Beef Steak

Origin/History

Beef Steak originated in Massachusetts. Downing specifies it as coming from the farm of Joel Davis, Amesbury, Mass. It has been listed in some sources under the name "Garden Apple" — Elliott uses this as a secondary heading; Thomas gives "Garden Apple" as an alternate name — but Downing explicitly rejects this, characterizing "Garden Apple of some" as incorrect.

Tree

Habit similar to Baldwin, according to both Elliott and Downing. Downing adds that the tree is very productive.

Fruit

Size: Medium, by all three sources.

Form: Elliott describes the fruit as roundish oval. Downing gives oblate, inclining to conical, with sides sometimes unequal. Thomas describes it as oblate, somewhat oval. Elliott's "roundish oval" and Downing's "oblate, inclining to conical" represent a mild divergence; Thomas's description is intermediate.

Skin: Elliott describes the skin as greenish yellow, marbled and striped with red. Downing gives whitish-yellow, shaded and splashed with light and dark red over two-thirds of the surface, with large areole dots. The ground color differs between sources: Elliott records greenish yellow, Downing whitish-yellow. Thomas notes only that the fruit is striped.

Stem: Elliott records the stem as medium. Downing describes the stalk as medium and slender, often with bracts.

Cavity: Elliott calls the cavity deep. Downing describes it as rather large and slightly russeted.

Calyx: Closed, per both Elliott and Downing. Downing adds that the calyx segments are slightly recurved.

Basin: Elliott describes the basin as open and shallow. Downing gives it as medium and nearly smooth. The two sources differ on depth: Elliott says shallow, Downing says medium.

Flesh: Elliott records the flesh as yellowish, tender, and mild sub-acid. Downing describes it as white, crisp, tender, juicy, mild, and subacid. The two sources conflict on flesh color: Elliott says yellowish, Downing says white. Thomas characterizes it as mild, pleasant, and sub-acid, without describing color or texture beyond this.

Core: Medium, per both Elliott and Downing.

Quality: Rated "very good" by both Elliott and Downing.

Season

October and November (Elliott, Downing). Thomas gives autumn.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.