Boas

Apple

Boas

Origin/History

A Pennsylvania apple introduced by Rev. Mr. Boas of Berks Co. Also known as the Kelter. (Downing)

Tree

A strong grower and productive. (Downing)

Fruit

Size: Medium.

Form: Oblate or roundish oblate (Downing; Thomas); roundish oblate (Elliott).

Stem: Short and stout.

Cavity: Medium. (Downing)

Calyx: Closed or partly open. (Downing)

Basin: Slightly corrugated (Downing); plaited (Elliott).

Skin: Pale yellow ground, shaded and indistinctly splashed and striped with crimson over most of the surface (Downing). Elliott describes the ground as greenish yellow with crimson red stripes and whitish yellow blotches.

Flesh/Flavor: Whitish yellow (Downing); yellowish white (Elliott). Fine-grained (Downing); crisp (Elliott). Juicy, pleasant, brisk subacid (Downing); pleasant (Elliott). Rated "very good" by Downing and Elliott; "good" by Thomas.

Core/Seeds: Core small.

Season

January to March (Downing); late winter (Thomas); February to June (Elliott).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Boas.

Kelter.

A Pennsylvania Apple, introduced by Rev. Mr. Boas, of Berks Co. Tree a strong grower and productive.

Fruit medium, oblate or roundish oblate, pale yellow, shaded and indistinctly splashed and striped with crimson over most of its surface. Stalk short and stout. Cavity medium. Calyx closed or partly open. Basin slightly corrugated. Flesh whitish yellow, fine-grained, juicy, pleasant, brisk subacid. Core small. Very good. January to March.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Boas.

American: From Berks Co., Pa. Fruit, medium, roundish oblate, crimson red stripes or greenish yellow, whitish yellow blotches; stem, short, stout; calyx, in a plaited basin; flesh, yellowish white, crisp, pleasant; "very good;" core, small. February to June.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Boas. Medium, roundish, oblate, striped; good. Late winter.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Kelter