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Yellow Bellflower

Apple
USDA watercolor illustration of Yellow Bellflower

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Yellow Bellflower

Origin / History

An American apple of New Jersey origin, first described by Coxe in 1817. Beach's references begin with M'Mahon, 1806, and Lowther writes that "the first account we have of it is in 1817." Coxe reported that the original tree, very large and old, was said to be still standing on a farm near Crosswicks, Burlington County, New Jersey. Downing gives Burlington, N. J., as the place where the original tree grew.

In 1852 Hovey, as cited by Beach, remarked that it was then extensively cultivated in New Jersey, but that its cultivation in New England was as yet extremely limited. A century or more before Beach wrote, it was being grafted into the farm orchards and propagated in the nurseries throughout New York. Beach found it well known among fruit growers in most parts of that state but nowhere extensively cultivated. It was early introduced into cultivation through the Middle West. Lowther writes that it soon came to be largely propagated in all the eastern and middle states and is now fairly well distributed throughout the United States. Beach finds it offered by nurserymen in nearly all of the more important apple-growing sections of the country. Within recent years it had come to be one of the important commercial varieties in certain apple-growing districts of the Pacific states (Beach). Beach quotes Wickson: "The Yellow Bellflower, as grown in California, has such conspicuous excellence that during its season it is hardly likely to be misplaced for any other variety."

Downing calls it "a large, handsome, and excellent winter Apple, everywhere highly esteemed in the United States." He writes that it is most abundantly seen in the markets of Philadelphia, as it thrives well in the sandy soils of New Jersey. Warder calls it a "noble and valuable constituent of our orchards" and says it has succeeded in almost all parts of the country, North and South. Budd and Hansen call it a large choice winter apple, "a favorite for dessert wherever known." Stark Bros. call it "an old favorite," but "not profitable east of the Rocky Mountains, except in favored localities," and especially valuable in California. Lowther writes that in California it is one of the best apples when grown upon the highlands or mountain sides. Hedrick names the coast valleys of California as the most suitable regions for its culture. He adds that the variety "has strong local attachments, and, though widely distributed, is now being planted in but few localities."

Lowther's station table reports it from 12 stations in the Northern Division, 15 in the Central Division, and 4 in the Southern Division of the American Pomological Society, each marked as adapted to more than one of the three divisions. It was planted for test at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C., in spring 1890.

Tree

Tree medium to large, vigorous, thrifty, a good, strong grower, healthy and hardy. Downing calls it only moderately vigorous, Beach vigorous to very vigorous. Warder calls it remarkably hardy and Elliott very hardy; Beach finds it only pretty hardy, and Thomas "hardy at the West." Elliott describes the growth as slender, yet healthy. Beach finds it healthy and long-lived in favorable locations, and Stark Bros. and Hedrick also call it long-lived.

Form upright spreading, laterals drooping, particularly after they have borne heavy crops (Beach). The head is spreading, roundish, rather drooping (Downing); Warder calls the tree large, spreading, drooping. Elliott and Thomas describe rather upright growth.

Shoots yellowish (Elliott, Thomas), rather slender (Thomas), rather upright (Elliott). Warder gives the twigs as slender and brown; Downing gives the young wood as yellowish brown. Beach gives the twigs as medium to long, rather stocky, geniculate, with medium to large internodes. Bark dull brownish-red with shades of green, uniformly overlaid with moderately thick scarf-skin, more or less pubescent. Lenticels rather inconspicuous, above medium in size, roundish to elliptical, rather numerous, dull, not raised. Buds above medium to large, rather prominent, acute to roundish acute, free or nearly so, quite pubescent (Beach).

Foliage abundant, long, wavy. Blossoms very large, on long stems, exposed to the weather and not protected by the leaves (Warder). Fruit borne on the ends of the limbs (Elliott).

Downing calls it "a regular and excellent bearer," and the Agassiz station found it a regular bearer. Elliott calls it very productive, except that trees grafted on pieces of roots do not bear well. Hedrick finds it productive in warm, well-drained, fertile soils. Beach finds it "not generally a satisfactory cropper" in New York, and not a good variety to plant in commercial orchards there except in the few districts where it has proved profitable. Many New York orchards hold one to several trees, and the aggregate yield there is of considerable importance; the surplus over home use is commonly disposed of in the local market. Thomas says it fails by premature dropping in many localities.

