Pennsylvania Vandervere.

VANDERVERE (Coxe and Downing)—LITTLE VANDERVERE—GRAY VANDERVERE—STAALCUBS, ETC.

This old kitchen favorite, of Pennsylvania, has migrated westward until it has reached every State and county on its appropriate parallels of latitude, 39° to 42°.

Mr. Downing gives Delaware as its origin, on the authority of Coxe. In accordance with common acceptance in the regions where it is best known, I have adopted the above name, which was given to distinguish it from several other Vanderveres, and especially from the Newtown Spitzenberg, to which the name Vandervere had been applied in New York and westward on that parallel. Coxe describes the fruit in question under the name Vandervere.

Tree vigorous, healthy, large, spreading, very twiggy and drooping, with abundant fruit on the ends of the spray; Foliage bright yellowish-green, shining, pointed, the whole aspect of the tree peculiar and characteristic in summer or winter.

Fruit medium or less, oblate, or globular-oblate, regular; Surface smooth, but having raised hemispherical warts of a yellow russet color, yellow, mottled, and striped light red, often a gray appearance over the whole exterior; Dots large, yellow, indented.

Basin wide, regular, not deep; Eye small, closed.

Cavity wide, regular; Stem long, slender.

Core regular, closed, meeting and clasping the eye; seeds numerous, pointed, plump; Flesh yellow, breaking, granular, juicy; Flavor highly aromatic, acid; Quality for table third, for kitchen first, for cider Coxe says very good, yielding a heavy must; Season December and January.

The fruit is subject to bitter rot, and does not keep well, but may be used for cooking as soon as any other apple, making good sauce in July, when not half grown.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Vandevere.

White Vandevere. Vandevere of Pa. Green Vandevere. Little Vandevere of Indiana. Stalclubs. Vandiver. Vanderveer. Yellow Vandervere. Striped Vandervere. Pennsylvania Vandevere. Lasting Vandervere ? Fall Vandevere ? Red Vandevere.

The Vandevere is an old fruit, a native of Wilmington, Del., and took its name from a family there by name of Vandiver, which should be by right the name of the Apple ; but it has so long been known and grown under the spelling Vandevere, that we deem it best not to change it. There is much confusion existing respecting this Apple and its sub-varieties, which possibly some of those may be, grown under what we give as synonyms. Tree of moderate horizontal growth, not very productive. Young shoots smooth, dark grayish reddish brown, with bold, full, projecting, rounded conical buds.

Fruit of medium size, oblate. Stalk about an inch long, inserted in a deep cavity. Calyx small and closed, set in a round, moderate basin. Color waxen yellow, striped with red, and covered with numerous green dots. Flesh yellowish, compact, but tender, with a fine, rich, subacid flavor. Good. October to January. Valuable for culinary purposes.

There is a Vandevere which we have received from Virginia, the young wood of which is slender, with very small inconspicuous buds.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

VANDEVERE.

REFERENCES. 1. Am. Gard. Cal., 1806:585. 2. Coxe, 1817:141. fig. 3. Thacher, 1822:139. 4. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:477. 5. Floy-Lindley, 1833:85. 6. Downing, 1845:141. fig. 7. Thomas, 1849:173. 8. Cole, 1849:122. 9. Horticulturist, 10:87. 1855. 10. Ib., 11:89. 1856. 11. Warder, 1867:735. 12. Fitz, 1872:121, 149, 153. 13. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1873. 14. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:298. 15. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:251. 16. Budd-Hansen, 1903:193.

SYNONYMS. Oxeye (8, 12). Staalcubs (2, 4). Stalcubs (3, 6). VANDERVERE (2, 6, 9, 10, 11). VANDEVEER (4). VANDEVERE (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16).

The old variety which is commonly called Vandevere in New York is known to pomologists by the name Newtown Spitzenburg, under which name it is described in Vol. I, page 225. It originated in Newtown, L. I. The true Vandevere which we are here considering is quite distinct from this Newtown Spitzenburg. When in perfection Vandevere is a beautiful and fine apple, medium in size, marked with light red in indistinct streaks over a yellow background; well colored specimens become deep red; dots numerous, green or light gray; flesh yellowish, crisp and tender with a rich, sprightly, mild subacid flavor, valued especially for culinary purposes; in season from October to January.

The tree is of medium size, spreading, moderately vigorous, not very productive (2, 6, 7).

Historical. An old variety native of Wilmington, Del. (2, 6). It is sometimes called the Vandevere of Delaware or the Vandevere of Pennsylvania. It has never been much cultivated in New York and is now seldom or never planted here.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

Vandevere.—An old variety, originated at Wilmington, Delaware; distinct from Vandevere Pippin grown at the West.

Fruit medium, oblate; surface waxen yellow, striped with red; dots numerous, green; cavity deep; stem about one inch long; basin round, moderate; calyx small, closed; flesh yellowish, compact, but tender, with a fine, rich, subacid flavor, good, valuable for culinary use. October to January.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

Planted Spring 1896. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit of medium size, oblate. Skin greenish yellow, with a little russet, and some red blush. Flesh yellowish, solid, juicy, tender, rich, sub-acid, with a pleasant flavour, quality good. Season October and November.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)