English Russet
Apple
English Russet
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Warder (1867) notes the variety was procured from Mr. C. C. Cary, near Louisville, Kentucky. Budd & Hansen (1914) describe English Russet as a profitable market variety.
Tree
Not described by Warder. Budd & Hansen describe the tree as upright and very productive.
Fruit
Size
Sources conflict. Warder describes the fruit as large. Budd & Hansen describe it as medium or below.
Form
Sources conflict. Warder describes the fruit as globular, flattened, and somewhat one-sided. Budd & Hansen describe it as roundish, obscurely conical, and very regular.
Stem
Both sources agree the stem is medium in length. Warder adds that it is green in color.
Cavity
Sources conflict. Warder describes the cavity as acute, wavy, and russeted. Budd & Hansen describe it as narrow, medium, and regular.
Calyx
Both sources agree the calyx (eye) is small and closed.
Basin
Sources conflict on character. Both agree the basin is medium in depth and width. Warder describes it as uneven; Budd & Hansen describe it as smooth and regular.
Skin
Warder: surface uneven, green, with minute dots that are russety, and russet streaks throughout. Budd & Hansen: pale greenish yellow, more or less covered with bronze russet, sometimes wholly russeted.
Flesh and Flavor
Both sources describe the flesh as firm. Warder gives the flesh color as yellow; Budd & Hansen give it as yellowish white. Warder adds that the flesh is breaking and juicy. Budd & Hansen describe it as crisp and aromatic. Sources conflict on flavor: Warder gives acid; Budd & Hansen give mild subacid and aromatic. Quality: Warder rates it good; Budd & Hansen rate it fair to good.
Core and Seeds
Not described by Budd & Hansen. Warder describes the core as medium, heart-shaped, closed, and clasping. Seeds numerous, plump and angular, with some imperfect.
Season
Sources conflict on season timing. Warder gives December and January. Budd & Hansen give February to July, noting the fruit may be kept through the summer.
Uses
Warder designates English Russet for kitchen use. Budd & Hansen describe it as a profitable market variety.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 14 catalogs (1864–1920) from Illinois, Oregon, Washington
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell's Prairie, Marion County , Oregon — 1864
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Oregon Wholesale Nurseries , Salem , Oregon — 1893
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)English Russet.
Origin unknown. Procured from Mr. C. C. Cary, near Louisville, Kentucky.
Fruit large, globular, flattened, somewhat one-sided; Surface uneven, green; Dots minute, russety and russet streaks.
Basin medium, uneven; Eye small, closed.
Cavity acute, wavy, russeted; Stem medium, green.
Core medium, heart-shaped, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump and angular, some imperfect; Flesh yellow, firm, breaking, juicy; Flavor acid; Quality good; Use, kitchen; Season, December, January.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)English Russet.—Origin unknown; a profitable market variety; tree upright, very productive.
Fruit medium or below, roundish, obscurely conical, very regular; surface pale greenish yellow, more or less covered with bronze russet, sometimes wholly russeted; cavity narrow, medium, regular; stem medium; basin smooth, medium, regular; calyx small, closed. Flesh yellowish white, firm, crisp, mild subacid, aromatic, fair to good. February to July and may be kept through the summer.
English Russet.