NO. 84. CAMPFIELD, OR NEWARK SWEETING.

This apple is next in reputation as a cider fruit to the Harrison; and is usually mixed with that apple in equal portions when ground: the size is middling, the skin is smooth and red, with small indistinct yellow spots, the side from the sun a greenish yellow: the flesh is white, firm, sweet and rich; the form is round, flattened, and somewhat sunk at the ends—the cider is very strong and highly flavoured, yielding fourteen quarts of spirit from a barrel—the price of the cider, about a dollar per barrel less than the Harrison. The form of the tree is tall, with straight limbs, inclining upwards; the size large, the growth very vigorous, the wood hard, and of uncommon fruitfulness; it is esteemed the most profitable apple produced in the Eastern counties of this State, where it was originally cultivated, and derived its name from a family resident in that part of the country.

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

Campfield.

NEWARK SWEETING.

Tree vigorous, spreading, productive. This fruit is especially valuable for cider, but it may be used also in the kitchen; being a long keeper and often beautifully

Fig. 52.—CAMPFIELD.

colored at maturity in the spring, it is often exposed on the fruit-stands, where it attracts purchasers by the great beauty of its brilliant colors.

Fruit always fair, but its figure is variable, being sometimes globular or conical. The characteristic form is round-oblate, regular; Size medium.

Surface very smooth, of a dull green, often suffused with a faint blush on the exposed side; but at maturity, bright lemon yellow, shaded with carmine; Dots minute, gray and indented.

Basin shallow, regular; Eye rather large, closed; Segments of medium length.

Cavity regular, with medium width and depth; Stem medium, rather stout.

Core wide, regular, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh white, firm, tough; Juice very sweet and rich at maturity, making excellent cider.

Season, December until March.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Campfield. Newark Sweeting. Sweet Maiden's Blush. A capital New Jersey cider apple, ranking next to the Harrison. It forms a fine large tree, with straight, spreading limbs, and is very productive. Fine for baking and stock feeding. Fruit of medium size, roundish, rather flattened. Skin smooth, washed and striped with red, over a greenish-yellow ground. Flesh white, rather dry, firm, rich and sweet. Good. April, May.

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

CAMPFIELD.

References. 1. Coxe, 1817:149. fig. 2. Thacher, 1822:122. 3. Floy-Lindley, 1833:88. 4. Downing, 1845:144. 5. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:64. 1851. fig. 6. Downing, 1857:226. 7. Elliott, 1858:126. 8. Warder, 1867:382. fig. 9. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1871:6. 10. Barry, 1883:336. 11. Rural N. Y., 49:251. 1890.

Synonyms. Canfield (11). Newark Sweeting (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10). Sweet Maiden's Blush (6).

An old variety recommended by Coxe (1) for cider. Downing (6) calls it good for baking and stock feeding. Warder (8), who gives a very good description of the variety, ranks it poor in quality. The tree is very hardy, healthy, a biennial bearer. It is apt to overbear causing the fruit to be small. It has the merit of being a good keeper but as there is not much demand for fruit of this character it is fast becoming obsolete.

Historical. Originated in Eastern New Jersey and named after a family by the name of Campfield (1).

Tree.

Tree large, very vigorous. Form spreading. Twigs long, rather slender, light colored.

Fruit.

Fruit medium to large; uniform in size. Form roundish oblate to roundish ovate or roundish conic. Stem below medium. Cavity acute, rather narrow, deep, regular. Calyx closed or somewhat open. Basin somewhat abrupt, shallow to moderately deep, narrow, slightly wrinkled.

Skin smooth, yellow, blushed and striped with red. Dots small, white or russet.

Calyx tube long funnel-form.

Core closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broad, emarginate, somewhat tufted. Seeds numerous, short, plump, dark.

Flesh whitish, slightly tinged with yellow, firm, rather dry, tender, moderately fine, not crisp, decidedly sweet, good.

Season November to July.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Camfield is medium in size, roundish oblate in form. Skin color is green-red. Quality is good. Use is both kitchen and market. Season is winter. Reported by 2 stations in the Northern Division (also reported in another division) and 8 stations in the Central Division (also reported in another division); no stations reported in the Southern Division.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

Campfield. Newark Sweeting. American. Tree, vigorous, nearly upright, spreading. Fruit, medium, roundish flattened, greenish yellow, with dull red in sun; flesh, white, dry, sweet. Valued for stock and cider.

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