Watwood
Apple
Watwood
Origin/History
Originated on the farm of Nathan Rose, near Blandville, Ballard County, Kentucky. Esteemed in that region for its quality, long keeping, and the uniform bearing habit of the tree. References: Downing (1876), Bailey, An. Hort. (1892), Beach, N.Y. Sta. An. Rpt. 11:223 (1892).
Tree
Vigorous, upright, forming a round head. A uniformly good annual bearer.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Oblate, depressed and flattened at the ends.
Stem: Very short.
Cavity: Broad, deep, with slight russet.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Rather shallow, slightly corrugated.
Skin: The two sources give somewhat differing accounts. Downing describes the ground color as whitish yellow, shaded with pale red over two-thirds of the surface, with a few light and gray dots. Beach characterizes the fruit as rather dull colored, green or yellowish, partly washed and splashed with red.
Flesh/Flavor: Pale yellow (Downing), half fine, rather firm, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid; good quality.
Core/Seeds: Core small.
Season
Downing gives January to March. Beach gives December to May.
Uses
Valued locally for dessert quality and as a long keeper.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Watwood.
Origin, on the farm of Nathan Rose, near Blandville, Kentucky; tree vigorous, upright, forming a round head; a good bearer annually, and esteemed in its locality for its quality and long keeping.
Fruit medium, oblate, depressed and flattened at the ends; skin whitish yellow, shaded with pale red over two-thirds its surface, and a few light and gray dots; stalk very short; cavity broad, deep, slight russet; calyx closed; basin rather shallow, slightly corrugated; flesh pale yellow, half fine, rather firm, juicy, pleasant subacid; core small. January, March.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)WATWOOD.
References. 1. Downing, 1876:71 app. 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:252. 3. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:223. 1892.
Fruit medium size, rather dull colored, green or yellowish partly washed and splashed with red, mild, pleasant subacid, good quality; in season from December to May. It originated at Blandville, Ballard county, Ky., and is valued in that region because it is a long keeper and the tree is a uniformly good bearer.