Orchard Glad It’s Cider Season?

By David Cardillo, Digital Collections and Preservation

Admittedly for most, it’s the pumpkin patch that is the boon of Fall, with Jack-O-Lanterns for Halloween and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  But apple pie and mulled cider might be the apple of one’s eye for the season, too.

The University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press’s Special Collections offers a glimpse into those traditions through its collection of more than 2,000 seed catalogs, most dating from 1870 to 1930. These catalogs served as practical resources for farmers and gardeners, connecting them with nurseries and providing a way to select and order seeds, fruit trees and plants for their land.

Today, a growing number of these historical catalogs are available through Quartex, our digital collections platform. Although only 28 catalogs have been digitized so far, the collection offers an opportunity to explore the varieties and resources available to growers more than a century ago.

One catalog of particular interest this time of year comes from Bradley Brothers, Carbondale, Illinois. Featuring primarily fruit trees and plants, the catalog provides a window into the varieties that growers could purchase, including apple trees. Among them is the Golden Pippin, an apple variety known for its suitability for cider making.

Incidentally, Golden Pippin apples make good cider!

Price list for apple trees, 1934.

Curious about growing your own Golden Pippin apple tree? A quick online search suggests that a two-year-old tree measuring 5 to 7 feet tall may cost between $60 and $150, including shipping, depending on the seller and destination. It is a reminder that the journey from orchard to glass begins long before the first apple is pressed.

Modern seed catalogs continue the tradition of connecting growers with the plants and supplies they need. Companies such as Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Rohrer Seeds offer catalogs that serve home gardeners and commercial growers alike. While the formats and technologies have changed, the purpose remains familiar: helping people cultivate something of their own.

If planting an orchard is more commitment than you have in mind, you can still celebrate cider season in your own kitchen. Sally’s Baking offers a recipe for homemade, nonalcoholic apple cider, a comforting way to bring the flavors of fall to your table.

Whether you are browsing a historic seed catalog, planning next year’s garden or simmering cider on the stove, the season offers plenty of ways to appreciate the enduring relationship between people, plants and the traditions they pass along.