Cole's Quince

Summer. Unknown parentage. Discovered or raised by Captain Henry Cole, Cornish, ME (York County), about 1840. I was inspired to reintroduce Maine's most famous summer apple by a letter from Philip Small of Cornish which I received several years ago. His closing words were, "It would seem natural that an old forgotten apple started in Cornish, Maine would be grown there again." I tracked down the tree in the collection of Cynthia Anthony of Searsmont who provided me with fruit to taste and later scionwood to get my own trees going. Presumably called 'Quince' because of what several old books call its "rich, high quince favor," and also perhaps because of its shape and coloring. Large flattish-conical ribbed bright yellow fruit sometimes has a brownish blush. As the fruit ripens, the blush turns a glowing translucent rusty red through which numerous yellow spots appear like stars. It was a hit in our taste tests where the white flesh was described as "tangy" and "strongly aromatic" having "zesty zip" and "zing with plenty of sweetness." Frequently recommended for cooking before it's completely ripe. Medium-sized spreading reliable productive tree. Blooms early. About as hardy as Baldwin.