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Wilson's Volunteer

Apple

Wilson's Volunteer

Origin/History

Believed to be a seedling, or natural "Volunteer," originating on the banks of the Ohio River. Received from George Sibbald. Described by Warder (1867); Downing's account (1900) cites Warder directly.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large, globular, truncated or flattened, regular.

Stem: Long, slender.

Cavity: Deep, acute, regular.

Calyx: Eye medium, closed.

Basin: Deep, regular, leather-cracked.

Skin: Yellow ground, mostly covered with mixed red, striped darker. Dots large, gray and yellow.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh greenish-yellow, tender, juicy. Flavor sub-acid. Quality only good.

Core/Seeds: Core small, round, regular, closed, clasping. Seeds numerous, pointed.

Season

December to February.

Uses

Kitchen.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Wilson's Volunteer.

Origin believed to be a seedling or "Volunteer" on the banks of the Ohio River. Received from George Sibbald.

Fruit large, globular, truncated or flattened, regular; Surface yellow, mostly covered with mixed red, striped darker; Dots large, gray and yellow.

Basin deep, regular, leather-cracked; Eye medium, closed.

Cavity deep, acute, regular; Stem long, slender.

Core small, round, regular, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, pointed; Flesh greenish-yellow, tender, juicy; Flavor sub-acid; Quality only good; Use, kitchen; Season, December to February.

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

Wilson's Volunteer. Fruit large, globular truncated or flattened, regular, yellow, mostly covered with mixed red, striped darker. Dots large, gray, and yellow. Flesh greenish yellow, tender, juicy subacid. December, February. (Warder.)

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