Connett's Sweet
Apple
Origin & History
Warder (1867) reports that he had not learned the origin of Connett's Sweet, but procured specimens from his "valued friend, Jno. C. Teas, of Raysville, Indiana."
Tree
Strong, vigorous, upright grower, early and abundant bearer. Warder adds that the tree is productive.
Fruit
Size: Large. Warder (1867) describes it as "of good size," while Downing (1900), Elliott (1865), and Thomas (1903) all call it large.
Form: Roundish, flattened (oblate). Warder describes the form as "regular, flat"; Thomas specifies "roundish-oblate."
Skin: Rich yellow ground, mostly covered with dark red. Warder (1867) diverges, describing the surface as "rather rough, dull red, with indistinct stripes" and does not mention a yellow ground color; the other three sources agree on yellow ground mostly covered with dark red.
Dots: Few, dark, sunken (Warder).
Stem: Warder describes the stem as medium to long. Elliott describes it as slender.
Cavity: Wide and regular, with brown russeting (Warder). Elliott describes it as wide and deep.
Calyx: Closed. Warder describes the eye as rather large.
Basin: Wide and regular but not deep (Warder). Elliott describes it as broad.
Flesh: Yellow, fine-grained. Warder (1867) describes the flesh as "compact," while Downing (1900) and Elliott (1865) describe it as "tender" — a notable conflict in texture.
Flavor: Very sweet. Elliott calls it "excellent" and notes it "promises great value." Warder rates the quality as very good, as do Downing and Thomas.
Core & Seeds: Core wide, closed; seeds of medium size (Warder).
Season
December to March.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Warder's description is accompanied by a figure illustration (Fig. 62). Downing attributes his description to Elliott.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Connett Sweet.
The tree grows vigorously, is upright and productive, bearing early. Its origin I have not learned, but procured the specimens from my valued friend, Jno. C. Teas, of Raysville, Indiana.
Fruit of good size, regular, flat; Surface rather rough, dull red, with indistinct stripes; Dots few, dark, sunken.
Fig. 62.—Connett Sweet.
Basin not deep, wide, regular; Eye rather large, closed. Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem medium to long. Core wide, closed; Seeds of medium size; Flesh compact, yellow, fine grained; Flavor very sweet; Quality very good; Season, December to March.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Connett's Sweet. Tree strong, upright grower, early and abundant bearer. Fruit large, roundish, flattened, yellow, mostly covered with dark red. Flesh yellow, fine-grained, tender, sweet. Very good. December to March. (Elliott.)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Connett's Sweet. Tree, strong, upright grower, early and abundant bearer. Fruit, large, roundish flattened ; rich yellow ground, mostly covered with dark red ; stem, slender ; cavity, wide, deep ; calyx, closed ; basin, broad ; flesh, yellow, fine-grained, tender, sweet, excellent ; promises great value. December to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Connett's Sweet. Large, roundish-oblate, dark red on rich yellow; sweet. Very good. December to March.