Beach finds it quite susceptible to injury by the apple-scab fungus; Hedrick calls fruit and foliage very susceptible.

Thrives particularly well on warm, well-drained soils (Beach) and succeeds best on rather light soils (Thomas). Warder writes that the quality of the fruit varies with the soil, being best and most highly flavored and colored on exposed ridges of rather thin soil. On rich low bottoms or prairies the trees are slow in bearing and then produce very large fruit. There the crops are not always satisfactory, though the trees become very large, and the blossoms are often destroyed by spring frosts. Stark Bros. repeat the soil judgment, naming rather thin or sandy soils as best, and warn: "Never plant on rich low bottoms or prairies." Thomas finds it adapted to the climate of the Northern and Middle States, as far south as Kentucky.

Fruit

Size: Large to very large, often quite large; Coxe calls it "remarkably large." Variable in size and shape. Beach gives small to large or very large, the marketable grades not very uniform, with a relatively large percentage too small for market. Lowther writes that there is often a large per cent that do not reach marketable size, especially where rainfall is scarce during the growing season. The Agassiz station alone rates it only above medium.

Form: Oblong, a little irregular, angular, ribbed, tapering to the eye. Varies to ovate (Warder) and oblong-ovate with the apex quite narrow and conical (Thomas). Coxe says it is "somewhat pointed at the blossom end," with both ends deeply indented. Beach gives roundish oblong narrowing toward the basin, varying to oblong conic, frequently somewhat ovate, irregularly elliptical, more or less ribbed. He adds that it is often with prominent ridges at the apex, the sides usually unequal. Hedrick distinguishes the variety by its oblong-conic fruits "with very prominent ridges at the apex." Lowther's station table alone calls it oblate.

Stem: Long, slender, curved (Elliott); Warder also calls it curved. Beach gives medium to rather long, rather slender to moderately stout. Budd and Hansen alone call it very stout.

Cavity: Deep to very deep, medium to large, acute to acuminate, moderately narrow to wide, furrowed or wavy, sometimes compressed, sometimes lipped. Usually with outspreading broken rays of brownish russet (Beach); Hedrick's condensation of Beach reads brownish-red russet. Budd and Hansen describe the cavity as regular and obtuse, with only a faint trace of russet.

Calyx: Closed or partly so; small (Warder), below medium to above (Beach). Lobes narrow, acuminate, pubescent (Beach); segments erect, convergent (Budd and Hansen). Calyx tube long, funnel-shaped; Beach gives it as yellowish, elongated funnel-shape, sometimes extending to the core. Beach places the stamens median to basal; Budd and Hansen call them marginal.

Basin: Narrow or rather narrow, plaited or folded, ribbed, much corrugated, distinctly ridged and wrinkled; shallow to deep. Beach gives it as small, oblique, abrupt, shallow to rather deep; Elliott calls it deep.

Skin: Smooth, delicate, waxen (Hedrick), tender and very easily bruised. Ground color pale lemon-yellow, "pale, but bright and fair" (Coxe), varying to whitish in the shade; Warder calls it rich yellow. Lowther writes that it is generally greenish yellow at picking and becomes light golden yellow as it ripens; his station table gives greenish yellow. Beach writes that the color improves in storage, becoming more clearly yellow as the fruit matures.

A blush next the sun, often present, in some accounts only sometimes and slight or faint. Warder, Stark Bros., and the Agassiz station give it as occasional. Coxe says the cheek has sometimes a blush "but more frequently is without any red," while Hedrick calls it usually beautifully blushed. Beach describes a shade of brownish-red in the sun which in highly colored specimens deepens to a pinkish-red blush; Budd and Hansen give a bronze red blush.

Prevailing effect bright pale yellow; handsome and beautiful. Beach calls it "decidedly attractive in color for a yellow apple."

Dots: Whitish or russet, numerous and small toward the basin, larger, irregular and scattering toward the cavity (Beach). Obscure, minute (Budd and Hansen). Scattered, gray (Warder).

