York Imperial
Encyclopedia
The York Imperial, or York is a cultivar
of apple
(Malus domestica) from which a number of other valuable strains
and cultivars have arisen, including four sport
varieties: Commander York, Ramey York, Red Yorking, and Yorking.
nurseryman Jonathan Jessop (also Jessup) developed this variety of apple on his "Springwood Farm" near York, Pennsylvania
, United States
, from grafts of a tree from John Kline's farm at Hellam, Pennsylvania. Some sources report Jessop observed school children digging out leaf-covered apples that were in a remarkable state of preservation in the early spring and later grafted another variety onto it. Though lop-sided, this new cultivar quickly became popular because of its taste and long keeping properties—which was especially important in the era before refrigeration. This cultivar was originally known as “Jonathan’s Fine Winter” (sometimes reported as “Johnson’s Fine Winter”), after Jonathan Jessop. Some sources credit John Kline of Hellam and some say it was William Johnson, nearer to York. Some report Kline is the one who found the apples under the leaves and took them to Jessop. Jessop got the credit for continued development of the apple. Scientific publications credit that long keeping trait to the density or lack of air in the apple.
In the early 1850s, Andrew Jackson Downing
called this apple the “Imperial of Keepers” due to its excellent storage ability. From this moniker this apple became better known as the York Imperial. Jessop carried the tree to the Friends’ Yearly meeting in Baltimore, Maryland and from there the tree first spread into Virginia. Jessop carried York Imperial trees to several other Friends’ meetings. The York Township farm, known as Springwood, was later owned by Jonathan's son Edward, who raised his large family there with his wife, while commuting each week to Baltimore to run his hardware business. Edward's daughter Elizabeth became the wife of farm machinery manufacturer A. B. Farquhar. The farm was later sold to John C. Schmidt, who was instrumental in having the monument to the York Imperial Apple erected in 1920.
A distinct yet closely related variety, the Spencerville Red, was discovered in 1992 growing in a field in Spencerville, Maryland
. The Spencerville Red ripens about a week after the York Imperial and is also lop-sided. The Spencerville Red is thought to be a cross between the York Imperial and the crab apple.
The York Imperial has a tart yet sweet taste, and keeps extremely well, becoming sweeter and mellower tasting over time.
It sweetens in flavor for 5–6 months after it is picked. The York Imperial is excellent for baking, cooking, apple sauce, cider, preserves, jams, dried apple slices, and juice, as well as eating fresh. It quickly spread from Pennsylvania southward into Virginia. A properly cared for mature tree can average 20 bushel
s a year. The York Imperial is designated an "antique apple" because it has been raised for more than 180 years, one of the few apple cultivars that have survived that long. It is still commonly grown in orchards and backyards in the continental United States, especially Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina
. The York Imperial was often exported to Europe before import restrictions were implemented.
In addition to its native region of south central Pennsylvania, the York Imperial is now also grown southward along the Shenandoah Valley
and Blue Ridge mountains
.
There is a blue historical marker with yellow writing at South George St (SR 3001, old US 111), 2 miles south of York, Pennsylvania erected on April 5, 1948 recognizing the York Imperial that says “YORK IMPERIAL APPLE Here, at a nursery located on Springwood Farms, a new variety of apple was propagated by Jonathan Jessop in 1820. In 1855 it was named the "York Imperial,." earning the appellation "Imperial" for its keeping quality, not its flavor. It became a leading variety grown in the U.S.”
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
of apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
(Malus domestica) from which a number of other valuable strains
Strain (biology)
In biology, a strain is a low-level taxonomic rank used in three related ways.-Microbiology and virology:A strain is a genetic variant or subtype of a micro-organism . For example, a "flu strain" is a certain biological form of the influenza or "flu" virus...
and cultivars have arisen, including four sport
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
varieties: Commander York, Ramey York, Red Yorking, and Yorking.
History
In 1820, QuakerReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
nurseryman Jonathan Jessop (also Jessup) developed this variety of apple on his "Springwood Farm" near York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, from grafts of a tree from John Kline's farm at Hellam, Pennsylvania. Some sources report Jessop observed school children digging out leaf-covered apples that were in a remarkable state of preservation in the early spring and later grafted another variety onto it. Though lop-sided, this new cultivar quickly became popular because of its taste and long keeping properties—which was especially important in the era before refrigeration. This cultivar was originally known as “Jonathan’s Fine Winter” (sometimes reported as “Johnson’s Fine Winter”), after Jonathan Jessop. Some sources credit John Kline of Hellam and some say it was William Johnson, nearer to York. Some report Kline is the one who found the apples under the leaves and took them to Jessop. Jessop got the credit for continued development of the apple. Scientific publications credit that long keeping trait to the density or lack of air in the apple.
