Anis

Origin / History

Origin, Russia. Anis belongs to a family of apples grown on the upper Volga in Russia on a large scale, all of which are valuable for cultivation in the northern limits of fruit culture (Thomas). Several varieties received from Russia prove to be so nearly identical that only one is regarded as necessary in fruit lists to represent the group (Budd & Hansen). The description used by Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914) was adopted by the Russian Apple Nomenclature Commission, appointed by the State Horticultural Societies of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, at a meeting held at La Crosse, Wisconsin, August 30–31, 1898.

At the discussion recorded by Hansen (1902), A. G. Tuttle moved that all members of the Anis group be discarded owing to small size. J. S. Harris seconded the motion, but thought the Russian Green should be retained for very cold latitudes, as it is very hardy and the tree is blight-proof; for milder sections he considered the Anis group too small.

Tree

Tree medium upright (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Very hardy, but fruit too small for mild climates (Budd & Hansen). At the Central Experimental Farm trial (Agassiz, BC), trees planted Spring 1890 were described as a medium grower. Fruit drops easily (Hansen; Budd & Hansen).

Fruit

Size

Sources disagree. Hansen and Budd & Hansen give size "4 to 5" (on the Russian Nomenclature Commission scale). Thomas describes the fruit as small. The Central Experimental Farm describes it as of medium size.

Form

Roundish oblate, angular (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Thomas describes it as oblate conical, ribbed. The Central Experimental Farm describes it as oblate, conical.

Stem

Short (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Thomas adds that the stem is stout.

Cavity

Broad, deep (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Thomas describes the cavity as deep.

Calyx

Medium, closed (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Not described by Thomas or by the Central Experimental Farm.

Basin

Broad, irregular, angular (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Thomas describes the basin as wide and shallow.

Skin / Color

Light green, striped with red in sun (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Thomas describes the color as yellow, nearly covered with dark crimson in strips and splashes. The Central Experimental Farm describes the skin as yellow with reddish streaks on sunny side.

Flesh / Flavor

Tender, juicy, greenish white, with a dark green water line around the core; flavor agreeable, mild acid (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Thomas describes the flesh as firm, fine grained, sub-acid, aromatic; quality best when properly ripened. The Central Experimental Farm describes the flesh as white, not juicy, mildly acid, quality poor.

Core / Seeds

Core open (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). Seeds not separately described in source.

Season

September and October (Hansen; Budd & Hansen). The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC reports the season as "last of July."

Uses

Valuable for cultivation in the northern limits of fruit culture (Thomas). The group is regarded as too small for milder sections, but the closely related Russian Green was recommended for retention in very cold latitudes for its hardiness and blight-proof tree (Hansen, reporting Harris's remarks).

Subtypes / Variants

Hansen (1902) lists the Anis Group as comprising: Anis; No. 317; White Pigeon (spurious); 984, Kursk Anis; Red Anis; 32 M; Russian Green; Blue Anis; Yellow Anis; Pink Anis; Striped Anis; Getman's Bean, 225. Budd & Hansen note that several varieties received from Russia under different names prove to be so nearly identical that only one is regarded as necessary in fruit lists to represent the group, and cross-reference Blue Anis.

Other

Thomas references Fig. 432 in his work (illustration of the variety).