Wandering Spy

Origin and History

This variety originated in the Ozarks with Wyatt Coffelt of Mason Valley, Benton County, Arkansas. As of the time of writing, it had not yet been fruited to any considerable extent outside its locality of origin. In its native region, the fruit appears to be pretty uniform in size, above the average of Jonathan, fairly free from disease, and of satisfactory color.

Stock was received for testing at the Station in 1900 from J. B. Wild & Bros., Sarcoxie, Missouri. In the testing program at the Station, Beach notes that the fruit has not been nearly so attractive in color nor as good in quality as Tompkins King, Baldwin, or Northern Spy, though it averages good marketable size and is superior in quality to Ben Davis and other apples of that class. Beach speculates that the variety would probably develop better color and flavor on warmer, lighter soils, having been grown at the Station on heavy clay loam.

Tree

The tree is a vigorous grower, comes into bearing early, and gives evidence of being a reliable biennial bearer.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large to medium as grown at the Station. Form slightly oblate inclined to conic.

Stem: Medium to short.

Cavity: Acute to acuminate, deep, rather narrow to moderately wide, symmetrical or slightly furrowed. Russeted and often with outspreading russet rays.

Calyx: Small to medium, partly open, sometimes closed.

Calyx Tube: Short cone-shape varying to short funnel-form with fleshy pistil point projecting into the base.

Basin: Abrupt, symmetrical or somewhat compressed.

Skin: Rather thick and tough. Dull greenish becoming yellow, blushed with dull red sparingly and faintly striped with dull carmine. In highly colored specimens, developing deep dull red over a large part of the fruit. Dots scattering, medium to large, pale gray or russet.

Flesh: Whitish or tinged with green, firm, fine, moderately crisp, very tender, moderately juicy to juicy, subacid, good.

Core and Seeds: Core medium to below; cells closed; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels roundish, deeply emarginate. Seeds medium to large, light brown, rather narrow, acute.

Season and Storage

Season: January to April or May as grown in New York; in the Ozarks region, in season from December to March.

Storage: It is said to keep well in storage, holding firm with good color and fine flavor till late in the season.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes and Variants

Not described in source.

Other

References cited by Beach:

1. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:252
2. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1902:204