Winter Banana

WINTER BANANA.

References. 1. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:224. 1892. 2. Heiges, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1895:20. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1897:36. 4. Beach, Eastern N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1900:44. 5. Ib., Western N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1900:137. 6. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1901:98. 7. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:151. 1904.

Synonyms. Banana (2, 3). Winter Banana (2, 3).

Fruit large, clear pale yellow with beautiful contrasting pinkish-red blush, attractive in appearance, characteristically aromatic, of good dessert quality, but too mild in flavor to excel for culinary uses. The tree is a pretty good grower, comes into bearing young, is almost an annual bearer and yields moderate to rather heavy crops. In ordinary storage the fruit is in season from mid-November to the first of April, but its safe commercial limit in this climate probably would not extend much beyond December. In cold storage it ranks as a keeper about with Rhode Island Greening, but is not equal to Baldwin. It could perhaps be used to advantage commercially to follow the Maiden Blush and extend the season for fruit having the general appearance of that variety. As compared with Maiden Blush this is larger, neither as uniform nor as symmetrical, better for dessert use but less desirable for culinary purposes. Its color is such that it shows bruises more readily than do red apples like Baldwin or Tompkins King. It is sufficiently promising to be worthy of further testing where an apple of this color is desired.

Another variety which has been disseminated under the name Banana is a sweet apple. It is described on page 60 under the name Banana Sweet.

Historical. Winter Banana originated on the farm of David Flory near Adamsboro, Cass county, Ind., about 1876. It was introduced by Greening Brothers, Monroe, Michigan, in 1890 (4, 5). It has as yet been but little planted in this state.

Tree.

Tree medium in size, vigorous. Form rather flat, spreading and somewhat inclined to droop, open. Twigs long, curved or nearly straight, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark reddish-brown mingled with olive-green, lightly and irregularly coated with scarf-skin, pubescent. Lenticels conspicuous, numerous, medium to large, round or slightly elongated, raised. Buds sunk in the bark, medium or above, plump, acute to obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.

Fruit.

Fruit nearly large to very large, not very uniform in size or shape. Form roundish conic to oblong conic, or sometimes oblate and noticeably flat at the base, often irregularly elliptical and somewhat ribbed; axis sometimes oblique; sides often unequal. Stem short to moderately long, medium in thickness to rather slender. Cavity usually rather large, acute to acuminate, moderately shallow to deep, broad, gently furrowed, sometimes lipped, smooth or sometimes partly russeted. Calyx small to medium, partly open or sometimes closed; lobes convergent or connivent, short to medium length, obtuse to acute. Basin small to medium, often decidedly oblique, rather shallow to moderately deep, usually rather narrow but sometimes moderately wide, obtuse to rather abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled. Skin smooth, moderately thick, tough, waxy, bright pale yellow, often with a blush which in well-colored specimens deepens to dark pinkish-red. Often a suture line extends from the basin nearly or quite to the cavity. Dots numerous, whitish and submerged or with fine russet point. Prevailing effect yellow with a pretty contrasting blush. Calyx tube wide above, rather short, cone-shape or funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal. Core rather small to above medium, abaxile; cells not uniformly developed, usually symmetrical and open, sometimes closed; core lines somewhat clasping. Carpels elongated ovate, narrow, emarginate, tufted. Seeds often abortive; the plump ones vary from small to rather large and are more or less irregular, usually obtuse to acute, dull dark brown, sometimes tufted. Flesh whitish tinged with pale yellow, moderately firm, a little coarse, somewhat crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, distinctly aromatic, good to very good.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Winter Banana

The Winter Banana has not been very extensively planted, although it is a very beautiful apple in its appearance. The fruit is large, clear, pale yellow with beautiful contrasting pinkish red blush, aromatic, of good dessert quality, but too mild in flavor to excel for culinary uses. The tree is a good grower, comes into bearing young, and bears heavy crops. In ordinary storage, the fruit is good for use from December to the first of April. It is not highly regarded as a market variety on account of the tender flesh and color which shows bruises very readily. It is so easily bruised and shows its bruises so clearly that in picking, packing and marketing it must be handled with very great care.

Historical. The Winter Banana originated on the farm of David Flory, near Adamsboro, Cass county, Indiana, about 1876. It was introduced by Greening Brothers, Monroe, Michigan, in 1890. However, it has not been largely planted in that state, and probably is not well adapted. In the Pacific Northwest it is regarded as one of the most beautiful apples grown, but not likely to become a favorite for the markets on account of its susceptibility to bruises.

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

WINTER BANANA. Year Book Dept. Agr., U.S.A., 1913, 112. Dessert, till March, very large, 3 by 2½, round, rather flattened, tapering to eye. Colour, pale golden-yellow with slight red flush. Skin, very smooth. Flesh, pale yellow, a little coarse grained, juicy, aromatic. Eye, slightly open, in a broad, slightly ribbed basin. Stem, rather slender, fairly long, in a wide deep cavity, which is sometimes rather russet. Growth, vigorous. Leaf, narrow, flat, pale, crenate. Originated about 1876, with Mr. David Florey, near Adams Boro, Indiana. Introduced in 1890. The very fine specimens of this fruit sent from the States have led us to test this variety but at present the quality and fertility which it will attain in this country are somewhat doubtful.

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

WINTER BANANA. Banana. Possibly no apple of recent introduction deserves a more conspicuous place in the plantings of the amateur than Winter Banana. The fruits are large, shapely, not so uniform in size and shape as might be desired, with a most handsomely colored skin — clear pale waxen yellow with a delicate blush which sometimes deepens into a bright red. The flavor is that rich admixture of sweet and sour which characterizes most of our best fruits, while the aroma has a suggestion of musk exclusively the property of this apple. The trees are hardy, fairly vigorous, bear young, almost annually, and are usually fruitful. The season is that of Rhode Island Greening. The fruits are so easily bruised that they seldom reach the market in good condition, and the variety is thus condemned for commercial plantings. Winter Banana is said to have originated in Cass County, Indiana, but the writer has recently seen fruit brought from Holland, name unknown, which leads him to believe this to be an Old World apple that has somehow found its way to the New World.

Tree medium in size, vigorous, spreading and inclined to droop, open. Fruit large to very large, un-uniform in size and shape, round-conic, oblong-conic, or sometimes oblate, flat at the base, often irregularly elliptical and ribbed, axis sometimes oblique, sides often unequal; stem short to long; cavity large, acute, shallow, broad, gently furrowed, sometimes lipped, smooth or partly russeted; calyx small, partly open or sometimes closed; lobes convergent or connivent, short, obtuse; basin small, often oblique, shallow, narrow or sometimes wide, obtuse, furrowed and wrinkled; skin smooth, thick, tough, waxy, pale yellow, often with a blush which in well-colored specimens deepens to dark red; often a suture line extends from the basin to the cavity; dots numerous, white and submerged or with fine russet point; prevailing effect yellow; calyx-tube wide above, short, cone-shape; stamens median; core small, abaxile; cells not uniformly developed, usually symmetrical and open, sometimes closed; core-lines clasping; carpels elongated-ovate, narrow, emarginate, tufted; seeds often abortive, small to large and more or less irregular, obtuse, dull, dark brown, sometimes tufted; flesh pale yellow, firm, coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, aromatic; good to very good; October to March.

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