Danvers Sweet
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Danvers Sweet
Origin/History
Originated at Danvers, Massachusetts, where the original tree was still standing in 1832. About 75 years before Beach's 1905 account, Kenrick (1833) and Manning (1838) were recommending it as a profitable market apple, very productive and worthy of extensive cultivation. Danvers Sweet was included in the American Pomological Society's first list of varieties worthy of being recommended (1852). By 1905, it was nearly obsolete in New York state.
Tree
A rapid grower and very productive. Twigs dark brown with grayish scarf-skin, pubescent. The tree is no longer recommended for planting.
Fruit
Size and Form: Fruit medium to sometimes large; pretty uniform in size and shape. Form roundish inclined to conic, sometimes a little oblate.
Stem: Short to medium, pubescent, knobby.
Cavity: Rather large, acute to acuminate, rather deep, broad, sometimes partly russeted, often distinctly furrowed.
Calyx: Small to medium, usually closed; lobes pubescent, sometimes separated at the base. Calyx tube funnel-shape with rather narrow limb. Stamens median or above.
Basin: Varies from large and wide to rather small and narrow, moderately abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin: Moderately thin, tough, smooth, grass-green somewhat shaded with yellow, sometimes with faint bronze blush. Color is rather dull green and not particularly attractive. Dots conspicuous; many submerged and whitish, others areolar with russet center.
Flesh/Flavor: Greenish with a decided yellow tinge, breaking, moderately fine, very tender, rather juicy, very sweet. Quality good to very good.
Core/Seeds: Core axile, medium; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines clasping. Carpels rather flat, roundish to roundish obovate, slightly emarginate, mucronate, smooth. Seeds dark, medium or below, narrow, acute to obtuse.
Season
November to April (Beach). Winter season (Lowther).
Uses
A good marketable size fruit, historically grown as a profitable market apple. Lowther's table records use as "b."
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther (1914) — Description absent; variety present in variety-characteristic table.
Danvers' Sweet — Size: M; Form: rob; Color: gy; Quality: VG; Use: b; Season: W; N. Div.: 4*; C. Div.: 6*
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)DANVERS SWEET.
REFERENCES. 1. Kenrick, 1833:43. 2. Mag. Hort., 1:154. 1835. 3. Manning, 1838:60. 4. Downing, 1845:108. 5. Thomas, 1849:161. 6. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:86. 1851. 7. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1852. 8. Elliott, 1858:74. 9. Mag. Hort., 26:101. 1860. 10. Warder, 1867:550. 11. Barry, 1883:344. 12. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:290. 13. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:237. 14. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1893:132. 15. Budd-Hansen, 1903:69.
SYNONYMS. DANVERS SWEET (12). Danvers Winter (14). DANVERS WINTER SWEET (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13). Eppes' Sweet (1, 2). Epse's Sweet (4, 8).
Tree a good grower and very productive. Fruit is of good marketable size and very good in quality, but rather dull green and not particularly attractive in color. It is no longer recommended for planting.
Historical. About 75 years ago this was being recommended by Kenrick (1) and Manning (3) as a profitable market apple, very productive and worthy of extensive cultivation. Danvers Sweet was included in the American Pomological Society's first list of varieties worthy of being recommended (6). In New York state it is now nearly obsolete. It originated at Danvers, Mass., where the original tree was still standing in 1832 (1).
TREE.
Tree a rapid grower. Twigs dark brown with grayish scarf-skin, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium to sometimes large; pretty uniform in size and shape. Form roundish inclined to conic, sometimes a little oblate. Stem short to medium, pubescent, knobby. Cavity rather large, acute to acuminate, rather deep, broad, sometimes partly russeted, often distinctly furrowed. Calyx small to medium, usually closed; lobes pubescent, sometimes separated at the base. Basin varies from large and wide to rather small and narrow, moderately abrupt, furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin moderately thin, tough, smooth, grass-green somewhat shaded with yellow, sometimes with faint bronze blush. Dots conspicuous, many submerged and whitish, others areolar with russet center.
Calyx tube funnel-shape with rather narrow limb. Stamens median or above.
Core axile, medium; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines clasping. Carpels rather flat, roundish to roundish obovate, slightly emarginate, mucronate, smooth. Seeds dark, medium or below, narrow, acute to obtuse.
Flesh greenish with decided yellow tinge, breaking, moderately fine, very tender, rather juicy, very sweet, good to very good.
Season November to April.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Danvers' Sweet — Size: M; Form: rob; Color: gy; Quality: VG; Use: b; Season: W; N. Div.: 4*; C. Div.: 6*