Brier
Crab Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Brier
Origin/History
Brier originated with B. B. Brier of Baraboo, Wisconsin, soon after the Civil War. It is the result of a cross (fertilization) between the Siberian Crab and the Bailey apple. Beach (1905) cites Downing (1872) for this parentage. Hedrick (1922) notes the variety "has no remarkable qualities, and is grown only in Wisconsin."
Tree
Tree perfectly hardy, vigorous, and productive. Comes into bearing rather young (Beach).
Fruit
Size: Sources vary. Downing describes the fruit as "as large as the Transcendent." Thomas calls it "medium large." Beach describes it as "large."
Form: Shaped like the Bailey Sweet (Downing); roundish to conic, ribbed (Beach); round (Thomas).
Stem: Long, slender (Beach). Not described by other sources.
Cavity: Narrow, deep, russeted (Beach). Not described by other sources.
Calyx: Small, closed or slightly open. Calyx tube conical to funnel-form. Stamens median (Beach). Not described by other sources.
Basin: Deep, narrow, abrupt, wrinkled (Beach). Not described by other sources.
Skin: Pale yellow, beautifully pencilled and splashed with carmine (Downing); yellow and red (Thomas); pale yellow washed with lively red, striped with carmine, dotted and flecked with yellow and covered with thin, whitish bloom (Beach).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, crisp, juicy, very sweet and rich; quality best for dessert or preserves (Downing). Yellowish, rich, fine-grained, moderately juicy, pleasant, sweet, aromatic, not astringent, good in flavor and quality (Beach). Thomas rates it simply "good."
Core/Seeds: Core medium in size, axile or nearly so; cells closed (Beach). Not described by other sources.
Season
September and October (Beach); mid-season (Thomas).
Uses
Best for dessert or preserves (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Brier's Sweet Crab.
Originated with B. B. Brier, of Baraboo, Wis. Is the result of a fertilization of the Siberian Crab with the Bailey apple. Tree perfectly hardy, vigorous and productive.
Fruit as large as the Transcendent; shaped like the Bailey Sweet; color pale yellow, beautifully pencilled and splashed with carmine; flesh yellowish, crisp, juicy, very sweet and rich; quality best for dessert or preserves. (A. G. Tuttle, Manuscript.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Brier. Medium large, round, yellow and red; good. Mid-season. Wisconsin.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)BRIER.
REFERENCES. 1. Rural N. Y., 1870 (cited by 2). 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:51. 3. Downing, 1872:39 app. 4. Wis. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1876:70. 5. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1881:322. 6. Barry, 1883:358. 7. Gibb, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1884:34. 8. Keffer, S. D. Sta. Bul., 23:141. 1891. 9. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:235. 10. Thomas, 1897:629. 11. Budd-Hansen, 1903:216. fig.
SYNONYMS. BRIAR SWEET (1, 2, 9). BRIER (11). BRIER'S SWEET (4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Brier Sweet (11, erroneously 10). BRIER'S SWEET CRAB (3). VAN WYCK (10).
Tree vigorous, hardy, comes into bearing rather young and is productive.
Historical. Originated with B. B. Brier, of Baraboo, Wis., as a result of the fertilization of the Siberian crab with the Bailey apple (3).
FRUIT.
Fruit large. Form roundish to conic, ribbed. Stem long, slender. Cavity narrow, deep, russeted. Calyx small, closed or slightly open. Basin deep, narrow, abrupt, wrinkled. Skin pale yellow washed with lively red, striped with carmine, dotted and flecked with yellow and covered with thin, whitish bloom. Calyx tube conical to funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium in size, axile or nearly so; cells closed. Flesh yellowish, rich, fine-grained, moderately juicy, pleasant, sweet, aromatic, not astringent, good in flavor and quality. Season September and October.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)BRIER. Brier's Sweet Crab. Van Wyck.
Brier is a cross between the Bailey apple and Siberian crab. The variety has no remarkable qualities, and is grown only in Wisconsin, in which state it originated, at Baraboo, soon after the Civil War.