Hughes
AppleHughes
Origin/History
Originated in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Elliott attributes the variety to Thomas Hughes. Elliott cites the Agricultural Interior Department Report (Ad. Int. Rep.) as a source.
Tree
Tree upright, spreading, and vigorous (Downing). Said to be an abundant bearer (Downing, Elliott).
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, roundish.
Stem: Variable in length, slender (Elliott). Thomas concurs on slender.
Cavity: Moderately deep, open (Elliott).
Calyx: Large, open (Elliott, Thomas).
Basin: Wide, deep, sometimes plaited (Elliott). Thomas concurs on wide and deep without noting plaiting.
Skin: Greenish yellow, with a blush, and numerous gray dots (Downing, Elliott). Thomas notes the greenish yellow ground and blush but does not mention dots.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh of fine texture (Downing, Elliott) — Thomas specifies "fine grained" — tender and juicy (Downing, Elliott). Flavor very agreeable, saccharine without being sweet (Downing, Elliott), with a delicate and delicious aroma (Elliott); Thomas characterizes the flavor as excellent, agreeable, and aromatic. Elliott rates quality "very good," if not "best"; Downing rates it simply Good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
March–April (Downing, Elliott).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Hughes.
Origin, Berks Co., Pa. Tree upright, spreading, vigorous, said to be an abundant bearer.
Fruit large, roundish, greenish yellow, with a blush, and numerous gray dots. Flesh fine, tender, juicy, agreeable, saccharine without being sweet. Good. March, April.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Hughes.
Origin, Berks Co., Pa. From Thomas Hughes, said to be an abundant bearer : large, roundish. Skin, greenish yellow, with a blush, and numerous gray dots ; stem, variable in length, slender, inserted in a moderately deep, open cavity ; calyx, large, open, set in a wide, deep, sometimes plaited basin ; flesh, fine texture, tender, juicy ; flavor, very agreeable, saccharine without being sweet, with a delicate and delicious aroma ; quality, "very good," if not "best." March, April. (Ad. Int. Rep.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Hughes. Large, roundish; skin greenish yellow, with a blush; stalk slender; calyx large, open; basin wide, deep; flesh fine grained, tender, with an excellent, agreeable, aromatic flavor. Berks Co., Pa.