NO. 44. ESOPUS SPITZEMBERG.

This apple possesses great beauty, and exquisite flavour—it is said to have originated in the vicinity of Albany—it is supposed to deteriorate when transplanted to the south of the Highlands on the Hudson River. In size, it is a large apple; in form oblong—a fair and smooth skin, the colour a lively and brilliant red approaching to a scarlet, with numerous small yellow spots—the flesh is yellow, and singularly rich, juicy and sprightly; the stem is of moderate length, planted in a deep hollow, the end projecting a little beyond the level of the fruit: its maturity is about Christmas: the tree has a peculiar growth, with long and hanging shoots. This appears to be the same with the Flushing Spitzemberg of Long-Island; the difference between them is of the slightest shade, and may be probably produced by soil or aspect, or by cultivation in a mountainous or flat country.

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

Esopus Spitzenberg.

American : origin, on the Hudson River. Tree, healthy, slender shoots ; when in bearing, drooping and spreading, making an open head ; requires a strong soil and age to produce much or good fruit, and much of lime and potash, when it is a good bearer.

Size, above medium, large when carefully grown ; form, flattened at base, oblong, tapering roundly toward the eye, considerably ribbed and irregular in its surface, and almost always slightly angular ; color, rich, lively red on yellow ground, dotted and marbled with yellow russet; stem, varying, sometimes short and stout, at others long and slender ; cavity, deep regular, open ; calyx, small, closed : basin, almost abrupt, furrowed; flesh yellow, crisp, a little tough, exceedingly high flavored and delicious ; core, regular, ovate, rounded in form ; seeds, large. January to March.

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

Esopus Spitzenberg.

Origin New York, on the Hudson. This fruit has changed its character in progressing westward and southward, becoming larger and more irregular, less brilliantly colored, less highly flavored, and less productive.

Fig. 173.—ESOPUS SPITZENBERG.

Tree vigorous, upright, thrifty, but in some regions subject to blight and unprofitable; Shoots slender.

Fruit medium to large, conical, ribbed, irregular; Surface smooth, yellow, covered with bright red, marbled and mixed, striped more or less distinctly; Dots numerous, large, irregular, gray, always elongated near the base.

Basin deep, ribbed or folded, often leather-cracked; Eye small, closed.

Cavity deep, acute, regular, or wavy; Stem long.

Core large, closed; Seeds long, pointed; Flesh rich, yellow, breaking, juicy at the North, more fibrous than crisp at the South; Flavor quite acid till ripe, when it is rich, saccharine, highly aromatic, giving the idea of the Spitzenberg flavor; Quality best; Use, dessert and kitchen; Season, December to February.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Esopus Spitzenburgh.

Esopus Spitzenberg. Æsopus Spitzenburg. True Spitzenburgh.

The Esopus Spitzenburgh is a handsome, truly delicious Apple, and is generally considered by all good judges equal to the Newtown Pippin, and unsurpassed as a dessert fruit by any other variety. It originated at Esopus, a famous apple district, originally settled by the Low Dutch, on the Hudson. But throughout the whole of New York it is considered the first of apples. The tree has rather slender shoots, and when in bearing has long and hanging limbs.

Esopus Spitzenburgh.

Fruit large, oblong, tapering roundly to the eye. Skin smooth, nearly covered with rich, lively red, dotted with distinct yellowish russet dots. On the shaded side is a yellowish ground with streaks and broken stripes of red. Stalk rather long— three-fourths of an inch — and slender, projecting beyond the base, and inserted in a wide cavity. Calyx small, and closed, set in a shallow basin, which is slightly furrowed. Flesh yellow, rather firm, crisp, juicy, with a delicious rich, brisk flavor. Best. Seeds in a hollow core. December to February.

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

Spitzenburgh, Esopus.* Rather large, round-ovate, slightly conical; surface a high rich red, rather obscurely striped; stalk three-fourths of an inch long, rather slender; basin shallow, slightly furrowed; flesh yellow, firm, crisp, spicy, rather acid, nearly unequalled in its high rich flavor. Keeps through winter. Shoots ascending and erect, rather slender leaves crenate. Usually a moderate bearer. Fig. 442. Succeeds best in New York, its native State.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

ESOPUS SPITZENBURG.

REFERENCES. 1. Coxe, 1817:127. 2. Thacher, 1822:137. 3. N. Y. Bd. of Agr. Mem., 1826:477. 4. Wilson, 1828:136. 5. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831:368. 6. Kenrick, 1832:40. 7. Floy-Lindley, 1833:45. 8. Downing, 1845:138. 9. Thomas, 1849:171, 172. fig. 10. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 16:62. 1850. fig. 11. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3: col. pl. No. 23. 1851. 12. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1852. 13. Elliott, 1858:76. fig. 14. Bivort, An. Pom. de Belge, 1859:75. 15. Flotow, Ill. Handb. der Obstk., 1:525. 1859. 16. Warder, 1867:539, fig. 17. Mas, Le Verger, 4:141. col. pl. 18. Leroy, 3:54. 1873. 19. Barry, 1883:345. 20. Hogg, 1884:73. 21. Wickson, 1889:247. 22. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:290. 23. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:238. 24. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 3:14. 1896. fig. 25. Eneroth-Smirnoff, 1901:452. 26. Budd-Hansen, 1903:76. fig. 27. Massey, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:20. 1903. 28. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:40. 1903. 29. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:118. 1904.

