Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

1. Strawberry Chenango

"Orchardist N. Collins of Smyrna, Chenango County, New York states in the 1860, Vol. II issue of The Gardener's Monthly that the apple originated in the surroundings of Smyrna. 'The Chenango Strawberry was raised from a seed planted many years since by a colored man named Frank. There were originally three trees in the same orchard, but one of them is dead and the others have borne abundantly the present seasons. It was for a long time called the Frank apple. Subsequently it was named the Jackson Apple; and lastly, the Strawberry, to which I attached the name of the county to distinguish it from the early and late Strawberries of Western New York.'"

Strawberry Chenango is aromatic, reminiscent of fresh strawberries, with tender and juicy flesh.

2. Spokane Beauty

The tree grew from one of a handful of seeds planted by settler Stephen Maxson near Walla Walla, Washington in the mid- 1800s.

3. Ross Nonpareil

"First mentioned in the 1802 County of Meath by Robert Thompson as being widely grown in County Meath (Ireland) as well as surrounding counties. Reverend John Dubourdieu also mentions it in his 1812 Statistical Survey of the County of Antrim as commonly grown in his region. Though widely attributed as having originated in Ireland it is believed to be of French origins and its known name today relates to the Castle Ross located in the heart of County Meath."

4. Ortley

"The Ortley was already widely grown before the 1800s under a long list of synonyms and first described by American pomologist William Coxe in 1817 in his book A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees and the Management of Orchards and Cider under the name Woolman's Long Pippin. Michael Floy named it the Ortley apple in the 1826 Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London referring to the name of the individual who submitted the grafts. He notes that the apple 'bears a close resemblance to the Yellow Newton Pippin, but is a little more oval.' A.J. Downing, in The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (published in 1847), calls it Woolman's Long with the synonyms Ortley Apple and Ortley Pippin, suggesting that the apples came from the orchard of a Michael Ortley in South Jersey, New Jersey."

Thanks to George and Paul at Pomiferous for for these historical notes.

Previous installments:

Historic Apple Varieties I

Historic Apple Varieties II

Historic Apple Varieties III

Historic Apple Varieties IV

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NMGal Loc: NE NM

Had no idea there were so many different apples. Your photos are good.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Thanks. There are thousands of varieties.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice apple shots, Mike.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

They all look yummy. Where's the peanut butter?

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

My grandma often told me that I was "The Apple of Her Eye". I wonder if I looked as good to her as your pictures look to us. 😁

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

I'm sure you meant to say "where's the cheese?"

My wife puts peanut butter on apples.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

That is another case of Bible verses where a word was changed to "apple" in modern translations.

Deuteronomy 32:10: "He found him in a desert land, And in the howling waste of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye."

Zechariah 2:8: "He has sent Me for His glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of His eye."

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Thanks.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

So beautifully done, they make me think of Cezanne 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

I'm shocked, shocked I say. You didn't mention or give any credit to Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) in your apple evolution stories.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis