Brett
AppleBrett
Origin / History
Originated near Dover, Minnesota, from seed planted by Mrs. Mary Brett in the spring of 1872. Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea, Minn., writing in Hansen's 1902 work, says the seed came from a barrel of apples said to have been Golden Russet and Tolman Sweet mixed, grown by Mr. Harroon Smith, of Dover, Minn. Wedge calls it "a good fruit that would have been given more attention if it had not been overshadowed by the Wealthy of similar color, size and season."
Tree
Very healthy and hardy; Wedge adds "we believe at present in good condition."
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish, regular, truncated.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Deep, regular.
Calyx: Closed; tube conical; stamens median.
Basin: Wide, regular, abrupt, often finely wrinkled.
Skin: Surface yellow, with dark crimson stripes on the sunny side.
Dots: White, minute, obscure.
Flesh and flavor: White, juicy, sprightly subacid; good.
Core and seeds: Core closed, clasping.
Season
Early winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
View original book sources (2)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Brett—Origin, Minnesota—Fruit large, roundish, regular, truncated; surface yellow, with dark crimson stripes on sunny side; dots white, minute, obscure; cavity deep, regular; stem short; basin wide, regular, abrupt, often finely wrinkled; calyx closed. Core closed, clasping; tube conical; stamens median; flesh white, juicy, sprightly subacid, good. Early winter.
AFTERMATH.
Brett—Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea, Minn., writes: The Brett originated from a barrel of apples said to have been Golden Russet and Tolman Sweet mixed, grown by Mr. Harroon Smith, of Dover, Minn., seed planted by Mrs. Mary Brett, near Dover, Minn., spring of 1872. Tree very healthy and hardy, and we believe at present in good condition. A good fruit that would have been given more attention if it had not been overshadowed by the Wealthy of similar color, size and season.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Brett.—Originated 1872 near Dover, Minnesota, by Mrs. Mary Brett.
Fruit large, roundish, regular, truncated; surface yellow, with dark crimson stripes on sunny side; dots white, minute, obscure; cavity deep, regular; stem short; basin wide, regular, abrupt, often finely wrinkled; calyx closed. Core closed, clasping; tube conical; stamens median; flesh white, juicy, sprightly subacid, good. Early winter.