Adam's Apples

It's a fine time of year for apples.

Will, from Central Massachusetts, sent me these (and some other apples) from his home orchard seeking to know what they might be. They are from his tree E5 and are supposed to be Red Delicious ("RD") from a tree purchased from Home Depot ("HD"). You do not have to be a pomologist to know these are not those. So, what are they?

Josh has been sending me apples this year from his orchard in western Washington: one last summer, and six this fall I've already written about the first three of the six, which included a second bite for me of Tompkins King . There was also a mystery apple that I think could be the great Ashmead's Kernel . (Others disagree .) The second trio, below, also includes one apple that Josh knows for sure. It is Kingston Black, a famous cider apple.

Today I am tasting the first of a shipment of mystery apples from Will, who grew these in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, near Worcester. Will got ahold of me hoping for some help IDing his crop. I warned him that he'd probably be disappointed, since I'm not much of an apple sleuth . He sent his apples anyway. The provisional names are his.

The apple blogger's complaint Clockwise from right: Ashmead's Kernel, Macoun, Wickson, Baldwin It is glorious October ! At this point in the season my refrigerator overflows with Ashmead's Kernel, Macoun, Wickson, and Baldwin. But can I eat them? I can not.

The purpose of today's apple adventure is not to decide which is best, but rather what is what. I spotted some similarities between Ashmead's Kernel and an unidentified variety that came my way . Some of you, gentle readers, begged to differ . So, I report, you decide. What is this guy?