Origin: in New Brunswick, N.J., by M.A. Blake, New Jersey Agr. Expt. Sta. Introd. in 1964. Melba × Kildare; cross made in 1934; selected in 1942; first distributed for trial as NJ 88634 by Blake; later tested as NJ 3. Tree: considered to be very hardy; strong, spreading; somewhat smaller than McIntosh; bears well; blooms in midseason. Fruit: medium to large; slightly oblate; skin striped and blushed, colors better than McIntosh, very attractive, resembles Cortland in appearance and shape, sometimes becoming russeted; flesh white, juicy, crisp, similar to McIntosh and Cortland; flavor mildly subacid, slightly aromatic; apparently not well-adapted for processing; high dessert quality, as good as or better than McIntosh; hangs better on tree than McIntosh in central New Jersey; primarily of local value (New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania); ripens just after McIntosh, but of pleasant eating quality more than 2 weeks before it is ripe.
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