Early Sweet
AppleEarly Sweet
Origin/History
Originated with W. C. Hampton, Ohio. Described as American in origin. Coxe documented the variety as early as 1817.
Tree
Tree upright and productive (Downing; Elliott). Coxe describes the tree as luxuriant and handsome.
Fruit
Size and Form: Fruit medium or below in size (Downing). Coxe describes the size as middling. Form is described differently across sources: Coxe gives it as oblong; Downing as roundish; Elliott as roundish oblique.
Skin: Clear lemon yellow, with a light blush red in the sun (Elliott). Downing describes the color as whitish yellow, without mention of blush. Elliott further notes a few small russet dots, consecutive russet lines about the calyx, and suffused white spots on the blush side.
Stem: Medium to long, slender (Elliott).
Cavity: Deep, regular (Elliott).
Calyx: Half closed, with long, partially reflexed segments (Elliott).
Basin: Deep, regular (Elliott).
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, very tender (Elliott; Coxe; Downing). Described as juicy, sweet, and delicious as an eating apple (Elliott). Downing qualifies the juiciness as moderate. Coxe describes the flesh simply as sweet and tender.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripens in August (Coxe; Downing). Elliott gives the season as July–August, suggesting it may begin ripening in late July.
Uses
Praised as an eating apple (Elliott). Downing rates it Good.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 122. EARLY SWEET.
The size is middling: the form oblong; the flesh white, sweet, and tender; it ripens in August. The tree luxuriant and handsome.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Early Sweet.
Originated with W. C. Hampton, Ohio. Tree upright, productive. Fruit medium or below, roundish, whitish yellow. Flesh white, tender, moderately juicy, sweet. Good. August.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Early Sweet. American. Originated with W. C. Hampton, Ohio. Tree, productive, growth, upright. Fruit, medium, roundish oblique, clear lemon yellow, light blush red in sun, a few small russet dots, and consecutive russet lines about the calyx, suffused white spots on the blush side : stem, medium to long, slender ; cavity, deep, regular ; calyx, half closed, with long, partially reflexed segments : basin, deep, regular ; flesh, white, very tender, juicy, sweet and delicious as an eating apple. July, August.