SYNONYMS. ESOPUS SPITZEMBERG (7). Æsopus Spitzemberg (8, 18). ÆSOPUS SPITZENBERG (6). Æsopus Spitzenberg (20). Æsopus Spitzenburg (8). ÆSOPUS SPITZENBURGH (18). Æsopus Spitsenburgh (10). ESOPUS SPITZEMBERG (1). ESOPUS SPITZENBERG (3, 10, 16, 21). ESOPUS SPITZENBURG (13, 22, 23). Esopus Spitzenburg (28). ESOPUS SPITZENBURGH (11, 19, 20). Esopus Spitzenburgh (24). SPITSZENBURGH (2). SPITZENBERG (4). Spitzenburg (29). SPITZENBURGH (24). SPITZENBURGH, ESOPUS (8, 9). True Spitsenburgh (8, 18, 20).

The Esopus Spitsenburg, commonly known as the Spitzenburg, is the standard of excellence for apples of the Baldwin class, to which it naturally belongs. When well grown it is handsomely colored and unexcelled in flavor and quality. It is a choice dessert fruit and also one of the best apples known either for canning or for general culinary uses. It is well adapted for handling in cold storage, ships well, has long had a well-established reputation in market, always sells well, is well suited for marketing in boxes or fancy packages and often brings fancy prices. It is in season between Rhode Island Greening and Baldwin. It is quite variable in keeping quality in different seasons and in different localities (29). The fruit is quite susceptible to the attacks of the scab fungus, as also are the blossoms and the foliage. It is often injured by the apple-canker, and therefore it is advisable to graft or bud it upon a healthier variety. Special attention needs to be given to protecting both the tree and the fruit from the diseases just mentioned.1 As one means for accomplishing this result and also for the purpose of increasing the yield of high-grade fruit, it is wise to prune regularly but moderately, and to give the trees enough room in the orchard so that they do not crowd each other, thus permitting free movement of air and access of ample light around and among all of the branches. Especial care should be taken to favor a free and vigorous growth of the tree by keeping the soil highly fertile, well supplied with humus, well drained and yet well supplied with moisture throughout the growing season. Under favorable conditions Esopus Spitsenburg bears pretty regularly, but it is commonly rated as being, on the average, a rather moderate cropper. For this reason and because of its susceptibility to the diseases above mentioned it is not largely planted in commercial orchards, being found less profitable than Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening and certain other standard commercial sorts. The fruit develops good color and quality in most of the apple-growing regions of the State but it does particularly well in favorable localities in Schoharie and Greene counties and along Lake Champlain.

1 Descriptions of these diseases and approved methods of dealing with them are set forth in bulletins of this Station 168:1899, 170:1900, 186:1900, 848:1903, and in the Station's corresponding annual reports.

Historical. Originated at Esopus, Ulster county. We find no authentic account of the date of its origin but it is scattered throughout the State in the oldest orchards and was well known in cultivation in this and adjoining states more than a century ago. It is known in cultivation in Europe, and is one of the recognized commercial varieties in certain apple-growing districts of the Rocky Mountain region, Washington and Oregon.

TREE. Tree in the nursery makes a rather slow root development, and in the orchard is a moderately slow grower; the lateral branches are rather slender and eventually somewhat drooping. Form rather open and spreading, moderately upright. Twigs rather long and slender. Bark dark, rather clear, reddish-brown, and dark green, finely mottled with thin gray scarf-skin; but slightly pubescent if at all. Lenticels medium size or below, numerous, irregular, elongated, conspicuous. Buds medium size, appressed, obtuse, pubescent. Leaves inclined to be narrow; foliage not dense.

FRUIT. Fruit below medium to large; pretty uniform in size and shape. Form rather broad and flat at the base, varying from oblong rounding towards the cavity to roundish ovate or to roundish inclined to conic; somewhat irregular and obscurely ribbed. Stem medium. Cavity acute or somewhat acuminate, deep, wide, red or yellow or with outspreading rays of thin yellowish-russet. Calyx medium to small, closed or somewhat open. Basin not large, often oblique at brim, abrupt, moderately narrow, shallow to medium in depth, sometimes compressed, usually furrowed and wrinkled. Skin tough, sometimes waxy, slightly roughened by the russet dots, deep rich yellow often almost completely covered with bright red inconspicuously striped with darker red, in the sun deepening to a very dark, almost purplish blush, marked with pale yellow and russet dots which are small and numerous toward the basin, but are apt to be larger and much elongated toward the cavity. Calyx tube not very large, often elongated, cone-shape. Stamens below medium to above. Core medium to rather large, abaxile; cells often unsymmetrical and open but sometimes closed; core lines slightly clasping. Carpels large, roundish ovate, mucronate, tufted. Seeds large, long, wide, acute, dark shaded with light brown. Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine, crisp, rather tender, juicy, aromatic, sprightly subacid, very good to best. Season November to February or later. In cold storage may be held till June.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Esopus Spitzenburg—Origin Esopus, on the Hudson River, New York. Fruit considered equal to the Newtown Pippin in quality and unsurpassed as a dessert fruit by any other variety.

