Greyhouse
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Greyhouse
Origin / History
Origin supposed New Jersey (Downing); Beach gives probably either New Jersey or Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania view being Warder's. Listed by Coxe, 1817, as House. It has been grown under various names in different parts of the country, and there has been much uncertainty with regard to its synonymy. Beach, citing Ragan (1905), considers May Seek-No-Farther and Hoops identical with Greyhouse. Downing says it has long been grown and highly valued for cider-making. Under May Seek-no-Farther, Downing gives origin unknown, "considerably grown in some parts of the West." Still offered by some nurserymen (Bailey, 1892), but not now generally cultivated (Beach and Clark, 1904).
Tree
Strong, erect grower and productive (Downing); vigorous, spreading, not a reliable bearer (Beach). Under May Seek-no-Farther Downing gives tree spreading, hardy, productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Oblate, nearly globular; oblique (Downing, under May Seek-no-Farther).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Thick. Dull colored, green and red; dull red with faint stripes (Elliott, Downing). Under May Seek-no-Farther Downing gives dull greenish, mostly overspread and shaded with obscure stripes and marblings of dull dingy red. Elliott, under May Seek No-Further, gives outwardly like Pryor's Red.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Firm and dry; coarse; subacid. Not suitable for dessert. Quality "poor" (Downing); under May Seek-no-Farther Downing gives "Good."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Winter; February to May (Downing under May Seek-no-Farther, and Beach). A long keeper.
Uses
Highly valued for cider-making (Downing); "said to be fine for cider" (Elliott). Not suitable for dessert; valued only as a long keeper (Beach). Elliott, under May Seek No-Further, says "only valued as a keeper"; Downing, under May Seek-no-Farther, says "valued only because of its productiveness and long keeping."
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
May Seek-no-further and Hoops are now considered as synonyms of Greyhouse.
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Greyhouse. Medium, oblate, nearly globular, dull red, with faint stripes ; flesh, firm and dry ; said to be fine for cider. Winter.
[Additional entry in this volume: "May Seek No-Further", pp. 194–194]
May Seek No-Further. Pilliken, | May Apple, | Lop-sided Pearmain. Outwardly like Pryor's Red; flesh, dry, coarse; only valued as a keeper; skin, thick.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Greyhouse. Hoopes. Hopaoy. Origin, supposed New Jersey. Has been long grown and highly valued for cider-making. Tree strong, erect grower, and productive. Fruit medium, oblate, nearly globular, dull red, with faint stripes. Flesh firm and dry, poor in quality. A long keeper.
[Additional entry in this volume: "May Seek No-Further", pp. 295–295]
May Seek-no-Farther.
Lop-sided Pearmain. Pilliken. May, erroneously.
Origin unknown. Considerably grown in some parts of the West, and valued only because of its productiveness and long keeping.
Tree spreading, hardy, productive.
Fruit medium, oblate, oblique, dull greenish, mostly overspread and shaded with obscure stripes and marblings of dull dingy red. Flesh firm, dry, subacid. Good. February to May.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)GREYHOUSE.
References. 1. Coxe, 1817:154. fig. 2. Elliott, 1854:174. 3. Downing, 1857:214. 4. Warder, 1867:720, 722. 5. Downing, 1872:204, 270. 6. Downing, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1875:68. 7. Downing, 1876:57 app. 8. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:294. 9. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:241. 10. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:323, 326. 1896. 11. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:131. 1904. 12. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:131. 1905.
Synonyms. Big Romanite (incorrectly 6, 7, 11, of some 12). Black Jack (6, 7, 12). Black Pennock (6, 7, 12). Black Vandervere (7, 12). Black Vandcverc (6). Filliken (6). German Spitzenberg (6, 7, 12). Grayhouse (12). Gray Romanite (6, 12). Hard Red (7, 12). Hoop (12). Hoopes (4, 9). Hoopes (5, 6, 7, 12). Hoopes' Pearmain (6, 7, 12). Hoops (10). Hoops (12). Hopsey (5, 6, 7, 12). Hopson (6, 7, 12). House (1). Keystone (6, 7, 12). Lopside (6, 7, 12). Lop-sided Pearmain (5, 12). Lopside Pearmain (6). May, erroneously (5, 6, 12). May Apple (2). May Seek-No-Farther (7, 11). May Seek-No-Further (2, 6). May Seek-No-Further (12). May Seek-No-Further (8). Pilliken (5, 12). Red Everlasting (6, 7, 12). Romanite (8, incorrectly 6 and 12).
Fruit medium in size, dull colored, green and red; skin thick; flesh dry, coarse, subacid; not suitable for dessert and valued only as a long keeper (1, 2, 5, 8). Season February to May (5, 11). Tree vigorous, spreading; not a reliable bearer.
Historical. Greyhouse probably originated either in New Jersey (5) or Pennsylvania (4). It has been grown under various names in different parts of the country and there has been much uncertainty with regard to its synonymy. May Seek-No-Farther and Hoops are now considered identical with Grayhouse (12). It is still offered by some nurserymen (9), but it is not now generally cultivated (11).