Boston Russet
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Boston Russet
Origin / History
Thomas (1903): "Boston Russet. See Roxbury Russet." Beach (1905) calls the name one of the old synonyms for Roxbury Russet, but in the vicinity of Albion it has been applied to another variety which, "so far as we can discover, has not been described in any publication." Veitch & Sons (1911) carry a Boston Russet entry in Veitch's Fruit Trees.
Tree
Suitable for bush culture (Veitch & Sons).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Veitch & Sons).
Form: Roundish conic, regular (Beach).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Medium (Beach).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Medium (Beach).
Skin: Pale yellowish-green, irregularly overspread with thin russet (Beach).
Dots: Numerous, small (Beach).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh tinged slightly with yellow, moderately tender, mild subacid; "not more than good in quality" (Beach). Flavor and high aroma of the Ribston Pippin (Veitch & Sons).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
January to April (Veitch & Sons).
Uses
Not considered desirable for commercial purposes (Beach).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Boston Russet. See Roxbury Russet.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)BOSTON RUSSET.
This name is one of the old synonyms for Roxbury Russet but in the vicinity of Albion it has been applied to another variety which, so far as we can discover, has not been described in any publication. The fruit is roundish conic, regular, with medium cavity and basin. Skin pale yellowish-green, irregularly overspread with thin russet. Dots numerous, small. Flesh tinged slightly with yellow, moderately tender, mild subacid, not more than good in quality. Not considered desirable for commercial purposes.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size with the flavour and high aroma of the Ribston Pippin, suitable for bush culture ... Jan. to April