Flesh and flavor: Flesh whitish tinged with pale yellow (Beach), yellow to yellowish; Budd and Hansen note yellow veinings. Texture rather tender to very tender when ripe, juicy, crisp, firm, breaking, fine-grained to moderately fine-grained. The Agassiz station alone calls it coarse.

Flavor sprightly subacid, rich, aromatic. Warder gives acid to subacid, "very rich and satisfying." Budd and Hansen call it spicy. Downing writes that before fully ripe it is considerably acid, and Thomas that it is acid, becoming subacid. Beach finds it rather too briskly subacid for some tastes early in its season. He adds that it does not reach its best condition for dessert till January or later, when its acidity becomes somewhat subdued. Lowther finds it rather acid until well ripened, then "pleasant and luscious." The Agassiz station calls it "pleasantly acid." Thomas finds it more tart and less rich in cold summers and far North. Hedrick calls the flavor "a little too austere" for dessert.

Quality: most authors rate it "very good" or "excellent." Downing, Beach (for culinary use), and Lowther's table say "very good"; Thomas and Coxe say "excellent." Budd and Hansen rate it "very good or best" and Warder "best"; the Agassiz station and Stark Bros. call it merely "good."

Core and seeds: Core large, long, oval, remarkably abaxile, hollow and open, clasping; a pericarpium "of unusual size" (Coxe). Cells sometimes unsymmetrical, wide open or partly closed (Beach); large, roomy, elliptical, much and widely slit (Budd and Hansen). Capsules long, hollow (Elliott). Core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels long, narrow, roundish obovate, much concave, much tufted (Beach).

Seeds large, long, angular, obtuse to acute; dark (Warder); ovate pyriform, angular at the broad end (Elliott). Coxe describes "uncommonly large full seeds" which, if the fruit is shaken, can be distinctly heard. Warder and Budd and Hansen call the seeds imperfect.

Season

The recorded season runs from late October into April. Most authors give a winter season, December through February or March; Thomas says it "keeps through winter." Warder gives December alone, and the Agassiz station December and January. Coxe has it ripening late in October, when its great weight causes it to fall in windy weather. Hedrick gives October to March, and Elliott October to February in the South.

Beach gives December to April as grown at Geneva, with January or February as the commercial limit. He writes that in cold storage it keeps about with Tompkins King, but not as well as Rhode Island Greening. He reports that "some do not regard it as a good keeper, while others find that it keeps pretty well." It does not stand heat well before going into storage, and when it begins to deteriorate it goes down quickly. For best results the fruit must be thoroughly protected from scab in the orchard, picked and handled with extra care, and kept from heat from picking through storage. Lowther writes that if carefully handled it keeps well in some sections, while in others it deteriorates rapidly. Hedrick says the apples do not stand storage well and deteriorate quickly when brought from low temperatures. Coxe's entry breaks off with the advice that "if carefully picked before they are too ripe, they will."

Uses

Coxe calls it excellent both for the dessert and for cooking. Beach finds it generally highly esteemed in New York for culinary uses and also for its excellent dessert qualities. Warder calls it "one of the finest culinary apples in the catalogue" and lists it for table, kitchen, and market; Lowther's table gives kitchen and market. Hedrick finds it "not suitable for dessert" but "unsurpassed for culinary purposes."

The fruit sells at good prices (Beach). Hedrick writes that its variable size and shape and its tender, easily injured skin make it not profitable in commercial orchards.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Beach places Yellow Bellflower in a group of apples most of which have fruit predominantly yellow. The fruit of the group is characteristically oblong or roundish oblong and often markedly ovate or conic. The core is large and remarkably abaxile, the cells wide open, and the carpels elongated, rather narrow, and much concave. He names Yellow Bellflower and Ortley, both of New Jersey origin, as the oldest members on record in this country. The group as he lists it comprises Dickinson, Flory, Kirkland, Mason Orange, Minister, Moyer, Newman, Occident, Ortley, Titus Pippin, and Yellow Bellflower.

