Catface

Apple

Catface

Origin/History

From Kentucky. The Elliott description attributes the variety to A. H. Ernst (manuscript source).

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit large, conical, truncated (Downing); conical, flattened at ends (Elliott). The two sources agree on large size and conical form, with Downing specifying truncation and Elliott specifying flattening at both ends.

Stem

Long, slender.

Cavity

Deep, wide.

Calyx

Prominent.

Basin

Deep.

Skin

Greenish yellow, with streaks of red (Downing); greenish yellow, streaked with light and dark red (Elliott).

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh white, tender, brisk, subacid. Quality rated Good.

Core and Seeds

Core small. Seeds light brown.

Season

Downing gives February and March; Elliott gives April and May.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Cat Face

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

From Ernst's MS.

View original book sources (2)

Catface. From Kentucky. Fruit large, conical, truncated, greenish yellow, with streaks of red. Flesh white, tender, brisk, subacid. Good. February, March.

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

Cat Face. From Kentucky. Fruit, large, conical, flattened at ends, greenish yellow, streaked with light and dark red; stem, long, slender; cavity, deep, wide; calyx, prominent; basin, deep; core, small; seeds, light brown; flesh, white, tender, brisk, sub-acid. April and May. (A. H. Ernst, Ms.)

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

Cat Face