Obscure apple varieties

Merle Hawggard

Well-Known Member
Very early I know, but I've been searching for an old apple named collins red/ red champion/coss' champion. My original wildlife orchard was going to be just a few trees, but now it's around 50 I think. I wanted to add all the old Arkansas apples I could and while collins is supposed to be around I've not been able to find a scion. Also searching for red st lawrence and Hayford.
Post any odd wants you may have here. Who knows, you may find it!
 
If no luck here search around for the old Nick Botner list of apples if it's anywhere it would be there.
I looked up his list and it pulled up wagon wheel orchard. They list collins so I sent them a email to see if they'd sell scion wood or trade. We'll see, thanks!
 
I tried to buy some scions off them a couple years ago and they wouldn't I think they were small and starting up at that time and could make more using the scions then selling them. Hopefully it's different now I know they had really good prices on grafted trees at the time I asked though.
 
I've found Collins! Trouble is its in the National Fruit Collection in England. I've sent them an email about getting scion wood though I'm sure I'll probably have to get a college or some government agency to get it so they can quarantine it a while.
Either way it's out there!
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Merle have you talked to Joanie Cooper or Kelly's Old Timey apples? If they don't have it they might know someone who might.
 
Merle have you talked to Joanie Cooper or Kelly's Old Timey apples? If they don't have it they might know someone who might.
Steve Kelly I have, even Lee Calhoun with no luck. How did your grafts turn out this year btw? Ours have done wonderful this year!

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Mine grafts were hit and miss I thought they would take off but didn't have much luck with apples this year. I did some t budding with apples and pears and seem to have good luck with that. I think I'm going to shift towards planting rootstocks in spring then t budding in summer to avoid transplanting.
 
Merle, I'm curious about Striped Ben Davis that WG sells. The drop dates look good, but I can't find anything about Disease Resistance on that particular apple. It is not exactly the same as the original Ben Davis. Just wondered if you knew anything about it.
 
Merle, I'm curious about Striped Ben Davis that WG sells. The drop dates look good, but I can't find anything about Disease Resistance on that particular apple. It is not exactly the same as the original Ben Davis. Just wondered if you knew anything about it.
Wish I could give you a report NH, but I've only saw it advertised as well. I did graft a Ben Davis this year thinking it should be a good deer apple if nothing else.
I may see if I can find a striped Ben scion this coming year and we'll find out.


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Mine grafts were hit and miss I thought they would take off but didn't have much luck with apples this year. I did some t budding with apples and pears and seem to have good luck with that. I think I'm going to shift towards planting rootstocks in spring then t budding in summer to avoid transplanting.
I try and get around that buy growing my newly grafted apples and pears at my house the first year, in a bed, and transplant them that fall or spring.
Chuck has good luck growing them in fabric pots.
I think that helps a lot in getting them going the first year since it's so much easier to address things when they come up.
Planting and budding later should work well too. I only did a few this year on the rootstocks we rooted and they've all taken.

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I you want to see all apples they have listed use this link:
http://www.nationalfruitcollection.org.uk/a-z.php
That's the place that has Collins/Coss Champion. The USDA was less than thrilled to import it for me, but Kevin Hauser is going to see about getting it for me. It'll have to go through quarantine, but in a few years I should have it.
I also got a call from a lady that saw our story in the White Co Ark Historical Society newsletter about our search for any of the Hubach and Hathaway apples.
She doesn't know the variety, but has a 100 plus year old apple tree on her late parents farm. It's looking like another road trip for Merle!

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That's the place that has Collins/Coss Champion. The USDA was less than thrilled to import it for me, but Kevin Hauser is going to see about getting it for me. It'll have to go through quarantine, but in a few years I should have it.
I also got a call from a lady that saw our story in the White Co Ark Historical Society newsletter about our search for any of the Hubach and Hathaway apples.
She doesn't know the variety, but has a 100 plus year old apple tree on her late parents farm. It's looking like another road trip for Merle!

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Sounds like a great adventure Merle. Be sure to let us know how it comes out....
 
Good luck on the Collins Merle, i hope you end up with it in the end!
Persistence pays off! Here's a picture of the mystery tree the lady sent too. Said it was a large tree in 1940 with two trunks. Sometime after they bought the place one truck rotted so her dad cut it off and two grew back in its place.
You can get an idea of its size by comparing it to the house in the background.
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