American Golden Russet

American Golden Russet

Origin/History

The American Golden Russet is one of the most widely admired table apples in cultivation, a universal favorite wherever delicacy of flavor and fineness of flesh are prized. It is widely grown in the West and in New England under the name Golden Russet. The name Sheep-nose, given by Coxe, was nearly obsolete by Downing's time (1900), surviving only in New Jersey. The variety is neither handsome nor large, yet earns its following through great productiveness and admirable flavor.

Tree

Both sources agree the tree has an upright growth habit. Warder describes it as vigorous, round-headed, and small, with large, healthy foliage. Downing describes it as thrifty, with upright shoots and bark of a dull reddish grayish brown color.

Fruit

Size and Form: The two sources differ slightly. Warder gives the size as small to medium and the form as round-conic, regular when perfect. Downing gives the size as below medium and the form as roundish-ovate.

Skin: Smooth (Warder). Color dull yellow (Downing) or yellow (Warder), covered with a thin russet — Downing describes it as sprinkled with a very thin russet. Warder notes the surface is sometimes faintly blushed.

Dots: Minute (Warder). Not described by Downing.

Stem: Long and slender (Warder: long, slender; Downing: rather long and slender).

Cavity: Acute, regular (Warder). Not described by Downing.

Calyx: Small, closed (Warder: eye small, closed; Downing: calyx closed).

Basin: Warder describes it as shallow and regular. Downing describes it as rather narrow. Both characterizations are preserved as they emphasize different aspects.

Flesh: Yellowish (both sources). Warder gives the fullest account: very fine grained, tender, when fully ripe almost melting like a pear, juicy, becoming dry when overripe. Downing concurs on the pear comparison, describing the flesh as resembling in texture that of a buttery pear more than that of an ordinary apple, and as very tender and juicy.

Flavor: Warder: sub-acid, rich, aromatic. Downing: mild, rich, spicy. Both rate quality as Best.

Core: Medium, closed, meeting the eye (Warder). Not described by Downing.

Seeds: Numerous, pointed (Warder). Not described by Downing.

Season

Warder gives November and December. Downing gives October to January.

Uses

Dessert (Warder). Downing does not give an explicit use designation but consistently treats it as a table apple.

Other

Warder notes that despite its excellence as a table apple, the American Golden Russet is not a profitable variety for orchard planting, as the fruit is very apt to be imperfect. He reports the best specimens he encountered came from the South and from sandstone soils. Downing, by contrast, emphasizes the variety's great productiveness as a key reason for its popularity.