Hockett's Sweet
AppleHockett's Sweet
Origin/History
Originated in North Carolina. Both Downing (1900) and Thomas (1903) cite North Carolina as the origin.
Tree
A good bearer (Downing). The fruit is noted as profitable for stock feeding (Downing). The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) includes this variety in a variety-characteristic table; the coded entry is reproduced below under Other.
Fruit
Size: Downing describes the fruit as medium; Thomas describes it as large. These accounts conflict.
Form: Roundish oblate (both sources agree). Thomas adds that the surface is smooth.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: The two prose sources describe the coloring somewhat differently. Downing characterizes the fruit as yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with deep red. Thomas describes it as a dull rich yellow skin, lightly shaded and obscurely striped with light dull red — suggesting a less vivid, more subdued red overlay than Downing's account.
Flesh and Flavor: The flesh is yellowish (Thomas) or yellowish white (Downing). Thomas describes it as coarse grained, somewhat crisp, and compact, with a very sweet and rather rich flavor. Downing describes it as moderately juicy, crisp, rather rich, and sweet. Both sources agree on the sweet, rich character; Thomas adds the coarse grain and compact texture not mentioned by Downing.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives December to March. Thomas gives early winter, which is broadly consistent with Downing's range though less precise.
Uses
Profitable for stock feeding (Downing). Quality rated Good by Downing.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) includes Hockett's Sweet in a coded variety-characteristic table rather than a prose description. Description absent; variety present in variety-characteristic table.
Hockett's Sweet.............. M | rob | yr | G | k | W | ...... | 6* | ......
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hockett's Sweet. Origin, North Carolina. Tree a good bearer, and the fruit profitable for stock feeding. Fruit medium, roundish oblate, yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with deep red. Flesh yellowish white, moderately juicy, crisp, rather rich, sweet. Good. December to March.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Hockett's Sweet.............. M | rob | yr | G | k | W | ...... | 6* | ......
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Hockett's Sweet. Large, roundish oblate, smooth; lightly shaded and obscurely striped with light dull red on a dull rich, yellow skin; flesh yellowish, coarse grained, somewhat crisp, compact, with a very sweet and rather rich flavor. Early winter. North Carolina.