"The original tree was one of five seedlings growing at the home of Rev. Nathan L. Brown near Webster, Florida. The seedlings had been given to him in 1856 by a man who said they grew from the seeds in an orange brought to Savannah, Georgia, from China on an English ship. In 1874, CApt. J.L. Carney was looking for a source of budwood to place into his wild sour orange trees on his island in Lake Weir. The fruit of one of the Brown trees caught his attention because it matured ealier than those on the other four trees. He bought the rights to the budwood of this tree and propagated it as the Parson Brown. The other four trees were also sources of budwood for many groves folliwing the freezes of 1894-1895 because it was believed that all of Parson Brown's trees were the same. However, the trees were not identical, and considerable variation in fruit and tree characteristics were observed as the groves matured. The Carney type represents the true Parson Brown cultivar..." (Jackson and Davies, 1999, pp 75-76) "The old Carney Grove on Lake Weir near Ocklawaha, where the Parson Brown was first propagated, was still in 1932 mainaly comprosed of this variety, but the trees were killed to the ground in the freeze of 1894-1895 and had been rebudded on sprouts from the base. Most of the propagations of this variety have been taken from the Carney grove." (Webber, 1943, p 506-507)
"It is widely planted in Florida and is grown to some extent in Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana. It has been introduced and tested in most citrus sections of the world but is not an importantvariety anywhere outside the United States. It hasnot proved successful in California, where the Washington Navel matures at the same time and produces a superior fruit in size, quality, and seelessness." "Before 1920, this was the leading early season orange cultivar but it has been largely replaced by Hamlin because of Parson Brown's seediness and lower yields." (Jackson and Davies, 1999, pp 75-76)
"Its popularity in Florida continues to diminish as it has for many years and in its place Roble is the preferred growers' choice. It has never achieved any significant importance in any other citrus industry as a dual purpose variety, as did Hamlin, because of its seediness and fruit size." (Saunt, 2000, p 28)
"Fruit medium-large, globose; base with short, radial furrows; areole indistinct; moderately seedy. Well-colored under favorable conditions. Rind medium-thick; surface finely pitted and moderately pebbled. Flesh color dull orange; firm, juicy; well-flavored. Very early in maturity, possibly the eaerliest. Tree vigorous, large, and productive." (Hodgson, 1967, p 449)
"...matures during October to December. Fruit has 10-20 seeds and a thick, lsightly pebbled peel, which loses the green color very slowly. The quality is moderate, and the juice color superior to Hamlin, although many purport that juice color is superior to that of Hamlin. Parson Brown is used for processing." (Jackson and Davies, 1999, pp 75-76)
"It matures in October and November in Florida. The flesh and juice are not well coloured [sic] compared with latr varieties such as Pineapple and Valencia. However, it is sweet and well flavoured [sic] and the juice content is high." (Saunt, 2000, p 28)
"A typical mid-season seedy sweet orange that is seedier than most sweets in the collection." (EM Nauer, 02/08/1988)
(Compiled by RR Krueger, 08/27/2009)