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Cross

Apple
USDA watercolor illustration of Cross

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Cross

Origin / History

The sources describe what appear to be distinct varieties sharing the name "Cross":

  • Downing (1900) records Cross as originating with Robert Cross of Fair Play, Maryland.
  • Hansen (1902) describes two Russian apples bearing the name Cross, distinguished by USDA accession numbers:
    • Cross (No. 413 Dept.) — Russian origin. The Russian Nomenclature Commission adopted "Cross" as the official name to distinguish it from No. 15 M. Prof. Budd suggested the name "Large Anis" for this variety. Because the name Cross had long been given to the Maryland apple described by Downing, Hansen notes that the Department numbers 15 and 413 must be retained for clarity. The Cross Group (413 Department) is distinct from Cross 15 M, 8 M, Skrischapfel, and Cross Vor. A. G. Tuttle reported that No. 413 Dept. did not blight a particle in his collection; Chas. Gibbs sent him the scions and, after visiting and reviewing Tuttle's collection, sent him Cross and Grandmother as additions.
    • Cross (No. 15 M) — Russian origin, from the Russian Nomenclature Commission listing.
  • Thomas (1903) simply notes "Russian."
  • Lowther (1914) does not state an origin but records a Central Division station report (variety reported in more than one division).

Tree

  • Downing: Vigorous, making a large spreading head; an early bearer, producing large crops in alternate years and a light one in the intervening years.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Tree very spreading, medium grower; wood grayish. Does not blight (per A. G. Tuttle).
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Not described in source.
  • Thomas, Lowther: Not described in source.

Fruit

Size

  • Downing: Large to very large.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Medium to large; size rated 5.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Medium.
  • Thomas: Medium.
  • Lowther: Large.

Form

  • Downing: Roundish oblate, nearly regular.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Regular, oblate; also described as oblate conical.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Oblate, regular or nearly so.
  • Thomas: Regular, oblate.
  • Lowther: Roundish oblate.

Stem / Stalk

  • Downing: Stalk very short.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Stem short; also described as medium.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Stem medium.
  • Thomas, Lowther: Not described in source.

Cavity

  • Downing: Large, deep.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Regular with a radiating patch of russet; also described as green, broad, deep.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Deep, regular, somewhat russeted.
  • Thomas: Deep.
  • Lowther: Not described in source.

Calyx

  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Half open; also described as large, closed.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Large, open.
  • Downing, Thomas, Lowther: Not described in source.

Basin

  • Downing: Large, deep, broad, slightly plaited.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Wavy, abrupt, with fine wrinkles; also described as well defined, nearly smooth.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Shallow, abrupt, wavy.
  • Thomas: Shallow.
  • Lowther: Not described in source.

Skin / Surface

  • Downing: Whitish, or greenish white, rather thinly striped, splashed and mottled with light and dark red, and a few light and grayish dots.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Surface yellow, mostly covered with mixed dark red and crimson splashes and stripes; dots minute, white, obscure. Also described as greenish yellow, nearly covered with a light carmine, dotted with green specks, with distinct bloom.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Surface a rich yellow, more or less striped and splashed with crimson; dots white, obscure.
  • Thomas: Yellow, splashed and striped with crimson, much like Fameuse.
  • Lowther: Red striped or splashed skin.

Flesh / Flavor

  • Downing: Flesh white, half fine, tender, juicy, mild subacid.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Flesh white, pleasant subacid, good; also described as light yellow, flavor slightly subacid.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Flesh white, brisk subacid, not spicy, good.
  • Thomas: Flesh white, sub-acid, very good.
  • Lowther: Of very good quality.

Core / Seeds

  • Downing: Core small.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Core closed, meeting; tube conical; stamens median; seeds numerous, short, plump.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Core open, clasping; tube conical; stamens marginal; seeds large, dark brown.
  • Thomas, Lowther: Not described in source.

Season

  • Downing: Middle of August to middle of September.
  • Hansen (No. 413 Dept.): Late fall; also October to December.
  • Hansen (No. 15 M): Early winter.
  • Thomas: Midwinter.
  • Lowther: Ripening in summer.

