Windsor
Apple
Windsor
Origin/History
Thomas (1903) identifies Windsor as originating in Wisconsin. Beach (1905) notes that on account of its superior hardiness, Windsor is regarded as a promising variety for rigorous climates, though it had not yet been grown to any considerable extent in New York at the time of writing. Beach adds that it would probably never find more than a very limited demand in New York markets because its flavor is rather too mild for a good culinary apple and it does not excel standard varieties of its season for dessert purposes. The variety is also known as Windsor Chief.
Tree
Tree moderately vigorous. Form upright spreading or roundish, dense, with laterals inclined to droop. Twigs below medium to medium length, slender, irregularly curved; internodes medium to long. Bark clear reddish-brown lightly mottled with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels inconspicuous, rather numerous, small to medium, round or somewhat elongated, not raised. Buds medium to small, projecting, plump, acute to acuminate, free, slightly pubescent. The tree is very hardy, comes into bearing rather early, and is a reliable cropper, yielding moderate to good crops nearly annually. Thomas (1903) describes the tree as an early bearer and prolific.
Fruit
Size: Beach (1905) gives the size as above medium to below medium. Thomas (1903) describes the fruit as small. These accounts conflict; both are noted.
Form: Roundish conic varying to oblate, rather broad, flat at the base, often one-sided and faintly ribbed (Beach). Thomas gives the form simply as oblate.
Stem: Medium to long, rather slender.
Cavity: Rather large, obtuse to somewhat acute, wide, rather deep or sometimes varying to moderately shallow, russeted and with coarse outspreading russet rays.
Calyx: Rather small, closed or partly open; lobes small, connivent, acute, pubescent.
Basin: Medium in size, abrupt, moderately shallow to rather deep, usually rather wide, often somewhat furrowed, wrinkled.
Skin: Moderately thick, smooth, somewhat waxy, pale yellow or greenish — Thomas gives the ground color as greenish yellow — blushed with thin dull red or, in highly colored specimens, predominantly deep red, sometimes obscurely striped with dull carmine (Beach). Thomas describes the red coverage as red splashes suffused over the greenish-yellow ground. The fruit is attractive red in color, though rather dark (Beach).
Dots: Characteristically conspicuous, usually rather large, dull, pale, often areolar with russet center, sometimes mingled with flecks of russet (Beach). Thomas describes the dots as gray.
Flesh/Flavor: Nearly white, tinged with green or yellow (Beach); Thomas gives the flesh color as pale yellow. Firm, moderately fine-grained to somewhat coarse (Beach); Thomas describes it as fine-grained. Juicy, somewhat aromatic, mild subacid becoming nearly sweet; good to possibly very good for dessert (Beach). Thomas gives the flavor as sub-acid and quality as good.
Core/Seeds: Core small, axile; cells not uniformly developed, closed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels broad narrowing toward base and apex, varying to obcordate, tufted. Seeds variable, below medium to rather large, moderately narrow to rather wide, obtuse or approaching acute, tufted, light brown. Calyx tube funnel-form. Stamens median or below.
Season
In season from December to April (Beach). Thomas gives the season as Winter.
Uses
The fruit is of pleasant subacid flavor and good quality. The fruit hangs well to the tree. The flavor is rather too mild for a good culinary apple; it does not excel standard varieties of its season for dessert purposes, though rated good to possibly very good for dessert.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The variety's superior hardiness is its most commercially significant trait, making it a promising candidate for rigorous climates where hardier varieties are needed. Beach's references include a colored plate in the U.S. Pomologist's Report (1889) and figures in Thomas (1897) and Budd-Hansen (1903).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 4 catalogs (1906–1912) from Missouri
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)WINDSOR
References. 1. Van Deman, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1889:442. col. pl. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1891:123. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:252. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1897:15. 5. Thomas, 1897:285. fig. 6. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:115. 1902. fig. 7. Can. Hort., 25:49. 1902. 8. Budd-Hansen, 1903:205. fig. 9. Erwin, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1903:252. 10. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1903:95.
Synonym. WINDSOR CHIEF (3, 6, 9, 10). Windsor Chief (5, 8).
On account of its superior hardiness, Windsor is regarded as a promising variety for rigorous climates. The fruit is of good size, attractive red color although rather dark, pleasant subacid flavor and good quality. The tree is very hardy, comes into bearing rather early and is a reliable cropper, yielding moderate to good crops nearly annually. The fruit hangs well to the tree. It is in season from December to April. It has not yet been grown to any considerable extent in New York, but it probably would never find more than a very limited demand in our markets because its flavor is rather too mild for a good culinary apple and it does not excel standard varieties of its season for dessert purposes.
Tree.
Tree moderately vigorous. Form upright spreading or roundish, dense, with laterals inclined to droop. Twigs below medium to medium length, slender, irregularly curved; internodes medium to long. Bark clear reddish-brown lightly mottled with scarf-skin; slightly pubescent near tips. Lenticels inconspicuous, rather numerous, small to medium, round or somewhat elongated, not raised. Buds medium to small, projecting, plump, acute to acuminate, free, slightly pubescent.
Fruit.
Fruit above medium to below medium. Form roundish conic varying to oblate, rather broad, flat at the base, often one-sided and faintly ribbed. Stem medium to long, rather slender. Cavity rather large, obtuse to somewhat acute, wide, rather deep or sometimes varying to moderately shallow, russeted and with coarse outspreading russet rays. Calyx rather small, closed or partly open; lobes small, connivent, acute, pubescent. Basin medium in size, abrupt, moderately shallow to rather deep, usually rather wide, often somewhat furrowed, wrinkled.
Skin moderately thick, smooth, somewhat waxy, pale yellow or greenish blushed with thin dull red or in highly colored specimens predominantly deep red, sometimes obscurely striped with dull carmine. Dots characteristically conspicuous, usually rather large, dull, pale, often areolar with russet center, sometimes mingled with flecks of russet.
Calyx tube funnel-form. Stamens median or below.
Core small, axile; cells not uniformly developed, closed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels broad narrowing toward base and apex, varying to obcordate, tufted. Seeds variable, below medium to rather large, moderately narrow to rather wide, obtuse or approaching acute, tufted, light brown.
Flesh nearly white, tinged with green or yellow, firm, moderately fine-grained to somewhat coarse, juicy, somewhat aromatic, mild subacid becoming nearly sweet, good to possibly very good for dessert.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Windsor. (Windsor Chief.) Small, oblate; greenish yellow suffused with red splashes, gray dots; flesh pale yellow, fine-grained, juicy, sub-acid, good. Tree early bearer and prolific. Winter. Wisconsin. Fig. 446.