Splendour Apple from New Zealand

Abstract

The following information about a New Zealand seedling apple selection named 'Splendour' was taken from a news release distributed by the Committee on Agriculture of the U.S. House of Representatives, dated May 8, 1969.

'Splendour' is a high quality late apple which was recommended for commercial planting in New Zealand in 1960 by D.W. McKenzie, of the New Zealand Fruit Research Orchard at Havelock North. Stark Bros. bought the propagating rights in 1962. It is, now being tested in Italy, France and the U.S.

According to McKenzie, 'Splendour' is a bright red, attractive apple. The skin is thin. Flesh is deep yellow, much like Golden Delicious, but firmer in texture, and very crisp and juicy, with a very sweet flavor. It has excellent dessert quality, and handles and stores well. 'Splendour' is ready for harvest just ahead of, Rome Beauty, and appears to have excellent shelf life after storage. Consumer reaction to it has been excellent. In addition, the tree is precocious and bears heavily.

Roger Way, of the N.Y. Agr. Exp. Station at Geneva, was quoted to the effect that 'Splendour' has shown good fruit and tree characteristics at Geneva, that it bore at three years of age, and shows promise as a dual purpose variety. The release also says that growers and horticulturists in certain central-western apple states and Washington are interested in 'Splendour' for its high dessert and keeping quality.