[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — the Monstrous Bellflower entries in Coxe and Downing describe a distinct variety, not Yellow Bellflower; salvaged here for comparison.] Coxe describes Monstrous Bellflower as a very large, fair, and beautiful apple, oblong, "resembling the yellow Bellflower, but more regular in its form, and of a paler yellow colour." Flesh rich, juicy, tender. A pleasant fruit, ripening in October, though "inferior to many excellent apples of the season." Foliage singularly large and luxuriant; growth very regular and strong; form upright. Downing calls it an old variety, little grown; tree a strong, irregular, vigorous grower, not profitable. Fruit large, roundish oblong, ribbed, pale yellow with a blush in the sun. Flesh whitish, brisk, juicy, subacid. Core large. Good. October, November.

Thomas marks the variety with an asterisk, and the Stark Bros. entry carries the code "NCS."

Book Sources

Described in 9 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 76 catalogs (1845–1926) from California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington

View original book sources (11)

NO. 29. MONSTROUS BELLFLOWER.

A very large, fair, and beautiful apple; of an oblong shape resembling the yellow Bellflower, but more regular in its form, and of a paler yellow colour. The flesh is rich, juicy and tender; it ripens in October, and is a pleasant fruit, although inferior to many excellent apples of the season—the foliage of this tree is singularly large and luxuriant; the growth very regular and strong; the form upright.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Bell-Flower", pp. 145–145]

NO. 33. BELL-FLOWER.

A remarkably large, beautiful and excellent apple, both for the dessert and for cooking—it is of a pale, but bright and fair yellow colour; the cheek next the sun has sometimes a blush, but more frequently is without any red: the form is oblong, somewhat pointed at the blossom end—both ends are deeply indented—the flesh is rich, juicy, tender and sprightly; it has uncommonly large full seeds, which are lodged in a pericarpium of unusual size, and if shaken can be distinctly heard; it ripens late in October, when its great weight causes it to fall in windy weather—if carefully picked before they are too ripe, they will

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

Bellflower. Yellow Bellflower, | Yellow Belle-fleur, | Lady Washington. American. Tree, of slender, yet healthy growth, with yellowish, rather upright shoots; fruit, on ends of limbs, very hardy; grafted on pieces of roots, does not bear well; otherwise, very productive. Size, large; form, oblong, a little irregular, tapering to the eye; color, pale yellow, with a blush next the sun; stem, long, slender, curved; cavity, deep; calyx closed; basin, plaited, deep: flesh, tender, juicy, crisp, sprightly, sub-acid; core, large; capsules, long, hollow; seeds, large, ovate pyriform, angular at broad end. December to March. October to February, South.

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

Yellow Bellflower.

This noble and valuable constituent of our orchards came from Burlington County, New Jersey, where it was first

Fig. 291. — YELLOW BELLFLOWER.

described by Coxe. This apple has succeeded in almost all parts of the country, North and South, and has proved remarkably hardy. The quality of the fruit varies with the soil, being best and most highly flavored and colored on exposed ridges of rather thin soil, while those on rich low bottoms or prairies are slow in bearing, and then produce very large fruit. The crops, however, are not always satisfactory in such situations, though the trees become very large ; the blossoms are often destroyed by spring frosts.

Tree vigorous, thrifty, hardy, large, spreading, drooping ; Twigs slender, brown ; Foliage abundant, long, wavy ; Blossoms very large, on long stems, exposed to the weather and not protected by the leaves.

Fruit large to very large, oblong, ovate, angular, ribbed ; Surface smooth, rich yellow, sometimes blushed ; Dots scattered, gray.

Basin shallow or moderately deep, plaited or folded ; Eye small, closed.

Cavity deep, acute or wide, wavy ; Stem long, curved.

Core large, oval, open, clasping ; Seeds dark, large, angular, imperfect ; Flesh yellow, breaking, fine-grained, juicy ; Flavor acid to sub-acid, aromatic, very rich and satisfying ; Quality best ; Use, table, kitchen, market ; Season, December.

One of the finest culinary apples in the catalogue.

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

Yellow Bellflower.

Bellefleur Yellow. Belle Fleur. Bishop's Pippin of Nova Scotia. Lady Washington. Reinette Musque. Warren Pippin.

