Holmes's Sweet
AppleHolmes's Sweet
Origin/History
Originated in Niagara County, New York. Beach (1905) notes the variety was by that time practically obsolete, and explicitly distinguishes it from the Holmes of Thacher.
Tree
Vigorous and productive. Young shoots dark reddish brown.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium sized, roundish conical.
Stem: Medium length.
Cavity: Deep.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Shallow.
Skin: Waxy yellow with a red cheek in the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow, tender, rather juicy, spicy, sweet subacid. Beach summarizes the flavor as sweet mingled with subacid. Quality rated Very Good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach's reference traces the variety to Downing's 1872 edition (p. 220). The note that this is "not the Holmes of Thacher" indicates at least one other apple circulated under a similar name, and care should be taken not to conflate them.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Holmes's Sweet. Origin, Niagara Co., N. Y. Tree vigorous, productive. Young shoots dark reddish brown. Fruit medium, roundish conical, waxy yellow, red cheek in the sun. Stalk medium. Cavity deep. Calyx open. Basin shallow. Flesh yellow, tender, rather juicy, spicy, sweet subacid. Very good. November and February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)HOLMES SWEET.
Reference. 1. Downing, 1872:220.
Described by Downing as a medium sized yellow apple with red cheek. Flesh tender, sweet, mingled with subacid. Season November to February. Origin, Niagara county, N. Y. (1). Now practically obsolete. Not the Holmes of Thacher.