Housum's Red
AppleHousum's Red
Origin/History
Originated in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Sources conflict. Downing (1900) describes the fruit as medium. Elliott (1865) describes it as large.
Form: Sources partially conflict. Downing describes the form as roundish oblong. Elliott describes it as oblong, compressed at the sides.
Stem: Short and thick (Elliott).
Cavity: Narrow, not deep, slightly russeted (Elliott).
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Moderately deep, plaited (Elliott).
Skin: Sources describe the coloring differently. Downing characterizes the ground as yellow, shaded and obscurely splashed with red, with light dots. Elliott describes the skin as red in stripes, yellow at base.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white (Downing). Downing describes it as rather compact, crisp, moderately tender, juicy, pleasant subacid, and slightly aromatic. Elliott describes the texture as fine, tender, with a delightful aroma. Both sources rate the quality as Very Good; Elliott notes "very good, at least."
Core/Seeds: Core small (Downing).
Season
Sources conflict on the opening of the season. Elliott gives October to February. Downing gives December to February.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Elliott's entry carries the attribution "(W. D. B.)," indicating the description was contributed by that correspondent.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Housum's Red.
Originated in Berks Co., Pa.
Fruit medium, roundish oblong, yellow, shaded and obscurely splashed with red, light dots. Flesh white, rather compact, crisp, moderately tender, juicy, pleasant subacid, slightly aromatic. Very good. Core small. December, February.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Housum's Red. From Berks County, Pa. Large, oblong, compressed at the sides ; skin, red, in stripes, yellow at base ; stem, short, thick ; cavity, narrow, not deep, slightly russeted ; basin, moderately deep, plaited; flesh, fine texture, tender, with delightful aroma : "very good," at least. October to February. (W. D. B.)