The Yellow Belle Fleur is a large, handsome, and excellent winter Apple, everywhere highly esteemed in the United States. It is most abundantly seen in the markets of Philadelphia, as it thrives well in the sandy soils of New Jersey. Coxe first described this fruit ; the original tree of which grew in Burlington, N. J. Tree a moderately vigorous grower, forming a spreading, roundish, rather drooping head. Young wood yellowish brown. A regular and excellent bearer.

Fruit very large, oblong, a little irregular, tapering to the eye. Skin smooth, pale lemon yellow, often with a blush next the sun. Stalk long and slender in a deep cavity. Calyx closed and set in a rather narrow plaited basin. Seeds in a large hollow capsule or core. Flesh tender, juicy, crisp, with a sprightly subacid flavor ; before fully ripe it is considerably acid. Very good. December, February.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Monstrous Bellflower", pp. 303–303]

Monstrous Bellflower.

An old variety, little grown. Tree a strong, irregular, vigorous grower, not profitable.

Fruit large, roundish oblong, ribbed, pale yellow blush in the sun. Flesh whitish, brisk, juicy, subacid. Good. Core large. October, November.

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

Yellow Bellflower.* (Bellflower, Yellow Belle Fleur.) Large, often quite large, oblong-ovate, apex quite narrow and conical, more or less irregular; surface pale yellow, often with a blush; stalk slender; basin ribbed; seeds long; flesh very tender when ripe, fine grained, crisp, juicy, acid, becoming sub-acid, excellent. keeps through winter. Shoots yellowish, rather slender; growth of the tree rather upright; succeeds best on rather light soils. Adapted to the climate of the Northern and Middle States, as far south as Kentucky, but fails by premature dropping in many localities. More tart and less rich in cold summers, and far North. Hardy at the West. Fig. 481. New Jersey.

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

YELLOW BELLFLOWER.

REFERENCES.

  1. M'Mahon, 1806:585. 2. Coxe, 1817, 120. fig. 3. Thacher, 1822:121. 4. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 5. Fessenden, 1828:130. 6. Wilson, 1828:136. 7. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831:No. 75. 8. Kenrick, 1832:42. 9. Floy-Lindley, 1833:86. 10. Mag. Hort., 11:326, 78. 1835. 11. Manning, 1838:60. 12. Ib., Mag. Hort., 7:151. 1841. 13. Downing, 1845:100. fig. 14. Horticulturist, 1:482. 1846. 15. Ib., 2:361, 482, 545. 1848. 16. Cole, 1849:119. fig. 17. Thomas, 1849:187. 18. Phoenix, Horticulturist, 4:472. 1850. 19. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:79. 1851. col. pl. No. 46 and fig. 20. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1852. 21. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 18:542. 1852. fig. 22. Ib., 19:244. 1853. 23. Biedenfeld, 1854:102. 24. Elliott, 1854:70. fig. 25. Hooper, 1857:16, 103, 106, 108. col. pl. 26. Gregg, 1857:50. fig. 27. Flotow, 1:69. 1859. 28. Oberdieck, 4:197. 1862. 29. Warder, 1867:692. fig. 30. Regel, 1868:442. 31. Fitz, 1872:143, 145, 163. 32. Mas, Le Verger, 1873:151. 33. Leroy, 1873:432. 34. Lauche, 1:No. 3. 1882. col. pl. 35. Barry, 1883:358. 36. Rural N. Y., 47:749. 1888. 37. Cat. Cong. Pom. France, 1889:278. 38. Wickson, 1889:247. 39. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:300. 40. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:235. 41. Ib., 1892:253. 42. Bredsted, 1893:405. 43. Gaudier, 1894:No. 6. col. pl. 44. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:313. 1901. 45. Eneroth-Smirnoff, 1901:266. 46. Sears, Can. Hort., 25:325. 1902. 47. Budd-Hansen, 1903:210. fig. 48. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:43. 1903. 49. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:62. 1903. 50. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:151. 1904.

SYNONYMS.

