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Williams

Apple
USDA watercolor illustration of Williams

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Williams

Origin / History

Williams originated at Roxbury, near Boston, Massachusetts, about 1750 (Bunyard, Hedrick). Beach, writing in 1905, puts its origin at "more than 150 years ago." It had previously been known in market under the names Queen and Lady's Apple (Beach, citing Hovey, 1848). It was brought to the notice of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1830 and then named Williams. It was entered in the catalogue of the American Pomological Society in 1854 and was still retained on that list in Beach's time. Bunyard says it was probably introduced to England about 1828.

Beach found it widely disseminated and still often listed by nurserymen, but nowhere being planted to any considerable extent. He calls it a favorite in Boston and other eastern markets, grown to a limited extent for commercial purposes in some portions of Eastern New York. Hedrick says that for a century and a half it has been a favorite in New England and the Middle Atlantic states. Lowther's station table reports it from the Northern Division (15*), Central Division (10*), and Southern Division (4*), each marked as reported in more than one division. Thomas says its handsome appearance "has partly contributed to its high reputation." Bunyard calls it "one of the best early dessert apples and well worthy of culture."

Tree

Tree rather small, a slow grower, only moderately vigorous; growth medium or moderate, rather straggling (Bunyard). Form upright spreading or roundish, somewhat dense (Beach). Beach advises topworking it upon some thrifty hardy stock, such as Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening, or Tolman Sweet. So topworked on vigorous stock and properly tilled and fertilized, it becomes a rather vigorous grower and a rather large tree, of pretty good size. It then comes into bearing early and, in favorable locations under good treatment, is a reliable cropper, yielding good crops annually or nearly annually.

Shoots reddish brown (Elliott). Twigs short, curved, moderately stout, with large terminal buds; internodes short. Bark dark brown tinged with green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small to medium size, oblong, raised. Buds medium size, broad, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent (Beach). Leaf rather large, round, pale, down-hanging, undulating, serrate (Bunyard).

Bears abundantly; productive, fertile, spurring well (Bunyard). Hedrick calls the trees healthful and fruitful. Requires a strong, rich soil (Downing); Thomas asks a rich soil and good cultivation.

Fruit

Size: Small to large. Most authors give medium, sometimes or under favorable conditions rather large, or above medium; Bunyard measures it 2¼ by 2¼. Warder alone gives small to medium. At the other end, Elliott gives medium to large, Hedrick says the apples are ordinarily large, and Downing calls it "a large and handsome dessert Apple" while describing the fruit as of medium size. Uniform in size and shape (Beach: "pretty form in size and shape"). With very heavy crops it is apt to be rather small unless properly thinned, and many fruits may then be small and uneven in size (Hedrick).

Form: Round to oblong, conic: oblong-ovate and remotely conical, oblong conic, roundish oblong conic, or roundish conic; Lowther's table gives the form as "re." Broadly ribbed (Beach). Sides often unequal; a little one-sided, irregular. Warder alone calls it regular.

Stem: Medium to long, three-quarters of an inch to an inch, slender, slightly sunk; enlarged at insertion (Thomas), "much knobbed each end" (Bunyard). Beach alone calls it moderately thick.

Cavity: Shallow, wide or rather broad, obtuse, furrowed, sometimes slightly russeted.

Calyx: Medium to above medium size, closed or usually closed; lobes long. Segments large, connivent (Budd and Hansen), reflexed at the tips (Bunyard). Calyx tube long, narrow, funnel-shaped or approaching cylindrical, sometimes extending to the core (Beach). Stamens marginal.

Basin: Small to moderate, medium to shallow, narrow to wide, abrupt or a little abrupt, furrowed, folded, or corrugated; Thomas calls it even or somewhat ribbed. At its base Bunyard notes "a few round bead-like knobs."

