Hartford Sweet
AppleHartford Sweet
Origin/History
A native of Hartford, Connecticut. Originated on the farm of Mr. Spencer, near Hartford, and introduced by Dr. E. W. Bull (Downing).
Tree
Tree moderately vigorous (Downing); growth slow (Elliott). Hardy and productive.
Fruit
Size: Rather large to large.
Form: Roundish, slightly flattened (Downing, Thomas); roundish flattened (Elliott); roundish (oblate) (Lowther).
Stem/Stalk: Slender; nearly three-quarters of an inch long (Downing).
Cavity: Rather shallow, round (Downing, Thomas); shallow (Elliott).
Calyx: Broad, closed, with few segments (Downing); large (Elliott, Thomas).
Basin: Set in a slightly uneven basin which is but little sunk (Downing); shallow (Elliott, Thomas).
Skin: Smooth and fair, almost covered and striped with fine red over a yellowish green ground, and sprinkled with small gray dots (Downing); red striped on greenish yellow (Elliott); striped with fine red on greenish yellow ground (Thomas); striped or splashed red (Lowther).
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellowish (Downing); whitish (Elliott). Very juicy, tender, rich, saccharine (Downing); juicy, tender, rich, agreeable (Thomas); juicy, tender (Elliott). Quality "good" (Downing, Lowther); "very good" (Elliott); Thomas notes it is "hardly first-rate in quality, valuable for its productiveness and long keeping."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December to May or June (Downing); December to March (Elliott); keeps through winter and spring (Thomas); winter (Lowther). A long-keeping apple.
Uses
A valuable market apple (Downing, Lowther). Valued for productiveness and long keeping (Thomas).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther reports regional distribution: N. Div.: 3 (also reported in another division); C. Div.: 1 (also reported in another division); S. Div.: none reported.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hartford Sweet.
Spencer Sweeting. Keney's Sweet.
Origin, farm of Mr. Spencer, near Hartford, and introduced by Dr. E. W. Bull. Tree moderately vigorous, hardy, and productive.
Fruit rather large, roundish, slightly flattened. Skin smooth and fair, almost covered and striped with fine red over a yellowish green ground, and sprinkled with small gray dots. Stalk nearly three-quarters of an inch long, slender, inserted in a rather shallow, round cavity. Calyx broad, closed, with few segments, set in a slightly uneven basin which is but little sunk. Flesh yellowish, very juicy, tender, rich saccharine. Good. December to May or June. A valuable market apple.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Hartford Sweet. Size: large. Form: roundish (oblate). Color: striped or splashed (red). Quality: good. Use: market. Season: winter. N. Div.: 3 (also reported in another division). C. Div.: 1 (also reported in another division). S. Div.: none reported.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Hartford Sweeting.
Spencer Sweeting, | Champ Sweeting.
Native of Hartford, Conn. Growth, slow, hardy, productive. Fruit, large, roundish flattened, red striped on greenish yellow ; stem, slender ; cavity, shallow ; calyx, large ; basin, shallow ; flesh, whitish, juicy, tender ; "very good." December to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Hartford Sweet. (Spencer Sweeting.) Rather large, roundish, slightly flattened; striped with fine red on greenish yellow ground; stalk slender, cavity rather shallow, round; calyx large, basin shallow; juicy, tender, rich, agreeable. Keeps through winter and spring. Productive. Although hardly first-rate in quality, valuable for its productiveness and long keeping. A native of Hartford, Conn.