Wealthy

Wealthy.

A new variety originated by Peter M. Gideon, near St. Paul, Minn., from seed gathered in Maine about 1860. So far the tree has proved hardy, vigorous, and healthy.

Fruit medium, oblate or roundish oblate, whitish yellow ground, shaded with deep rich crimson in the sun, obscure broken stripes and mottlings in the shade, sometimes entirely covered with crimson, many light dots. Stalk short to medium, slender. Cavity green, russet. Calyx partially closed. Basin deep, abrupt, uneven. Flesh white, fine-grained, stained with red, tender, juicy, lively, vinous, subacid. Very good. Core small. Season, December, February.

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

WEALTHY.

REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1869:398. 2. Foster, Horticulturist, 25:362. 1870. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1871:10. 4. Thomas, 1875:515. 5. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1876:19. 6. Ib., 1879:33. fig. 7. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1879:453. 8. Sheppard, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 8:140. 1881-82. 9. Foster, Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1882:100. 10. Barry, 1883:356. 11. Gideon, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:114. 12. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-87:17, 27. 13. Rural N. Y., 46:494, 751. 1887. 14. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1887:92. 15. Can. Hort., 11:31. 1888. 16. Rural N. Y., 48:177. 1889. 17. Gibb, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 15:19. 1890. 18. Hamilton, Ib., 15:27. 1890. 19. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:298. 20. Can. Hort., 14:119, 131, 331. 1891. 21. Taylor, Me. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1892:57. 22. Rural N. Y., 51:705. 1892. 23. Ont. Fr. Gr. Assn. An. Rpt., 26:65. 1894. 24. Rural N. Y., 54:682. 1895. 25. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 3:17. 1896. figs. 26. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:32. 1897. 27. Bunyard, Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1898:357. 28. Am. Gard., 20:404. 1899. 29. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:312. 1901. 30. Hays, U. S. Div. of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology Bul., 29:13. 1901. 31. Can. Hort., 25:121. 1902. 32. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 61:249. 1902. 33. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:85. 1902. 34. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:112. 1902. fig. 35. Dickens and Greene, Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:56. 1902. 36. Can. Hort., 26:12. 1903. 37. Budd-Hansen, 1903:198. fig. 38. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:47. 1903. 39. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:60. 1903. 40. Macoun, Can. Hort., 27:71. 1904. fig. of tree. 41. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:150. 1904. 42. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:326. 1905.

SYNONYMS. None.

This variety is particularly valuable for cold climates because the tree is very hardy and the fruit sells well, being bright red and good in quality for either dessert or culinary uses. It is in season from October to early winter or mid-winter. In ordinary storage its commercial limit is October, but in cold storage it may be kept till January or later. It does not stand heat very well before going into storage, and goes down rather quickly (41). Young trees or trees which are making a thrifty growth produce fruit of good size, but mature, slow-growing trees are apt to yield a considerable percentage of undersized fruit, especially when they are overloaded, as is often the case. The crop ripens unevenly, and more than one picking should be made in order to secure the fruit in prime condition. If it is left upon the tree till fully colored there is apt to be considerable loss by dropping. The tree is a good thrifty grower when young, but with maturity it becomes a moderate or rather slow grower, forming a medium-sized or rather dwarfish tree. Wealthy is being planted for commercial purposes in many parts of the state, but in most localities the trees are as yet comparatively young; in some sections of the state it is being planted more than any other apple of its season. Trees that have become old enough to develop the tendency to produce rather small fruit are in some places being grafted over to other sorts. In other places fruit growers, by adopting such treatment as thinning the fruit and keeping the soil fertile, continue to produce apples of good marketable size when the trees are mature.

Historical. Originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minn., from seed of the Cherry Crab, which he obtained about 1860 from Albert Emerson, Bangor, Me. (11, 28). Ragan (42) states that the fruit was first described in the Western Farmer in 1869. It has been extensively disseminated, particularly in those apple-growing districts where a tree of superior hardiness is especially desired. It is generally listed by nurserymen and its cultivation is gradually increasing.

TREE.

Tree somewhat dwarfish to medium size, moderately vigorous with short, moderately stout, curved branches. Form upright spreading or roundish, open and somewhat drooping. Twigs long, curved, slender; internodes long. Bark dark brown, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, medium to small, oblong, not raised, rather conspicuous. Buds medium size, broad, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit above medium to large when well grown but often small on old trees; pretty uniform in shape and quality but more or less uneven in size. Form roundish conic, slightly flattened at base, regular, symmetrical. Stem usually short to medium, but rather long on small fruit and rather slender. Cavity decidedly acuminate, rather deep, moderately narrow to rather broad, russeted. Calyx medium size, closed or partly open; lobes broad, obtuse to acute. Basin medium in depth to rather shallow, rather narrow, abrupt, smooth, symmetrical. Skin thin, tough, pale yellow or greenish, blushed and marked with narrow stripes and splashes of red, deepening in highly colored specimens to brilliant red, very attractive. Dots numerous, small, inconspicuous, pale or russet. Prevailing effect bright red. Calyx tube conical approaching funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium to very small, axile or sometimes slightly abaxile; cells symmetrical, slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels medium to rather small, roundish, narrowing toward base and apex, smooth, flat. Seeds moderately dark brown, above medium, rather acute. Flesh whitish sometimes stained with red, moderately fine, crisp, tender, very juicy, agreeable subacid, sprightly, somewhat aromatic, good to very good.

Season October to January.

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

Wealthy

The Wealthy is well adapted to northern climates because the tree is very hardy and resistant to cold. It is somewhat dwarfish to medium in size, short, moderately stout, curved branches. Form upright, spreading or roundish, open and somewhat drooping. Bark dark brown, lightly streaked with scarf skin, pubescent. Fruit bright red, above medium to large, but inclines to be small and to ripen irregularly on old trees. Form roundish conic, slightly flattened at the base, regular, symmetrical. Stem usually short to medium, cavity decidedly acuminate, rather deep. Calyx medium sized, closed or partly open. Skin thin, tough, pale yellow or greenish, blushed and marked with narrow stripes and splashes of red, deepening in highly colored specimens to a brilliant red that is very attractive. In almost all parts of the arid sections where it is grown it takes on a rich color. Flesh is whitish, sometimes stained with red, moderately fine, crisp, tender, very juicy, agreeable subacid, sprightly, somewhat aromatic, good to very good. Season from October to January.

Historical. Originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minnesota, from the seed of the Cherry Crab, which he obtained from Albert Emerson, Bangor, Maine, in 1860. The fruit was first described in the Western Farmer, in 1869.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

Wealthy. Medium, roundish, oblate; yellowish shade with dark red, oily; flesh tender, white, juicy, sub-acid, very good. Tree hardy, vigorous and productive. A standard commercial variety in the plains region, and valued as an excellent culinary and market sort elsewhere. Minnesota. Fig. 469.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)