Skin: Nearly smooth to very smooth, rather tender, easily bruised; Beach calls it thin in his general remarks and moderately thick in his technical description. Ground pale yellow, yellow, or pale greenish yellow; Downing gives a light red ground. Nearly or wholly covered with red: bright deep red, fine clear red, light red, fine dark red, dark purplish red, or light and very dark purplish red, very dark on the sunny side (Elliott), in Bunyard's fruit a very dark crimson flush. Striped with dark red or crimson: indistinctly (Beach, Warder), with broad stripes (Bunyard), or with numerous brilliant dark crimson stripes and splashes (Budd and Hansen); Thomas gives the color as mostly fine dark crimson stripes. Lowther gives the color as yellow-red. A very beautiful, handsome, bright red fruit.

Dots: Numerous, inconspicuous, small, grayish or russet (Beach); Budd and Hansen find them few and very minute, and Warder records none.

Flesh and flavor: Yellowish white or whitish yellow; white (Hedrick); greenish (Bunyard). Sometimes tinged with red, especially near the surface; often stained with red (Budd and Hansen); streaked red (Warder). Firm, a little coarse, moderately crisp, tender; Bunyard calls it soft and Warder breaking. Juicy to moderately juicy, becoming dry when overripe; Warder calls it "not juicy."

Flavor mild, very mild (Downing), agreeable, pleasant, aromatic subacid; Hedrick calls it rich, and Warder "sub-acid, peculiar." The commonest verdict is "good." Elliott rates it "very good," Rivers "a very good red," and Thomas "fine"; Warder alone rates it "scarcely good."

Core and seeds: Core medium to large, axile, round (Warder), closed; cells closed or slightly open (Beach), round, slit (Budd and Hansen). Core lines clasping, barely clasping (Budd and Hansen). Carpels ovate to roundish (Beach). Seeds not many (Budd and Hansen), above medium, rather narrow, long, moderately plump, pointed, acute or nearly acuminate, brown to dark brown.

Season

Summer, from July into September; every dated account includes August. The earliest placements begin in July, and Downing gives the last of July to the first of September. Thomas says it ripens for several weeks late in summer. Beach places it in late August and early September in his general remarks, late August and September in his description. The crop ripens unevenly, and more than one picking is required to secure the fruit in prime condition. The fruit cannot be kept long (Hedrick).

Uses

Dessert; Beach says it is not suitable for culinary uses. Downing calls it an excellent market variety, and Lowther's table lists its use as market. It does not stand shipping very well, the skin being thin, tender, and easily bruised, and is therefore best handled in small packages (Beach). Hedrick puts this down to its being a tender-fleshed dessert apple: "As with so many of the tender-fleshed dessert apples, the fruits do not stand shipping well." Beach recommends it for commercial planting where fruit of this type and season is desired.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Thomas figures the fruit (Fig. 363).

Book Sources

Described in 9 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 6 catalogs (1845–1918) from Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri

View original book sources (10)

Williams' Favorite.

Williams' Favorite Red, | Williams' Red, Williams' Early, | Williams' Early Red.

From Massachusetts. Tree, medium growth; shoots, reddish brown. Fruit medium to large, oblong; fine clear red, very dark in sun; calyx, closed; basin, narrow; stem, slender; flesh, yellowish white, tender; "very good." August.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Williams' Favorite.

WILLIAMS' EARLY.

Origin Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Fruit small to medium, round, regular; Surface smooth, dark purplish red, indistinctly striped; Dots none.

Basin abrupt, folded; Eye medium, closed.

Cavity wide, shallow; Stem long, slender.

Core large, round, closed; Seeds pointed, brown; Flesh whitish-yellow, streaked red, breaking, not juicy; Flavor sub-acid, peculiar; Quality scarcely good; Season, July and August.

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

William's Favorite.

William's Early. William's Red.

A large and handsome dessert Apple. It originated at Roxbury, near Boston, Mass., bears abundantly, and ripens from the last of July to the first of September. An excellent market variety.

Fruit of medium size, roundish oblong conic, and a little one-sided. Stalk an inch long, slender, slightly sunk. Calyx closed, in a furrowed basin. Skin very smooth, of a light red ground, but nearly covered with a fine dark red. Flesh yellowish white, and of a very mild and agreeable flavor. Good. Requires a strong, rich soil.

