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)