Victoria

Origin and History

The origin of Victoria is uncertain, though the variety is claimed by some to have originated in Chenango County, New York, where it came to notice about 1840. Downing notes it is "quite an old variety" and suggests it "may have an older and prior name." The variety is probably nowhere grown extensively, but it is cultivated more in Chenango and adjacent counties than in any other region, and it is occasionally listed by nurserymen. By Hedrick's time (1922), Victoria was grown only in New York. Beach (1905) places it in the same group with Mabie, and notes that its conspicuous large dots recall those seen on Westfield Seek-No-Further and Blue Pearmain; Hedrick similarly identifies it with the Blue Pearmain group as a guide to identification.

Tree

The tree is spreading, with rather short, stocky, crooked branches. On vigor, the sources conflict: Downing describes it as "a moderate grower," Beach as "moderately vigorous," and Hedrick as "vigorous." All agree on the spreading form.

Twigs are moderately long, rather slender, with medium internodes. Bark is dull reddish-brown or olive-green, slightly mottled with scarf-skin, and pubescent. Lenticels are scattering, usually large and elongated. Buds are medium in size, rather narrow, plump, appressed, acute, and pubescent. Leaves are medium in size and rather broad.

The tree comes into bearing rather young and yields full crops biennially (Beach); Downing describes it as "very productive on alternate years." It is recommended by Beach for trial in Central and Eastern New York where a variety of this type is desired for home or local market use.

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit is above medium to medium (Beach), or medium (Downing, Hedrick), fairly uniform in size and shape. Form is described differently by the sources: Downing gives it as "oblate, regular," while Beach and Hedrick describe it as roundish inclining to conic, somewhat flattened at the base, faintly and broadly ribbed. Beach and Hedrick's descriptions are the more detailed and should be considered the more authoritative account of typical form.

Stem

The stem is usually short. On thickness, Downing describes it as "rather small" (i.e., slender), while Beach says "moderately thick" and Hedrick "thick."

Cavity

Moderately deep (Beach) to deep (Hedrick), medium in width to broad, symmetrical, often lipped. Sometimes the cavity is red and smooth, but often bright yellow russet or greenish-russet overspreads the cavity and radiates irregularly over the base in broken lines and splashes. Downing describes the cavity as "medium, regular, sometimes slight russet," which agrees with the russet character but is less detailed.

Calyx

Small to medium (Beach), or small (Downing, Hedrick), closed or partly open. Lobes usually short and not separated at base, acute.

Calyx tube short, medium in size, conical or somewhat funnel-form (Beach); Hedrick gives it as short and conical. Stamens median to basal (Beach); median (Hedrick).

Basin

The sources conflict somewhat. Downing describes the basin as "rather large, moderately deep, slightly plaited." Beach describes it as medium in depth to moderately deep, narrow to wide, somewhat abrupt, slightly wrinkled. Hedrick describes it as medium in depth, narrow, abrupt, and wrinkled.

Skin

Tough, nearly smooth to smooth. The ground color is yellow, blushed and faintly mottled with rather dull red, and marked with numerous narrow stripes of deeper red (Beach, Hedrick). Highly colored specimens are purplish-red with obscure stripes (Beach). Downing describes the skin as "entirely covered with light and dark red and crimson, sometimes obscure stripes and splashes of a darker hue," consistent with the well-colored form.

Dots or flecks are conspicuous, gray or russet, becoming smaller and more numerous toward the cavity (Beach, Hedrick). Downing calls them "many rather conspicuous yellowish dots." The conspicuousness and abundance of these dots is a key identification feature noted by all three sources.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh is firm, very tender, and juicy. On color, the sources conflict: Downing gives "whitish"; Beach "tinged with yellow"; Hedrick "yellow." On texture, the sources also conflict: Downing gives "half fine"; Beach "moderately coarse"; Hedrick "coarse." All three agree the flesh is sweet. Downing adds "rich." Quality is rated very good (Downing) or good to very good (Beach, Hedrick), for either dessert or culinary uses.

Core and Seeds

Core is small (Downing), or medium (Beach, Hedrick), usually abaxile, somewhat distant. Cells closed or partly open. Core lines clasping the funnel cylinder (Beach) or cylinder (Hedrick). Carpels roundish cordate to elliptical (Beach) or round-cordate (Hedrick), decidedly concave, tufted. Seeds numerous, dark, medium in size, flat, acute to obtuse (Beach); Hedrick gives them as flat and acute.

Season

October to November (Downing). October to January (Beach, Hedrick). In ordinary storage the season runs October to January, with October as the commercial limit; in cold storage it may be held until January (Beach).

Uses

Dessert and culinary. Rated very good (Downing) or good to very good (Beach, Hedrick).

Other

The variety is a beautiful sweet apple (Downing). Its most distinctive identification marks, noted by all sources, are the dark red color and the large, conspicuous dots — compared by Beach and Hedrick to those on Westfield Seek-No-Further, Blue Pearmain, and related varieties.