In the early 1850s, Andrew Jackson Downing
Andrew Jackson Downing
Andrew Jackson Downing was an American landscape designer, horticulturalist, and writer, a prominent advocate of the Gothic Revival style in the United States, and editor of The Horticulturist magazine...
called this apple the “Imperial of Keepers” due to its excellent storage ability. From this moniker this apple became better known as the York Imperial. Jessop carried the tree to the Friends’ Yearly meeting in Baltimore, Maryland and from there the tree first spread into Virginia. Jessop carried York Imperial trees to several other Friends’ meetings. The York Township farm, known as Springwood, was later owned by Jonathan's son Edward, who raised his large family there with his wife, while commuting each week to Baltimore to run his hardware business. Edward's daughter Elizabeth became the wife of farm machinery manufacturer A. B. Farquhar. The farm was later sold to John C. Schmidt, who was instrumental in having the monument to the York Imperial Apple erected in 1920.
A distinct yet closely related variety, the Spencerville Red, was discovered in 1992 growing in a field in Spencerville, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. The Spencerville Red ripens about a week after the York Imperial and is also lop-sided. The Spencerville Red is thought to be a cross between the York Imperial and the crab apple.
Characteristics
The York Imperial is easily identified by its lop-sided shape. The York Imperial is consistently one of the top ten selling apple varieties. The fruit is medium to large in size, and variable, from an oblate-oblique to an oval-oblong shape, the skins are deep red with greenish-yellow streaks and specks, as well as occasional patches of yellow or green. Often it is streaked with grayish scarfskin. The yellow/off-white flesh is coarse-textured, crisp and juicy, with a sprightly subacid to sweet flavor, that remains even after long storage. The tree grows upright and stocky with dark-green oval leaves that are shiny and slightly serrated. The core of the apple is small and compact. There are 175 to 185 days from full bloom to fruit maturity. York Imperials ripen in October and are harvested through December.The York Imperial has a tart yet sweet taste, and keeps extremely well, becoming sweeter and mellower tasting over time.
It sweetens in flavor for 5–6 months after it is picked. The York Imperial is excellent for baking, cooking, apple sauce, cider, preserves, jams, dried apple slices, and juice, as well as eating fresh. It quickly spread from Pennsylvania southward into Virginia. A properly cared for mature tree can average 20 bushel
Bushel
A bushel is an imperial and U.S. customary unit of dry volume, equivalent in each of these systems to 4 pecks or 8 gallons. It is used for volumes of dry commodities , most often in agriculture...
s a year. The York Imperial is designated an "antique apple" because it has been raised for more than 180 years, one of the few apple cultivars that have survived that long. It is still commonly grown in orchards and backyards in the continental United States, especially Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The York Imperial was often exported to Europe before import restrictions were implemented.
In addition to its native region of south central Pennsylvania, the York Imperial is now also grown southward along the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
and Blue Ridge mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
.
Disease susceptibility
- Scab: high
- Powdery mildew: high
- Cedar apple rust: high
- Fire blight: high
Recognition
In 1920 the State Horticultural Society of Pennsylvania dedicated a historical marker to the York Imperial Apple, at the site of Jessop's farm, for its contribution "to the horticultural prosperity of the state." The Apple Hill Medical Center now sits on part of the Jessop farm. A bronze plaque on the lower level of the medical center reads:
"THE YORK IMPERIAL APPLE Was First Propagated About 1820 In This Field By JONATHAN JESSOP It Is the Most Widely Known Variety of Pennsylvania Origin and Has Contributed Largely to the Horticultural Prosperity of the State
A Tribute by
The State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania
1920"
There is a blue historical marker with yellow writing at South George St (SR 3001, old US 111), 2 miles south of York, Pennsylvania erected on April 5, 1948 recognizing the York Imperial that says “YORK IMPERIAL APPLE Here, at a nursery located on Springwood Farms, a new variety of apple was propagated by Jonathan Jessop in 1820. In 1855 it was named the "York Imperial,." earning the appellation "Imperial" for its keeping quality, not its flavor. It became a leading variety grown in the U.S.”