tewksbury Blush. (Tewksbury Winter Blush.) Small, round oblate; yellow with a red cheek; flesh yellow, juicy, with a good flavor. Keeps till midsummer. Very productive. New Jersey.