Hockett's Sweet

Origin/History

Hockett's Sweet originated in North Carolina. It appears in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900), Thomas's The American Fruit Culturist (1903), and Lowther's Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914), indicating established regional recognition through the early twentieth century.

Tree

The tree is a good bearer (Downing). It is noted as profitable for stock feeding purposes (Downing).

Not otherwise described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form

Sources disagree slightly on size: Downing describes the fruit as medium; Thomas describes it as large; Lowther describes it as medium. All sources agree the form is roundish oblate. Thomas additionally notes 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 skin is yellow, heavily marked with red. Sources differ in the character of this marking: Downing describes the red as deep, with the fruit shaded, splashed, and striped with deep red; Thomas describes the red as comparatively subdued — the fruit being lightly shaded and obscurely striped with light dull red on a dull rich, yellow skin. Lowther characterizes the color simply as yellow-red. Thomas's description thus suggests a less vivid, more muted coloration than Downing implies.

Flesh and Flavor

The flesh is described by Downing as yellowish white, and by Thomas as yellowish. Thomas further characterizes it as coarse grained. Both Downing and Thomas agree the flesh is somewhat crisp (Downing: "crisp"; Thomas: "somewhat crisp") and compact (Thomas). It is moderately juicy (Downing). The flavor is very sweet and rather rich (Thomas), or moderately juicy, crisp, rather rich, sweet (Downing). Overall quality is rated Good by Downing and good quality by Lowther.

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Downing gives the season as December to March, placing it firmly in the winter storage category. Thomas similarly records early winter. Lowther confirms a winter season.

Uses

Noted as profitable for stock feeding (Downing). Lowther records kitchen use. The combination of sweetness, crispness, and a long season through March suggests general culinary and table utility in addition to stock feeding.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Lowther's Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) records that Hockett's Sweet was reported by 6 stations in the Central Division, and was also reported in at least one additional division, indicating it had achieved measurable distribution across multiple regions of the country by the early twentieth century.