Cayuga Red Streak
Apple
Cayuga Red Streak
Origin/History
The name "Cayuga Red Streak" was adopted by both Warder (1867) and Elliott (1865) independently to avoid the persistent confusion surrounding this variety's more common popular name. Warder explains the choice: "to avoid the confusion arising from another and very indifferent fruit that is still considerably cultivated upon the same parallels with this, and known as the Twenty Ounce Pippin." Elliott likewise states the name was adopted "to prevent continued confusion with 'Twenty ounce Pippin.'" Thomas (1903) cross-references it directly to "Twenty Ounce."
The variety's geographic origin is given differently by the two principal sources: Warder calls it "this old Connecticut apple," while Elliott states it is "from Western New York." Both accounts agree it was well established by the mid-nineteenth century. Warder notes it is "a very great favorite as a market and family fruit in many parts of the country north of latitude 40°."
Tree
From Warder (1867): Thrifty, healthy, early productive, round-headed, twiggy. Shoots medium or slender, reddish brown. Leaves large.
Fruit
Size: Large to very large (Warder); large (Elliott).
Form: Regular, globular-conic (Warder); roundish conical (Elliott).
Skin: Generally smooth (Warder). Ground color yellow-green (Warder) or dull yellowish green (Elliott), nearly covered with mixed red, striped and splashed scarlet (Warder); striped and marbled with yellowish red (Elliott).
Dots: Minute, scattered (Warder). Not described by Elliott.
Stem: Short (both sources agree).
Cavity: Wide, folded, brown (Warder).
Calyx: Long (Warder); closed (Elliott).
Eye: Small, closed (Warder).
Basin: Regular, abrupt (Warder).
Core: Wide, large, irregular, open, meeting or slightly clasping the eye (Warder); large (Elliott).
Seeds: Numerous, short, plump, pale (Warder).
Flesh/Flavor: The two sources differ on texture and flavor. Warder describes the flesh as "whitish, breaking, granular, juicy" with flavor "sour, not rich." Elliott describes the flesh as "yellowish white, coarse, crisp, sub-acid."
Season
October to December (Warder); November, December (Elliott). The two sources thus agree on the November–December window, with Warder extending the season back to October.
Uses
Warder rates the quality as "good, only for its special uses, market, cooking and drying." Elliott states it is "esteemed for cooking." Warder explicitly notes its value as a market fruit given its large size and handsome appearance.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Cayuga Red Streak. TWENTY OUNCE, ETC.
I have preferred to adopt the above name for this old Connecticut apple, to avoid the confusion arising from another and very indifferent fruit that is still considerably cultivated upon the same parallels with this, and known as the Twenty Ounce Pippin.
The Cayuga is a very great favorite as a market and family fruit in many parts of the country north of latitude 40°—being large, handsome and productive.
Tree thrifty, healthy, early productive, round-headed, twiggy; Shoots medium or slender, reddish brown, leaves large.
Fruit large to very large, regular, globular-conic; Surface generally smooth, yellow-green, nearly covered with mixed red, striped and splashed scarlet; Dots minute, scattered.
Basin regular, abrupt; Eye small, closed; Calyx long.
Cavity wide, folded, brown; Stem short.
Core wide, large, irregular, open, meeting or slightly clasping the eye; Seeds numerous, short, plump, pale; Flesh whitish, breaking, granular, juicy; Flavor sour, not rich; Quality good, only for its special uses, market, cooking and drying; Season, October to December.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Cayuga Red Streak.
Twenty Ounce, Eighteen Ounce, Twenty Ounce Apple, Twenty Ounce Pippin, erroneously, Gov. Seward, Colman, Dunlap's Aurora.
From Western New York. We adopt the name "Cayuga Red Streak," to prevent continued confusion with "Twenty ounce Pippin." Fruit, large, roundish conical, dull yellowish green, striped and marbled with yellowish red; stem, short; calyx, closed: core, large; flesh, yellowish white, coarse, crisp, sub-acid. November, December. Esteemed for cooking.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Cayuga Red Streak. See Twenty Ounce.