This week I went over to Neely Mansion, a local historic property, to check on an apple tree that the custodian asked me to evaluate. From what I could tell this tree which was most likely planted by the Neely family around 1853 when they arrived. This giant tree stands about 50’ high and measures about 30” in diameter. The ground was covered in ripened fruit. So I gathered some to taste. The fruit is incredibly big and has a very pleasant crispy very sweet taste. The first pic below compares the fruit to my Tomkins King, the largest apple variety I grow:
This next pic compares it to another local tree variety unknown but most likely one the pioneers planted as well. The smaller one about the size of a tennis ball, is not yet ripe but has a nice unique speckled skin similar to Goldrush.
Now that we are past harvest and I can easily compare this unknown variety to my Tomkins King, I decided to update this thread to further seek anyone that can help ID this heritage variety.
I believe from scant local historical records that the family of emigrants came from Scotland and arrived here to settle in 1853, probably brought the variety here to plant as this tree looks about that old! So by now give the desirability of this variety it could be growing anywhere between UK and here. So if you have seen a named variety that matches these pics I would like to know.
The historic tree
How is the Tompkin’s King apple? As far as taste, disease resistance, storage, etc? Sorry to high jack your thread but I was looking at getting the Tompkin’s apple tree for my orchard.
Very much resembles the Cornish Gilliflowers I’ve seen grown on the west coast. (Colors up much better here) Great looking apple. Good candidate for dna testing for sure.