Fruit large, regular, oblong, slightly tapering, truncated; surface smooth, almost wholly covered with clear bright nearly solid red, on shaded side yellow, tinged and streaked with red; dots distinct, numerous, small, gray; cavity wavy, deep, wide, light brown; stem medium, slender; basin shallow, smooth or slightly furrowed; calyx small, closed; segments divergent. Core open; cells ovate, slit; tube conical; stamens median; seeds large, light colored, flat; flesh yellow, crisp, firm, juicy, rich, delicious, brisk, spicy subacid, best. November to February.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

Esopus Spitzenburg

The Esopus Spitzenburg, commonly known as Spitzenburg, is the standard of excellence for all apples of the Baldwin class. In fact, it is one of the best, if not the best apple, produced in America, when all of its qualities and uses are considered.

It is well colored when normally developed, unexcelled in flavor, excellent for dessert, and one of the very best for culinary purposes. It keeps well in cold storage, ships well, has for many years been one of the very best market varieties, and is often packed in fancy boxes and sold for high prices. On the other hand, the fruit is susceptible more than the average, to attacks of scab fungus, as are the blossoms and the foliage. It is not a heavy bearer, and the tree is tender; but it brings such good prices that the net profits are better than those from most other varieties.

The Spitzenburg originated at Esopus, Ulster county, New York, date not known, but it is more than one hundred years old.

The tree is rather a slow grower, and comes into bearing later than most other varieties. The lateral branches are slender and somewhat drooping. Form open and spreading, twigs long and slender. Bark dark, rather clear reddish brown and dark green, finely mottled with thin gray scarf skin; leaves inclined to be narrow; foliage not dense.

Fruit medium to large; form rather broad and flat at the base, varying from oblong rounding toward the cavity to roundish ovate, or roundish inclined to conic; somewhat irregular and obscurely ribbed. Skin tough, sometimes waxy, slightly roughened by the russet dots. Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, aromatic, subacid. Season from November to February; but in cold storage may be held until June.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

ESOPUS SPITZENBURG. Fig. 18. Esopus. Esopus Spitzenburg is one of the leading American apples. The fruits are unexcelled in quality, and are most pleasing in appearance. The flavor is subacid, rich, spicy, and aromatic. The color is a commingling of light and dark red laid on a rich yellow background with a dark red blush on the cheek to the sun, the whole surface being sprinkled with yellow and russet dots contrasting well with the red. The apples range from medium to large in size; are beautifully formed in an oblong-conic mould; and are sufficiently uniform in size and shape to make this an ideal apple for fancy packages. The apples are about the best to eat out of hand, and very good for all culinary purposes as well; they withstand well all the usages of marketing and keep in cold storage until June. They are found in nearly every large market on the continent in season, often under the sobriquet "Spitz." Esopus Spitzenburg, however, falls considerably below the mark of perfection through lack of vigor and health in the tree, and because of decided local prejudices to soil and climate which make it suitable only to favored localities. Unfortunately, also, blossom, foliage, and fruit are inviting prey to apple-scab. The variety originated in Esopus, New York, some years previous to 1800, and has long been grown from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Tree open and spreading, upright, the lateral branches slender and drooping. Leaves narrow. Fruit medium to large, uniform in size and shape, broad and flat at the base, varying from oblong to conic, obscurely ribbed; stem medium; cavity acuminate, deep, wide, red or yellow or with outspreading rays of thin yellowish-russet; calyx small, closed or open; basin often oblique, abrupt, narrow, shallow, sometimes compressed, furrowed and wrinkled; skin tough, waxy, roughened by the russet dots, deep rich yellow covered with bright red, inconspicuously striped with darker red, marked with pale yellow and russet dots numerous toward the basin, larger and much elongated toward the cavity; calyx-tube elongated, cone-shape; stamens median; core large, abaxile; cells often unsymmetrical and open but sometimes closed; core-lines clasping; carpels large, round-ovate, mucronate, tufted; seeds large, long, wide, acute, dark shaded with light brown; flesh yellow, firm, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, aromatic, sprightly subacid; very good to best; November to February.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

Planted Spring 1890. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit of medium size, oblong, tapering to the eye. Skin yellow, nearly covered with bright red and sprinkled with yellowish dots. Flesh yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, with a rich flavour, quality very good. Season December and January.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)