Early Sweet

Apple

Early Sweet

Origin/History

Originated with W. C. Hampton, Ohio (Elliott, Downing). Coxe described a variety under this name as early as 1817, predating the Hampton attribution; the form descriptions differ between Coxe and the later sources (see Fruit section), which may reflect distinct strains or separate varieties sharing the name.

Tree

Upright growth habit, productive (Elliott, Downing). Coxe describes the tree as luxuriant and handsome. No further detail on bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, or leaves described in sources.

Fruit

Size: Medium, or medium to below medium (Elliott, Downing). Coxe describes size as middling, consistent with this.

Form: Sources conflict. Coxe describes the form as oblong. Elliott describes it as roundish oblique. Downing describes it as roundish.

Skin/Color: Clear lemon yellow, with a light blush red on the sun side; a few small russet dots; consecutive russet lines about the calyx; suffused white spots on the blush side (Elliott). Downing describes the color simply as whitish yellow.

Stem: Medium to long, slender (Elliott). Not described in Coxe or Downing.

Cavity: Deep, regular (Elliott). Not described in other sources.

Calyx: Half closed, with long, partially reflexed segments (Elliott). Not described in other sources.

Basin: Deep, regular (Elliott). Not described in other sources.

Flesh/Flavor: White, tender, sweet (all sources). Elliott describes the flesh as very tender, juicy, sweet and delicious as an eating apple. Downing qualifies the juiciness as moderate and rates the variety Good. Coxe describes it as white, sweet, and tender.

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

July–August (Elliott). August (Coxe, Downing).

Uses

Eating apple (Elliott).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in sources.

Other

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1900)

Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900

View original book sources (3)

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.

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

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.

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

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.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Hightop Sweet