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

Williams' Favorite.* (Williams, Williams' Red, Williams' Favorite Red.) Size medium, sometimes rather large; oblong-ovate, remotely conical, very smooth; color mostly fine dark crimson stripes; stalk three-quarters to one inch long, enlarged at insertion, cavity shallow; basin small and shallow, even, or somewhat ribbed; flesh yellowish white, moderately juicy, with sometimes a tinge of red near the surface, mild, agreeable, fine. Ripens for several weeks late in summer. Its handsome appearance has partly contributed to its high reputation. Requires a rich soil and good cultivation. Fig. 363. Origin, Roxbury, Mass.

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

WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES. 1. Kenrick, 1832:129. 2. Manning, 1838:149. 3. Ib., Mag. Hort., 7:51. 1841. 4. Downing, 1845:79. 5. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 14:118. 1848. fig. 6. Goodrich, 1849:51. 7. Cole, 1849:100. fig. 8. Thomas, 1849:142. fig. 9. Waring, 1851:32. fig. 10. Barry, 1851:282. 11. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:12. 1851. 12. Elliott, 1854:163. 13. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1854. 14. Hooper, 1857:100. 15. Warder, 1867:618, 736. 16. Fitz, 1872:161. 17. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1879:26. 18. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:507. 19. Hogg, 1884:243. 20. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:300. 21. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:252. 22. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:248. 1894. 23. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:255. 1895. 24. Gard. and For., 8:248. 1895. 25. Can. Hort., 20:183. 1897. 26. Bunyard, Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1898:357. 27. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:312. 1901. 28. Budd-Hansen, 1903:203. fig.

SYNONYMS. Lady's Apple (5). Queen (5). WILLIAMS (1, 5, 6, 7, 12, 20, 26, 27). Williams (7, 8). Williams Early (5, 12, 15, 19). Williams Early Red (7, 12). WILLIAMS FAVORITE (3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25). Williams Favorite (5, 7, 12, 27). Williams Favorite Red (5, 8, 12). WILLIAMS Favorite (28). WILLIAMS FAVOURITE RED (2). WILLIAMS FAVOURITE (4, 19). Williams Red (8, 12, 19).

Williams is a very beautiful, bright red apple of mild agreeable flavor, good for dessert but not suitable for culinary uses. It is a favorite in Boston and other eastern markets, and is grown to a limited extent for commercial purposes in some portions of Eastern New York. It does not stand shipping very well, the skin being thin, tender and easily bruised, therefore best handled in small packages. It is in season during late August and early September. Under favorable conditions the fruit becomes rather large, but with very heavy crops it is apt to be rather small unless properly thinned. The crop ripens unevenly, and more than one picking is required to secure the fruit in prime condition. The tree being only moderately vigorous, it is an advantage to topwork it upon some thrifty hardy stock, such as Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening, or Tolman Sweet. When topworked in this way the Williams becomes a rather vigorous grower, makes a tree of pretty good size, comes into bearing early and in favorable locations, under good treatment, is a reliable cropper, yielding good crops annually or nearly annually. It can be recommended for commercial planting where fruit of this type and season is desired.

Historical. Williams originated in Roxbury, Mass., more than 150 years ago. It was brought to the notice of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1830 and then named Williams. It had previously been known in market under the name Queen and Lady's Apple (5). It was entered in the catalogue of the American Pomological Society in 1854 and is still retained on that list (13). It has become widely disseminated and is still often listed by nurserymen (21) but is nowhere being planted to any considerable extent.

TREE.

Tree rather small and a slow grower but when topworked on vigorous stock and properly tilled and fertilized it becomes rather large and vigorous. Form upright spreading or roundish, somewhat dense. Twigs short, curved, moderately stout, with large terminal buds; internodes short. Bark dark brown tinged with green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small to medium size, oblong, raised. Buds medium size, broad, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium or under favorable circumstances rather large, pretty form in size and shape. Form oblong conic to roundish conic, broadly ribbed; sides often unequal. Stem medium to long, moderately thick. Cavity obtuse, shallow, rather broad, furrowed, sometimes russeted. Calyx above medium size, usually closed; lobes long. Basin medium to rather shallow, rather narrow to moderately broad, a little abrupt, somewhat furrowed. Skin moderately thick, rather tender, nearly smooth, pale yellow overlaid with bright deep red, indistinctly striped with dark red or crimson. Dots numerous, inconspicuous, small, grayish or russet. Calyx tube long, narrow, funnel-shape or approaching cylindrical, sometimes extending to the core. Stamens marginal. Core medium to rather large, axile; cells closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels ovate to roundish. Seeds above medium, rather narrow, long, moderately plump, acute or nearly acuminate, dark brown. Flesh sometimes tinged with red, firm, a little coarse, moderately crisp, tender, rather juicy, becoming dry when overripe, pleasant mild subacid, aromatic, good. Season late August and September.

