Haskell
AppleOrigin/History
Originated in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The variety was historically known as Haskell Sweet and Sassafras Sweet in 19th-century pomological literature. References date back to Manning's Magazine of Horticulture (1840–1841) and the variety was cited by numerous subsequent pomologists throughout the 19th century. Not commonly known in New York; occasionally listed by nurserymen but now seldom planted.
Tree
Large, vigorous tree with upright spreading or roundish form, rather open in structure. Branches long, moderately stout with numerous small spurs. Twigs moderately long, curved, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark brown, heavily mottled with scarf-skin and pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small, round, not raised. Buds medium size, plump, obtuse, free, and pubescent. Thrifty grower; comes into bearing moderately young and yields full crops biennially.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large or above medium, uniform in size and shape; roundish or oblate, regular form.
Stem: Short, usually not exserted.
Cavity: Acute to acuminate, deep or moderately deep, moderately narrow to rather wide, somewhat furrowed, russeted and with some outspreading russet rays.
Calyx: Large, closed.
Basin: Wide, moderately deep, rather abrupt, smooth or somewhat wrinkled.
Skin: Greenish-yellow, more or less dotted and flecked with russet, occasionally with a bronze blush. Of good appearance for a greenish-yellow apple.
Dots: Numerous, large, dark.
Calyx Tube: Large, cone-shaped to funnel-form.
Stamens: Median.
Core: Rather small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines clasping.
Carpels: Broad at the middle narrowing toward base and apex, emarginate.
Seeds: Medium size, short, plump, obtuse.
Flesh and Flavor: Yellowish, a little coarse, moderately crisp, tender, very sweet, aromatic, very good in flavor and quality.
Season
Season from September to late fall or early winter. Crop does not ripen uniformly; the earliest ripening fruit becomes fully mature in September while at the same time others are green and hard. In ordinary storage the commercial limit appears to be early November; in cold storage the limit extends to the middle of January.
Uses
Excellent for culinary use. Desirable for the home orchard.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)HASKELL.
REFERENCES. 1. Manning, Mag. Hort., 6:172. 1840. 2. Ib., 7:45. 1841. 3. Thomas, 1849:145. fig. 4. Cole, 1849:108. fig. 5. Cultivator, 6:342. 1849. 6. Barry, 1851:284. 7. Elliott, 1854:137. 8. Gregg, 1857:43. 9. Downing, 1857:82. 10. Warder, 1867:385. 11. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:292. 12. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:240. 13. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:278. 1894. 14. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:44. 1903. 15. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:124. 1904.
SYNONYMS. HASKELL (14, 15). HASKELL SWEET (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13). Haskell Sweet (4, 14, 15). SASSAFRAS SWEET (4). Sassafras Sweet (6, 7, 8, 9).
Fruit large, of good appearance for a greenish-yellow apple, sweet, excellent for culinary use, in season from September to late fall or early winter. The crop does not ripen uniformly. The earliest ripening fruit becomes fully mature in September while at the same time others are green and hard. In ordinary storage the commercial limit appears to be early November and in cold storage the middle of January (15). The tree is a thrifty grower, comes into bearing moderately young and yields full crops biennially. Desirable for the home orchard.
Historical. Origin, Ipswich, Mass. (2, 5). It is not commonly known in New York. It is occasionally listed by nurserymen (12) but is now seldom planted.
TREE.
Tree large, vigorous; branches long, moderately stout with numerous small spurs. Form upright spreading or roundish, rather open. Twigs moderately long, curved, moderately stout; internodes long. Bark brown, heavily mottled with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, small, round, not raised. Buds medium size, plump, obtuse, free, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit large or above medium, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish or oblate, regular. Stem short, usually not exserted. Cavity acute to acuminate, deep or moderately deep, moderately narrow to rather wide, somewhat furrowed, russeted and with some outspreading russet rays. Calyx large, closed. Basin wide, moderately deep, rather abrupt, smooth or somewhat wrinkled. Skin greenish-yellow, more or less dotted and flecked with russet, occasionally with a bronze blush. Dots numerous, large, dark. Calyx tube large, cone-shape to funnel-form. Stamens median. Core rather small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broad at the middle narrowing toward base and apex, emarginate. Seeds medium size, short, plump, obtuse. Flesh yellowish, a little coarse, moderately crisp, tender, very sweet, aromatic, very good in flavor and quality. Season September to late fall or early winter.