BELLE FLAVOISE (28). Belle Flavoise (33, 43). BELLEFLEUR JAUNE (32, 37). Belle-Fleur (33). Belle-Flower (33). BELL-FLOWER (2). BELL FLOWER (9). BELL FLOWER (3). BELLFLOWER (4, 6, 8, 11, 21, 24, 40). Bellflower (13, 17, 25, 43, 49). Bell-Flower (5). Bishop's Pippin of Nova Scotia (33). GELBER BELLEFLEUR (23, 27, 34, 43, 45). Gelber Bellefleur (28). Gelber Belle Fleur (33, 43). Gelber Englischer Schonbluhender (43). GUL. BELLEFLEUR (42). Lady Washington (24, 33, 43). Lincoln Pippin (43). Lineous Pippin (43). LINNAEUS PIPPIN (33). Metzgerapfel (43). Metzger Cahill (28). Metzger's Cahill (33, 43, of John 34). YELLOW BELLE FLEUR (7, 13). YELLOW BELLEFLEUR (19, 20, 31). Yellow Bellefleur (17, 21, 24, 33, 43). YELLOW BELLEFLOWER (46). Yellow Bellflower (8, 13, 21, 24, 33, 40, 43). Warren Pippin (33, 43). Weisser Metzgerapfel (43).

Yellow Bellflower grows large or even very large, but usually it is so variable in size that the marketable grades are not very uniform and there is a relatively large percentage of apples that are too small for market. It is decidedly attractive in color for a yellow apple and the color improves in storage, becoming more clearly yellow as the fruit matures. It is well known throughout the state and is generally highly esteemed for culinary uses and also for its excellent dessert qualities, although it is rather too briskly subacid to suit the tastes of some, particularly during the early part of its season. It does not reach its best condition for dessert use till January or later, when its acidity becomes somewhat subdued. It is quite susceptible to injury by the apple-scab fungus. It must be handled very carefully because it very easily shows bruises. It does not stand heat well before going into storage and when it begins to deteriorate goes down quickly. Some do not regard it as a good keeper, while others find that it keeps pretty well. To get best results in storage the fruit must be thoroughly protected from the scab in the orchard, picked and handled with extra care and kept from heat from the time it is picked till it is stored as well as while it is in storage. As grown at Geneva it is in season from December to April with January or February as the commercial limit. In cold storage it keeps about with Tompkins King, but not as well as Rhode Island Greening.

The tree is a good grower and pretty hardy. In favorable locations it is healthy and long-lived. It seems to thrive particularly well on warm, well-drained soils. Many orchards are found throughout the state having from one to several trees of this variety and the aggregate yield of Yellow Bellflower in New York is of considerable importance. The surplus over what is required for home use is commonly disposed of in the local market. Although the fruit sells at good prices, Yellow Bellflower is not generally a satisfactory cropper and is not a good variety to plant in commercial orchards in New York except in the few districts where it has proved profitable.

Historical. In 1817 Coxe (2) reported that the original tree, very large and old, was said to be still standing on a farm near Crosswicks, Burlington county, N. J. In 1852 Hovey (21) remarked that the Bellflower was then extensively cultivated in New Jersey, but its cultivation in New England was as yet extremely limited. A century or more ago it was being grafted into the farm orchards and propagated in the nurseries throughout New York, and it is to-day well known among fruit growers in most parts of the state but it is nowhere extensively cultivated. It was early introduced into cultivation through the Middle West and within recent years it has come to be one of the important commercial varieties in certain apple-growing districts in the Pacific states. Wickson says that "The Yellow Bellflower, as grown in California, has such conspicuous excellence that during its season it is hardly likely to be misplaced for any other variety."¹ It is now offered by nurserymen in nearly all of the more important apple-growing sections of the country.

TREE.

