Focht

Apple

Focht

Origin/History

A seedling originating in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Elliott's 1865 description explicitly cites Downing as the source, indicating the variety was described in an earlier edition of Downing's work prior to the 1900 edition.

Tree

Forms a low, open head. Productive.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large, oblate, slightly conic. Elliott adds that the fruit is angular.

Stem: Short (Elliott).

Cavity: Broad, deep, and russeted (Elliott).

Calyx: Almost closed (Elliott).

Basin: Broad and shallow (Elliott).

Skin: Pale yellow, sometimes with a blush.

Flesh/Flavor: White, tender, juicy, with a good subacid flavor. Elliott adds that the flesh is crisp.

Season

October to December.

Uses

Excellent for culinary purposes.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Focht.

A seedling of Lebanon Co., Pa. Tree forms a low open head, productive.

Fruit large, oblate, slightly conic, pale yellow, sometimes with a blush. Flesh white, tender, juicy, good, subacid. October, December. Excellent for culinary purposes.

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

FOCHT.

A seedling of Lebanon Co., Pa. Tree, a low open head ; productive. Fruit, large, oblate, slightly conic angular; skin, pale yellow, sometimes with a blush ; stem, short ; cavity, broad, deep, russeted ; calyx, almost closed ; cavity, broad and shallow ; flesh, white, crisp, tender, juicy, with a good sub-acid flavor. October, December. Excellent for culinary purposes. (Downing.)

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