This extended version of Deane's story examines accounts of the apple's origins.
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Don't miss the plot twist at the end.
From the Lewiston (Maine) Journal ca 1869:
Among the productions of Franklin County which are spoken highly of is the Deane apple, known sometimes under the name of the nine-ounce apple.
It is described as an excellent, fine looking and eating apple, of large size, and will keep on shelves till February. The tree spreads low, and is hardy.
It seems to be a great favorite among those who cultivate it. It originated, we believe, in Temple.
(As quoted in The Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste, 24:276, 1869.)
Bradford (1911, unnumbered 137–138) finds Deane's first mention in connection with a presentation to the Board of Agriculture from Franklin county (Maine) in 1858.
Bradford seems persuaded that the apple originated on the farm of Cyrus Deane, in Temple" despite an earlier claim for Farmington. He adds, "It has remained popular, because of its fine quality, to the present day" (i.e., 1911).
Despite that, the apple fell out of favor. A hundred years later, Jo Josephson, "The Opinionated Gardner," seemingly takes up the mantle of the erstwhile Horticulturist and Journal and tells how Deane
was all but lost...and is now making a comeback, thanks to Fedco Trees in Waterville
and in particular to John Bunker, who identified and rescued the apple from some old trees in the town of Philips, not far from Temple.
Which bring us to this
The Deane tree in the Maine Heritage Orchard has [DNA] tested as "Milwaukee," an apple that was not documented to have been grown in Maine. How could that be?
How indeed? The author enumerates some possibilities:
Was the apple simply missed 120 years ago? Was the reference tree to which our DNA was compared incorrectly identified ? Or was “Milwaukee” a synonym or re-naming in Wisconsin of the Maine apple, Deane?The mysteries are endless.
Indeed.
But Milwaukee was apparently commercialized after Deane was presented to that county board in Maine in 1858.
The Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (45) says Milwaukee originated "late in the last [19th] century" (emphasis added).
Works Cited
Hedrick, U. P. (ed.). 1922. Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits. Macmillan 1922; reprinted Applewood Books 2008.
See Deane
Just pulled off my last Deane yesterday from the same tree you got your sample from. These apples are still firm and tasty, similar to the way they were a month ago. Pretty surprised at the quality this late in the season. The picture you have has striping similar to Odenburg so I don't have doubts about the genetics. I think Milwaukee is a Deane that was dragged to Winsconsin kicking and screaming and wanting to go back to Maine where it grows and tastes better. Maybe Deane is self fertile and Milwaukee is a seedling of Deane, making it a near clone. All kinds of possibilities.
ReplyDeleteHi! There is actually a similar story about Salome and Benton Red.
DeletePlease keep up your investigations. I live on the Plains, and wish we had weather fair enough to grown all there beauties.
ReplyDeletePerhaps there are some beauties well adapted to your climate and zone. I find that every region seems to have its own apple culture.
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