Tree medium to large, vigorous to very vigorous. Form upright spreading; laterals drooping, particularly after they have borne heavy crops. Twigs medium to long, rather stocky, geniculate; internodes medium to large. Bark ¹Letter, E. J. Wickson, 1899. dull brownish-red with shades of green, uniformly overlaid with moderately thick scarf-skin; more or less pubescent. Lenticels rather inconspicuous, above medium in size, roundish to elliptical; rather numerous, dull, not raised. Buds above medium to large, rather prominent, acute to roundish acute, free or nearly so, quite pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit variable in size, small to large or very large. Form roundish oblong narrowing toward the basin varying to oblong conic, frequently somewhat ovate, irregularly elliptical and more or less ribbed, often with prominent ridges at the apex; sides usually unequal. Stem medium to rather long, rather slender to moderately stout. Cavity medium to large, acute to acuminate, deep to very deep, moderately narrow to wide, furrowed, sometimes compressed, sometimes lipped, usually with outspreading broken rays of brownish russet. Calyx below medium to above, closed or partly so; lobes narrow, acuminate, pubescent. Basin small, oblique, abrupt, narrow, shallow to rather deep, distinctly ridged and wrinkled. Skin smooth, bright, pale lemon-yellow varying to whitish in the shade and often with a shade of brownish-red in the sun which in highly colored specimens deepens to a pinkish-red blush. Dots whitish or russet, numerous and small toward the basin, larger, irregular and scattering toward the cavity. Prevailing effect bright pale yellow. Calyx tube yellowish, elongated funnel-shape, sometimes extending to the core. Stamens median to basal. Core large, long, remarkably abaxile; cells sometimes unsymmetrical, wide open or partly closed; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels long, narrow, roundish obovate, much concave, much tufted. Seeds large, long, obtuse to acute. Flesh whitish tinged with pale yellow, firm, crisp, moderately fine-grained, rather tender, juicy, aromatic, very good for culinary use, rather too acid for dessert early in the season but later its acidity becomes somewhat subdued.

THE YELLOW BELLFLOWER GROUP.

The Yellow Bellflower belongs to a group of apples most of which have fruit that is predominantly yellow. The fruit of the group is characteristically oblong or roundish oblong and often markedly ovate or conic, with the core large and remarkably abaxile, cells wide open and carpels elongated, rather narrow and much concave. The group is now represented by varieties well known in cultivation in various parts of the country. It appears that the oldest members of which we have any record in this country are Yellow Bellflower and Ortley, both of which originated in New Jersey. The varieties mentioned in this volume which appear more or less closely identified with the Yellow Bellflower group are Dickinson, Flory, Kirkland, Mason Orange, Minister, Moyer, Newman, Occident, Ortley, Titus Pippin, Yellow Bellflower.

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

Yellow Bellflower. — Origin, Burlington, New Jersey; first described by Coxe. A large choice winter apple, a favorite for dessert wherever known; tree moderately vigorous, with spreading, roundish, rather drooping head.

Fruit large to very large; form oblong, somewhat angular and ribbed, tapering to the calyx; surface smooth, pale, lemon yellow, often with bronze red blush; dots obscure, numerous, minute, whitish and russet; cavity regular, deep, obtuse, with a faint trace of russet; stem medium to long, very stout; basin narrow, shallow, much corrugated and ribbed; calyx closed; segments erect convergent.

Core large, wide open, clasping; cells large, roomy, elliptical, much and widely slit; tube funnel-shaped, long; stamens marginal; seeds large, angular, imperfect; flesh yellow, with yellow veinings, tender, juicy, crisp, spicy, sprightly subacid, very good or best. December, February.

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

Yellow Bellflower

The Yellow Bellflower belongs to a group of apples, most of which have fruit predominantly yellow. The fruit of the group is characteristically oblong or roundish oblong and often markedly ovate or conic, with the core large and abaxial, cells wide open and carpels elongated, rather narrow and much concave. The group is represented by the following varieties: Dickinson, Flory, Kirkland, Mason Orange, Minister, Moyer, Newman, Occident, Ortley, Titus, Pippin, Yellow Bellflower.

The fruit of the Yellow Bellflower is large, but is somewhat variable in size so that there is often a large per cent of the apples, especially when grown where the rainfall is scarce during the growing season, that do not reach marketable size. At the time of picking it is generally a greenish yellow, but as it ripens it comes to be a light golden yellow. It is rather acid until well ripened when it is pleasant and luscious. It is tender and easily bruised, yet when grown in some sections, if carefully handled, it keeps well, while in others it deteriorates rapidly. In California it is one of the best apples when grown upon the highlands or mountain sides.

It originated in New Jersey, and the first account we have of it is in 1817, but it soon came to be largely propagated in all the eastern and middle states and is now fairly well distributed throughout the United States.