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

Williams Favorite.—Origin, Roxbury, Massachusetts; tree productive, requires a strong rich soil; an excellent market variety.

Fruit above medium, roundish oblong conic, slightly unequal; surface very smooth, yellow, almost or wholly covered with light and very dark purplish red, with numerous brilliant dark crimson stripes and splashes, a beautiful fruit; dots few, very minute; cavity wide, shallow, slightly russeted; stem medium to long, slender; basin shallow, wide, abrupt, corrugated; calyx closed; segments large, connivent. Core closed, barely clasping; cells round, slit; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal; seeds, not many, pointed, rather long; flesh yellowish white, often stained with red, tender, moderately juicy, mild, agreeable, aromatic subacid, good. July, August.

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

Williams (Favorite). Size: medium. Form: "re". Color: yellow-red. Quality: good. Use: market. Season: summer. Northern Division: 15* (reported in more than one division). Central Division: 10* (reported in more than one division). Southern Division: 4* (reported in more than one division).

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

WILLIAM'S FAVOURITE. Dessert, August, medium, 2¼ by 2¼, round to oblong, conical, irregular. Colour, pale greenish-yellow, nearly covered with very dark crimson flush and broad stripes. Flesh, soft, greenish, aromatic. Eye, closed, segments reflexed at tips, in a moderate basin, at the base of which are a few round bead-like knobs. Stem, fairly long, much knobbed each end, in a shallow cavity. Growth, moderate, rather straggling, spurring well; fertile. Leaf, rather large, round, pale, down-hanging, undulating, serrate. Origin, at Roxbury, U.S.A., about 1750. Probably introduced to England, about 1828. One of the best early dessert apples and well worthy of culture.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

WILLIAMS. Lady's Apple. Queen. Williams Early. Williams Red. Beautiful bright red color and rich, agreeable flavor characterize the fruits of Williams. As with so many of the tender-fleshed dessert apples, the fruits do not stand shipping well and cannot be kept long. Ordinarily, the apples are large, but with a heavy crop many of them may be small and uneven in size, and they ripen so unevenly that more than one picking is required. The trees are only moderately vigorous, but are healthful and fruitful. Williams originated in Roxbury, Massachusetts, about 1750, and for a century and a half has been a favorite in New England and the Middle Atlantic states.

Tree small, upright-spreading, dense. Fruit medium or large, uniform in size and shape, oblong-conic or round-conic, broadly ribbed, sides often unequal; stem medium to long, thick; cavity obtuse, shallow, broad, furrowed, sometimes russeted; calyx usually closed; lobes long; basin shallow, narrow, abrupt, furrowed; skin thick, tender, smooth, pale yellow overlaid with bright, deep red, striped with dark red; dots numerous, inconspicuous, gray or russet; calyx-tube long, narrow, funnel-shape, sometimes extending to the core; stamens marginal; core large, axile; cells closed; core-lines clasping; carpels ovate; seeds narrow, long, plump, acute, dark brown; flesh white, sometimes tinged with red, firm, coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, becoming dry when overripe, pleasant mild subacid, aromatic; good; August and September.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

light red, juicy and aromatic; a very good red - Aug.

— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)
Lady's Apple Queen William's Early William's Favorite William's Favourite William's Red Williams Early Williams Early Red Williams Favorite Williams Favorite Red Williams Favourite Williams Favourite Red Williams Red Williams' Early Williams' Early Red Williams' Favorite Williams' Favorite Red Williams' Red William's Favorite Winter Pearmain