Democrat
Apple
Origin/History
An apple considerably grown in Tompkins County, New York, the origin of which cannot be correctly traced (Downing). Formerly grown to some extent in Western New York, but practically obsolete by 1905 (Beach). Thomas also associates it with Western New York.
Downing separately describes an apple under the same name obtained from George Powers of Perrysburgh, Ohio, with origin unknown, citing Warder. Beach notes that he was not able to determine whether Warder's Democrat from Ohio is identical with the Democrat described by Downing and Thomas. The two descriptions are combined here but may represent distinct varieties.
Tree
An upright, good grower, annually productive (Downing). Great bearers, fruit keeping well and always meeting a ready sale in market (Downing). Young shoots reddish brown (Downing). Thomas describes it as productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Warder, Thomas) or medium or above (Downing).
Form: Roundish conical (Warder, Thomas, Downing), obscurely ribbed (Downing), regular (Warder).
Stem: Medium, slender (Downing). Warder describes the stem as medium to short, slender.
Cavity: Large, deep, acute (Downing). Warder describes it as rather deep, very acute.
Calyx: Small, closed (Downing). Segments small and short to a point (Downing). Warder describes the eye as small, closed.
Basin: Medium, rather deep, corrugated (Downing). Warder describes it as shallow, regular.
Skin: Pale whitish yellow, shaded, partially striped, and splashed nearly over the whole surface with light and dark crimson, and pretty thickly sprinkled with small light dots (Downing). Thomas describes it as striped with crimson. Warder describes it as yellow, blushed scarlet, with minute, indented dots. Beach summarizes it as yellow, blushed and striped with red, handsome.
Flesh/Flavor: White, sometimes a little stained next the skin, very tender, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid; very good (Downing). Thomas describes it as mild, pleasant, sub-acid; very good. Warder describes the flesh as yellow, breaking, juicy, sub-acid, aromatic, rich; good to very good, a dessert apple. Beach describes it as very good quality.
Core/Seeds: Core large (Downing). Warder describes the core as heart-shaped, rather open, meeting the eye, with large seeds.
Season
December to March (Downing). October to December (Warder). Beach describes it as an early winter apple. The discrepancy may reflect the possibility that Warder's Ohio Democrat and the New York Democrat are distinct varieties, or may reflect regional climate differences.
Uses
Dessert (Warder). Fruit keeping well and always meeting a ready sale in market (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach's references: Warder, 1867:505; Downing, 1872:143, 144 (with figure); Thomas, 1885:508.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Democrat.
Origin unknown. Specimens obtained from George Powers, of Perrysburgh, Ohio.
Fruit medium, handsome, roundish-conic, regular; Surface yellow, blushed scarlet; Dots minute, indented.
Basin shallow, regular; Eye small, closed.
Cavity rather deep, very acute; Stem medium to short, slender.
Core heart-shaped, rather open, meeting the eye; Seeds large; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic, rich; Quality good to very good; Use dessert; Season October to December.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Democrat.
Varick.
An Apple considerably grown in Tompkins Co., N. Y., the origin of which cannot be correctly traced. The trees are great bearers, fruit keeping well, and always meeting a ready sale in market. Tree an upright, good grower, annually productive. Young shoots reddish brown.
Fruit — size medium, or above ; form roundish conical, obscurely ribbed. Color pale whitish yellow, shaded, partially striped, and splashed nearly over the whole surface with light and dark crimson, and pretty thickly sprinkled with small light dots. Stalk medium, slender. Cavity large, deep, acute. Calyx small, closed. Segments small and short to a point. Basin medium, rather deep, corrugated. Flesh white, sometimes a little stained next the skin, very tender, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid. Very good. Core large. December to March.
Democrat.
Warder describes an Apple under this name obtained of George Powers, Perrysburgh, O., as follows :
Fruit medium, roundish conic, yellow, blushed scarlet. Dots minute. Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy, subacid, aromatic. Good to very good. October, December.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)DEMOCRAT.
REFERENCES. 1. Warder, 1867:505. 2. Downing, 1872:143, 144. fig. 3. Thomas, 1885:508.
SYNONYM. Varick (2).
An early winter apple of medium size, yellow, blushed and striped with red, handsome and of very good quality, formerly grown to some extent in Western New York (2, 3), but now practically obsolete. We have not been able to determine whether the variety given by Warder under this name (1) is identical with the Democrat described by Downing and Thomas.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Democrat. Medium, roundish-conical, striped with crimson; mild, pleasant, sub-acid. Very good, productive. Western New York.