The tree is from medium to large, vigorous, upright, with spreading branches, bark dull brownish red with shades of green, uniformly overlaid with moderately thick scarf skin, more or less pubescent.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Yellow Bellefleur", pp. 454–454]

Yellow Bellefleur. Size: large. Form: oblate. Color: greenish yellow. Quality: very good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter. Reported by 12 stations in the Northern Division, 15 stations in the Central Division, and 4 stations in the Southern Division, with the asterisk on each indicating the variety is reported as adapted to more than one of the three divisions of the American Pomological Society.

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

YELLOW BELLFLOWER. Fig. 64. Bellflower. Lady Washington. Lincoln Pippin. Yellow Bellflower is distinguished by its unique fruits. The apples are oblong-conic with very prominent ridges at the apex, and with a smooth, delicate, pale, lemon-yellow, waxen skin usually beautifully blushed on the cheek to the sun. The fruits are not suitable for dessert, the flavor being a little too austere, but are unsurpassed for culinary purposes. Unfortunately, the apples are variable in size and shape, and the tender skin is easily injured, so that the variety is not profitable in commercial orchards. Fruit and foliage are very susceptible to injury by the apple-scab fungus. The apples do not stand storage well, and deteriorate quickly when brought from low temperatures. The trees are vigorous, healthy, hardy, long-lived, and productive in warm, well-drained, fertile soils. The variety has strong local attachments, and, though widely distributed, is now being planted in but few localities. The most suitable regions for its culture are the coast valleys of California. In 1817, Coxe reported that the original tree was still standing near Crosswicks, New Jersey.

Tree medium to large, vigorous, upright-spreading, laterals drooping. Fruit large or very large, round-oblong, oblong-conic, or ovate, irregularly elliptical, ribbed, often with prominent ridges at the apex, sides usually unequal; stem long, slender; cavity large, acute, deep, wide, furrowed, sometimes compressed, sometimes lipped, usually with outspreading broken rays of brownish-red russet; calyx below medium to above, closed or partly so; lobes narrow, acuminate, pubescent; basin small, oblique, abrupt, narrow, shallow to rather deep, distinctly ridged and wrinkled; skin smooth, bright, pale lemon-yellow varying to whitish in the shade and often with a shade of brownish-red in the sun which in highly-colored specimens deepens to a pinkish-red blush; dots white or russet, numerous and small toward the basin, large, irregular and scattering toward the cavity; prevailing effect bright yellow; calyx-tube elongated funnel-shape, sometimes extending to the core; stamens median; core large, long, remarkably abaxile; cells unsymmetrical, wide open or partly closed; core-lines clasping; carpels long, narrow, round-obovate, concave, much tufted; seeds large, long, obtuse; flesh yellow, firm, crisp, fine-grained, tender, juicy, aromatic; very good; October to March.

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

Planted Spring 1890. Tree a strong grower, and regular bearer. Fruit above medium size, oblong, tapering to eye. Skin smooth, pale yellow, sometimes with a faint blush. Flesh yellowish, coarse, tender, juicy, pleasantly acid, quality good. Season December and January.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

An old favorite but not profitable east of the Rocky Mountains, except in favored localities. Very large, yellow, sometimes slightly blushed; crisp, juicy, and of good quality, but the quality varies with soil, being best (more highly flavored and colored) on rather thin or sandy soils. Never plant on rich low bottoms or prairies. Tree a good grower, hardy, healthy, and long-lived. Especially valuable in California. NCS

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)
Bell Flower Bell-Flower Belle Flavoise Belle Fleur Belle-Fleur Belle-Fleur Jaune Belle-Flower Bellefleur Jaune Bellefleur Yellow Belleflower Yellow Bellflower Bishop's Pippin of Nova Scotia Gelber Belle Fleur Gelber Bellefleur Gelber Englischer Schonbluhender Gelber Englischer Schönblühender A Gul. Bellefleur Lady Washington Lincoln Pippin Lineous Pippin Linnaeus Pippin Linneous Pippin Metzger Apfel Metzger Cahill Metzger's Cahill Metzger's Calvill Metzgerapfel Monstrous Bellflower Reinette Muse Reinette Musque Reinette Musquee Warren Pippin Weisser Metzger A Weisser Metzger Apfel Weisser Metzgerapfel Yellow Belle Fleur Yellow Belle-fleur Yellow Bellefleur Yellow Belleflower