Help identifying heirloom apple tree?

I have an heirloom apple tree in my background that probably dates from when the house was built, over 100 years ago. Once the tree was freed from the blackberries choking it we got a lovely crop, tart and tasty. But I haven't been able to identify it yet and am hoping the Forum can help.

Additionally, the tree this year seems affected by some disease and I'm hoping to be able to treat it. Crop this year was much smaller, but I know sometimes apple harvests are biannual.

Any help on either issue much appreciated.

 

The leaf disease looks like scab, which was very prevalent on my apple trees this year, due to the cool, wet spring. Spraying with lime-sulfur or copper during the spring should control it. Details can be found on the Web.

I don't recognize the apple variety, but you might be able to have it identified at the UBCBG Apple Festival in October. I don't know if they still do it, but years ago, there was a group of expert identifiers helping customers with unknown apples at the festival.

 

Thanks so much for this response so quickly. So I'll need to wait till next spring to spray for the scab? I will look for details on the web as you suggest.

 

Orchard fruit cultivars are identified by 6 fruits showing range of exterior appearance with one cut in half to show interior. And features such as aroma, flavor, juiciness and texture not conveyed by photos. In addition randomly encountered specimens of common kinds such as apples not known with certainty to have been acquired as named cultivars can be unnamed seedlings instead.

 

Derry Walsh (Aldergrove) is an expert on growing and identifying apples.

Try contacting her at: https://www.derrysorchardandnursery.ca/home

If she can't help you, she would probably suggest someone else who could.

 

You may want to gather more information on the apple before attending a festival. Have a look at the suggestions in this article: How to Identify Apples: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow. Photos of particular aspects such as cross-sections may be useful in its identification.

 

The fruit looks similar to a Lost Lanark Legacy apple, at least on the outside: Home | Lost Lanark Legacy Fruit Trees.

 

Since the apples are falling now, and don't seem to keep, I'm afraid I won't be able to bring the appropriate samples to the UBCBG apple festival. However I can take pictures as you suggest, including one cut in half. Thanks for this helpful information.

 

Thanks. They are Ontario based but I can try contacting them.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

Thanks. I've sent a quick note.

 

It looks like they're also on Facebook where there is more activity: Lost Lanark Legacy Fruit Trees.

 

I have a very likely identification as "Melba". Many thanks to all for your help. Rhea