Fay's Russet
AppleFay's Russet
Origin/History
Fay's Russet originates from Bennington, Vermont, raised on the farm of Mr. Fay. Elliott (1865) notes only that it is "From Vermont."
Tree
A moderate grower. Elliott describes the tree as productive; Downing characterizes it as very productive.
Not described in source for bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, or leaves.
Fruit
Size and Form: Elliott describes the fruit as small and conical. Downing gives it as rather below medium size and oblate conic — the two sources thus agree on small size but differ slightly on form, Elliott calling it simply conical and Downing specifying oblate conic.
Skin: Light yellow, mostly covered with russet. Downing describes a crimson cheek, obscurely striped; Elliott describes the fruit as faintly striped with red.
Stem: Short. Downing adds that the stalk is small, inserted in a moderate acute cavity.
Cavity: Moderate and acute (Downing).
Calyx: Partially closed (Downing). Segments long.
Basin: Shallow, somewhat furrowed.
Flesh/Flavor: White, tender, subacid. Downing adds that the flavor is sprightly and pleasantly subacid, and rates the variety Very good. Elliott describes the flesh simply as tender and sub-acid.
Core: Small (Downing).
Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Elliott gives the season as March to April. Downing gives April to June. The two sources agree the fruit is a late keeper but differ on how long into spring it remains in condition.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Fay's Russet. From Vermont. Tree, moderate grower, productive. Fruit, small, conical, light yellow russet, faintly striped with red : stem, short ; calyx, with long segments; basin, furrowed; flesh, white, tender, sub-acid. March to April.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Fay's Russet. Origin, Bennington, Vt., on the farm of Mr. Fay. Tree moderate grower and very productive. Fruit rather below medium size, oblate conic. Color light yellow, mostly covered with russet, having a crimson cheek obscurely striped. Stalk short and small, inserted in a moderate acute cavity. Calyx partially closed. Segments long, in a shallow somewhat furrowed basin. Flesh white, tender, sprightly, pleasantly subacid. Very good. April, June. Core small.