Uses

  • Downing: Its large size and fine appearance render it one of the most valuable of its season for market and culinary uses.
  • Lowther: Suited for both kitchen and market use.
  • Hansen, Thomas: Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Hansen distinguishes two Russian Cross apples by Department accession number:

  • Cross (No. 413 Dept.) — also disseminated under the name Large Anis; the official "Cross Apple" of the Russian Nomenclature Commission. Distinct from Cross 15 M, 8 M, Skrischapfel, and Cross Vor.
  • Cross (No. 15 M) — a separate Russian entry from the same Commission listing.

Both are further distinguished from the Maryland-origin Cross described by Downing.

Other

  • Thomas references Fig. 412 alongside the description.
  • Lowther records the variety as reported by 1 station in the Central Division, noting the variety was reported in more than one division.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

Cross.

Originated with Robert Cross of Fair Play, Maryland; tree vigorous, making a large spreading head; an early bearer, producing large crops alternate years, and a light one the intervening ones; its large size and fine appearance renders it one of the most valuable of its season for market and culinary uses.

Fruit large to very large, roundish oblate, nearly regular; skin whitish, or greenish white, rather thinly striped, splashed and mottled with light and dark red, and a few light and grayish dots; stalk very short; cavity large, deep; basin large, deep, broad, slightly plaited; flesh white, half fine, tender, juicy, mild subacid; core small. Middle of August to middle of September.

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

Cross. (No. 413 Dept.)

Cross (No. 413 Dept.)—Origin, Russia. The Russian Nomenclature Commission called this the Cross Apple to distinguish it from (15 M.) Prof. Budd suggests the name Large Anis for Cross 413. As the name Cross has long been given to another apple in Maryland it appears that the Numbers 15 and 413 Dept. must be retained for the present.—Fruit medium to large, regular, oblate; surface yellow, mostly covered with mixed dark red and crimson splashes and stripes; dots minute, white, obscure; cavity regular with a radiating patch of russet; stem short; basin wavy, abrupt, with fine wrinkles; calyx half open. Core closed, meeting; tube conical; stamens median; seeds numerous, short, plump; flesh white, pleasant subacid, good. Late fall.

"CROSS GROUP. 413 Department. The name Cross was adopted as the official name of the No. 413 of the United States Department, which has also been disseminated under the name of Large Anis. It is distinct from Cross 15 M, 8 M, Skrischapfel and Cross Vor., the synonomy of which was not taken up.

DESCRIPTION: Cross—(No. 413 Dept.)—Size, 5; form, oblate conical; color, greenish yellow, nearly covered with a light carmine, dotted with green specks, with distinct bloom; cavity, green, broad, deep; stem, medium; basin, well defined, nearly smooth; calyx, large, closed; flesh, light yellow; flavor, slightly subacid; season, October to December; origin, Russia; tree very spreading, medium grower; wood, grayish.

A. G. Tuttle: No. 413 Dept. does not blight a particle with me. Chas. Gibbs sent me the scions. Mr. Gibbs visited me once and looked through my collection. He said I had nearly everything, but should have one or two more, so he sent me Cross and Grandmother."

Cross. (No. 15 M) (Rus. Nom. Com.)

Cross (No. 15 M)—Origin, Russia—Fruit medium, oblate, regular or nearly so; surface a rich yellow, more or less striped and splashed with crimson; dots white, obscure; cavity deep, regular, somewhat russeted; stem medium; basin shallow, abrupt, wavy; calyx large, open. Core open, clasping; tube conical; stamens marginal; seeds large, dark brown; flesh white, brisk subacid, not spicy, good. Early winter.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

Cross. Medium, regular, oblate; yellow, splashed and striped with crimson, much like Fameuse; cavity deep; basin shallow; flesh white, sub-acid, very good. Fig. 412. Midwinter. Russian.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Cross is a large, roundish oblate fruit with red striped or splashed skin, of very good quality, suited for both kitchen and market use, ripening in summer. Central Division: 1 station reporting (variety reported in more than one division).

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
Large Anis No. 15 M No. 413 Dept.