Trenton Early
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
This autumn apple has been thought to be the English Codling. Warder notes it was one of Silas Wharton's varieties and "a great favorite wherever known." It was introduced to the notice of the Ohio Pomological Society in 1852 by R. W. Steele, Esq., of Dayton, Ohio, who described it as "A large, white apple, of excellent flavor, and is highly esteemed both for eating and cooking. It ripens in August. The tree is a vigorous grower and an abundant bearer. It was introduced here many years ago by Silas Wharton, of Warren County, to whom this portion of the Miami Valley is largely indebted for the introduction of many excellent varieties of apples and pears." Downing describes it as "a variety somewhat grown in Ohio and the West, the origin or identity of which has not yet been discovered." Elliott concurs that the history is unknown but adds: "We think it an old English apple belonging to the class of codlins. Our warm suns and rich soils have so improved it that it is often a right good table fruit, and always valuable for cooking." Thomas notes it was "valued at the West."
Tree
The tree is a moderately vigorous grower, hardy, and quite productive (Downing). Steele, as quoted by Warder, describes the tree as "a vigorous grower and an abundant bearer." Young wood reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large (Warder); above medium (Downing); medium or above (Elliott); medium (Thomas).
Form: Conical, angular (Warder). Irregular, ribbed (Downing). Roundish conical, slightly ribbed (Elliott). Roundish-oblate, ribbed (Thomas).
Skin: Smooth, very pale yellow or white (Warder). Yellowish, with slight undulations over the surface which are green; skin smooth and oily (Downing). Yellowish, with suffused patches of green; skin smooth, oily (Elliott). Yellowish, somewhat marked with green; surface smooth (Thomas).
Dots: Rare, minute (Warder).
Stem: Medium (Warder).
Cavity: Wide, regular, brown (Warder). Wide (Downing, Thomas).
Calyx/Eye: Medium or small, closed (Warder).
Basin: Narrow, folded (Warder). Furrowed (Downing, Thomas). Often furrowed (Elliott).
Flesh/Flavor: White, very tender, juicy; flavor sub-acid, pleasant; quality very good (Warder). Not very fine-grained, very light and tender, with a pleasant, subacid flavor; good (Downing). White, tender, pleasant, sub-acid (Elliott). Light, tender, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Core large, rather open; seeds numerous, angular (Warder).
Season
August and September (Warder). August (Downing). July and August (Elliott). Late summer (Thomas).
Uses
Dessert and kitchen (Warder). Elliott notes it is "often a right good table fruit, and always valuable for cooking."
Other
The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (Lowther, 1914) lists Trenton Early in a variety-characteristic table:
Trenton Early. M r y G f S 1* 4* 2*
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1889)
- Palouse Nursery and Pleasant Dale Fruit Farm , Colfax, Washington Territory (situated two miles northeast of Colfax) - undated (single-page broadside flyer; "Washington Territory" suggests pre — 1889
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Trenton Early.
This fine autumn apple has been thought to be the English Codling. Of its origin and history we know little, except that it was one of Silas Wharton's varieties, and that it has been a great favorite wherever known. It was introduced to the notice of the Ohio Pomological Society, 1852, by R. W. Steele, Esq., of Dayton, Ohio, with the following notes: "A large, white apple, of excellent flavor, and is highly esteemed both for eating and cooking. It ripens in August. The tree is a vigorous grower and an abundant bearer. It was introduced here many years ago by Silas Wharton, of Warren County, to whom this portion of the Miami Valley is largely indebted for the introduction of many excellent varieties of apples and pears."
Fruit large, conical, angular; Surface smooth, very pale yellow or white; Dots rare, minute.
Basin narrow, folded; Eye medium or small, closed.
Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem medium.
Core large, rather open; Seeds numerous, angular; Flesh white, very tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, pleasant; Quality very good; Use, dessert and kitchen; Season, August, September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Trenton Early ?
A variety somewhat grown in Ohio and the West, the origin or identity of which has not yet been discovered. The tree is a moderately vigorous grower, hardy, and quite productive. Young wood reddish brown. Fruit above medium, irregular, ribbed. Color yellowish, with slight undulations over the surface, which are green. Skin smooth and oily. Cavity wide. Basin furrowed. Flesh not very fine-grained, very light and tender, with a pleasant, subacid flavor. Good. August.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Trenton Early. M r y G f S 1* 4* 2*
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Trenton Early ? History unknown. We think it an old English apple belonging to the class of codlins. Our warm suns and rich soils have so improved it that it is often a right good table fruit, and always valuable for cooking. Fruit, medium or above, roundish conical, slightly ribbed ; color, yellowish, with suffused patches of green ; skin, smooth, oily ; basin, often furrowed ; flesh, white, tender, pleasant, sub-acid. July and August.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Trenton Early. Size medium, roundish-oblate, ribbed; color yellowish, somewhat marked with green; surface smooth, cavity wide, basin furrowed; flesh light, tender, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor. Late summer. Valued at the West.