Higby's Sweet
Apple
Higby's Sweet
Origin/History
Higby's Sweet originated in Trumbull County, Ohio (Northeastern Ohio), and was introduced by Dr. Kirtland.
Tree
The tree is a thrifty, upright grower, an early and good bearer, and a regular bearer (Downing; Elliott). Young shoots are very short-jointed, moderately stout, dark rich reddish brown, with very few light specks (Downing).
Fruit
Size
Medium, occasionally large (Elliott); medium (Downing, Thomas, Lowther); large (Warder).
Form
Sources describe the form variously: round, truncated, regular (Warder); roundish, slightly conical, sometimes oblique (Downing); roundish flattened, often with one side enlarged or oblique (Elliott); roundish, slightly oblate (Thomas); roundish (oblate) (Lowther).
Stem / Stalk
Short (Downing, Thomas); short and slender (Elliott); medium (Warder).
Cavity
Deep, acute, regular, brown (Warder); acute, rather deep, sometimes a little russeted (Downing); regular, of moderate depth, russeted regular (Elliott).
Calyx / Eye
Eye medium, closed (Warder); calyx closed, with segments short and erect (Downing); calyx small, nearly closed (Elliott).
Basin
Abrupt, wavy, deep (Warder); narrow, deep, uneven (Downing); deep, pretty regular, slightly furrowed (Elliott); deep, slightly furrowed (Thomas).
Skin / Color
Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, blushed, with dots scattered, distinct, white and dark (Warder). Light waxen yellow, shaded with fine clear rich red in the sun, thinly sprinkled with gray and light dots (Downing). Pale, clear yellow, with a faint tinge of red seen in small obscure dots, and mostly apparently underneath the skin (Elliott). Pale yellow (Thomas). Yellow-red (Lowther).
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh yellowish-white (Warder) to white (Downing, Elliott, Thomas), tender, fine-grained, juicy. Flavor very sweet (Warder); very tender, juicy, sweet, excellent — one of the most delicate of sweet apples (Downing); pleasantly sweet, juicy and well flavored (Elliott); tender, with a good, sweet flavor (Thomas). Quality good (Warder); very good to best (Downing); very good (Lowther).
Core / Seeds
Core small; regular, heart-shaped, closed, clasping the eye (Warder); small (Downing, Elliott). Seeds plump (Warder); plump, round ovate (Elliott).
Season
October (Warder); November to January (Downing); October to March (Elliott); early winter (Thomas); early autumn (Lowther).
Uses
Valuable as a table fruit (Elliott); valuable either for the table or market (Downing); baking (Warder); family use (Lowther).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther's reporting station data: Northern Division — 1 reporting station (also reported in another division); Central Division — 1 reporting station (also reported in another division); Southern Division — no reports.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Higby Sweet. LADY BLUSH.
Origin Trumbull County, Ohio; introduced by Dr. Kirtland.
Fruit large, round, truncated, regular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, blushed; Dots scattered, distinct, white and dark.
Basin abrupt, wavy, deep; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, regular, brown; Stem medium.
Fig. 183.—HIGBY SWEET.
Core small, regular, heart-shaped, closed, clasping the eye; Seeds plump; Flesh yellowish-white, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor very sweet; Quality good; Use, baking; Season, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Higby Sweet.
Lady Cheek Sweet. Ladies' Blush.
Originated in Trumbull Co., O. This is one of the most delicate of sweet Apples, valuable either for the table or market. Tree a thrifty, upright grower, an early and good bearer. Young shoots very short-jointed, moderately stout, dark rich reddish brown, with very few light specks.
Fruit medium, roundish, slightly conical, sometimes oblique. Color light waxen yellow, shaded with fine clear rich red in the sun, thinly sprinkled with gray and light dots. Stalk short. Cavity acute, rather deep, sometimes a little russeted. Calyx closed. Segments short, erect. Basin narrow, deep, uneven. Flesh white, very tender, juicy, sweet, excellent. Core small. Very good to best. November to January.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Higby Sweet. Size: medium. Form: roundish (oblate). Color: yellow-red. Quality: very good. Use: family. Season: early autumn. Northern Division: 1 reporting station (also reported in another division). Central Division: 1 reporting station (also reported in another division). Southern Division: no reports.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Higby's Sweet.
According to present information, this variety originated in Trumbull County, Ohio. It is a good and regular bearer, and extremely valuable as a table fruit. Fruit, medium, occasionally large ; form, roundish flattened, often one side enlarged or oblique ; color, pale, clear yellow, with faint tinge of red is seen small obscure dots, and mostly apparently underneath the skin ; stem, short, slender ; cavity, regular, moderate depth, russeted regular ; calyx, small, nearly closed ; basin, deep, pretty regular, slightly furrowed ; flesh, white, very tender, pleasantly sweet, juicy and well flavored ; core, small ; seeds, plump, round ovate. October to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Higby's Sweet. Size medium, roundish, slightly oblate; pale yellow; stalk short; basin deep, slightly furrowed; flesh white, tender, with a good, sweet flavor. Early winter. Northeastern Ohio.