Townsend
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Townsend
Origin / History
Originated in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where it was found over one hundred years ago by Stephen Townsend in an Indian clearing when he first settled in that then-wild country (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Desportes (1856) reports that grafts were sent to him some years earlier by a friend in Pennsylvania, described as having been taken from a tree which sprung up on the site of an Indian clearing in that state. Elliott (1865) likewise gives the origin as Pennsylvania. Warder (1867) notes that trees he obtained for this variety proved to be Rawle's Janet, and quotes Downing for the description; he also suggests that what he had fruited and described as Hocking may prove to be the same variety, a possible identity also flagged by Elliott ("This may prove same as Hocking") and by Downing ("Hocking of the West may prove to be the same"). Desportes (1856) states that at the time of his writing the variety had not, so far as he was aware, yet been described, and calls it "one of the most delicious late summer and early autumn apples," with "no superior among tender, delicate dessert apples of its season" to his own taste.
Tree
Healthy, vigorous, upright spreading, and productive (Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Elliott (1865) describes the growth as moderately spreading and the tree as an abundant early bearer. Desportes (1856) calls the tree a moderately luxuriant grower and abundant bearer, noting it "has borne abundantly in our own garden." Young wood reddish brown, slightly downy (Downing 1900).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Desportes 1856; Elliott 1865; Warder/Downing quoted 1867; Downing 1900; Lowther 1914). Budd & Hansen (1914) describe the fruit as "rather large." Lowther (1914) gives medium-sized.
Form: Roundish and usually flattened, smooth and regularly formed (Desportes 1856). Roundish (Elliott 1865). Oblate, slightly conic (Warder 1867; Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Roundish oblate (Lowther 1914).
Stem / Stalk: Nearly an inch long, slender (Desportes 1856). Slender (Elliott 1865). Rather long, slender (Warder 1867; Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Cavity: Deep (Desportes 1856; Elliott 1865). Medium (Warder 1867; Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Calyx: Wooly (Desportes 1856). Closed; segments narrow, in divisions (Elliott 1865). Closed (Warder 1867; Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Basin: Of moderate depth (Desportes 1856; Warder 1867; Downing 1900). Abrupt, medium (Elliott 1865). Rather shallow, slightly ribbed (Budd & Hansen 1914).
Skin: Very pale yellow, splashed and streaked with purple-red, and covered with a dense white bloom, like the Astrachan (Desportes 1856). Pale yellow, overspread and streaked with red in sun, with marblings of russet at the stem, grayish white dots, rough, blue bloom (Elliott 1865). Pale yellow, striped and splashed with red, and covered with a thin bloom (Warder 1867; Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). Red striped or splashed (Lowther 1914).
Flesh / Flavor: White, fine-grained, remarkably tender, and of very mild and agreeable sub-acid flavor (Desportes 1856). Yellowish white, breaking rather dry, sub-acid; "very good" (Elliott 1865). White, tender, very mild, agreeable sub-acid flavor (Warder 1867; Downing 1900, who rates it good to very good). White, fine-grained, tender, very mild, agreeable subacid, good to very good (Budd & Hansen 1914). Quality good (Lowther 1914).
Core / Seeds: Core medium; seeds ovate (Elliott 1865). Not otherwise described in source.
Season
Middle of August to middle of September (Desportes 1856; Warder 1867; Downing 1900; Budd & Hansen 1914). September (Elliott 1865). Summer (Lowther 1914).
Uses
Dessert — Desportes (1856) calls it among the most delicious late summer and early autumn apples, with no superior among tender, delicate dessert apples of its season to his own taste. Primary use market (Lowther 1914).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther (1914) reports the variety from 2 stations in the Northern Division, 4 stations in the Central Division, and 2 stations in the Southern Division, with the asterisk on each division total indicating the variety is reported in more than one division. Thomas (1903) lists only "Townsend. See Hocking." with no separate description. The possible identity of Townsend with Hocking is repeatedly raised across sources (Elliott 1865; Warder 1867; Downing 1900) but never resolved.
Book Sources
Described in 7 period pomological works
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
- The Horticulturist (1855) — listed as The Townsend Apple
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (7)
— B. Desportes, The Horticulturist (1856)IV. The Townsend Apple. One of the most delicious late summer and early autumn apples. It has borne abundantly in our own garden, and has not, so far as we are aware, yet been described. Grafts were sent to us some years ago under this name, by a friend in Pennsylvania, as having been taken from a tree which sprung up on the site of an Indian clearing in that state. To our own taste, it has no superior among tender, delicate dessert apples of its season.
Fruit of medium size, roundish and usually flattened, smooth and regularly formed. Skin very pale yellow, splashed and streaked with purple-red, and covered with a dense white bloom, (like the Astrachan.) Stalk nearly an inch long, slender, inserted in a deep cavity; calyx wooly, set in a basin of moderate depth. Flesh white, fine-grained, remarkably tender, and of very mild and agreeable sub-acid flavor. Tree, a moderately luxuriant grower and abundant bearer. Season, middle of August to middle of September.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)TOWNSEND.
From Pennsylvania. Tree, moderately spreading growth, abundant early bearer. Fruit, medium, roundish, pale yellow, overspread and streaked with red in sun, marblings of russet at stem, grayish white dots, rough, blue bloom; stem, slender ; cavity, deep ; calyx, closed ; segments, narrow, in divisions ; basin, abrupt, medium : core, medium ; seeds, ovate ; flesh, yellowish white, breaking rather dry, sub-acid ; "very good." September. This may prove same as Hocking.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Townsend.
Having been disappointed in my trees obtained for this variety, which proved to be Rawle's Janet, I prefer to quote from Mr. Downing. What I have fruited and described as the Hocking may prove to be the same.
" Origin Pennsylvania. Tree healthy, vigorous, very productive.
" Fruit medium, oblate, slightly conic. Skin pale yellow, striped and splashed with red, and covered with a thin bloom. Stalk rather long, slender, inserted into a medium cavity. Calyx closed, set in a basin of moderate depth. Flesh white, tender, very mild, agreeable, sub-acid flavor. Ripe middle of August to middle of September. Hocking of the West may prove to be the same."
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Townsend.
Hocking. Heager.
Originated in Bucks Co., Pa., found over one hundred years ago, in an Indian clearing by Stephen Townsend, when he first settled in that then wild country. Tree healthy, vigorous, upright spreading, productive. Young wood reddish brown, slightly downy.
Fruit medium, oblate, slightly conic, pale yellow, striped and splashed with red, and covered with a thin bloom. Stalk rather long, slender, inserted in a medium cavity. Calyx closed, set in a basin of moderate depth. Flesh white, tender, very mild, agreeable, subacid. Good to very good. Ripe middle of August to middle of September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Townsend. See Hocking.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Townsend. — Found by Stephen Townsend, over one hundred years ago, in an Indian clearing in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania; tree vigorous, upright, spreading, productive.
Fruit rather large, oblate, slightly conic; surface pale yellow, striped and splashed with red, with thin bloom; cavity medium; stem rather long, slender; basin rather shallow, slightly ribbed; calyx closed; flesh white, fine-grained, tender, very mild, agreeable subacid, good to very good. Middle of August to middle of September.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Townsend (27) is a medium-sized apple of roundish oblate form with red striped or splashed skin. Quality is good; primary use is market. Season is summer. Reported by 2 stations in the Northern Division, 4 stations in the Central Division, and 2 stations in the Southern Division; the asterisk on each division total indicates the variety is reported in more than one division.