Keiser
AppleKeiser
Origin/History
An old variety originating in Jefferson County, Ohio, where it was much grown and highly prized. Not widely distributed beyond that region. Warder's description was made from fruit obtained from T. S. Humrickhouse of Coshocton, Ohio.
Tree
Thrifty, upright in habit (Warder). Growth of tree compared to "Bambo" (Downing) or "Puambo" (Elliott) — sources differ on the spelling of this comparison variety.
Fruit
Size
Full medium to large (Warder); medium (Downing, Elliott).
Form
Oblate, uneven (Warder); roundish oblate, slightly oblique, angular (Downing, Elliott).
Stem
Quite short, inserted in a large (Downing, Elliott) or deep, acute (Warder) cavity.
Cavity
Acute and deep (Warder); large (Downing, Elliott).
Calyx
Small, closed (all sources agree).
Basin
Wide, deep, folded (Warder); broad, shallow, corrugated (Downing, Elliott) — sources disagree on the depth of the basin.
Skin
Surface smooth, greenish-yellow (Warder) to pale yellow (Downing, Elliott), shaded/mixed and striped with red, the stripes indistinct (Downing, Elliott). Dots scattered and minute (Warder); thickly sprinkled with large grayish dots (Downing, Elliott) — sources disagree on the size and density of the dots.
Flesh/Flavor
Yellow to yellowish; tender, fine grained, juicy (Warder); not very juicy, but mild subacid (Downing, Elliott) — sources disagree on juiciness. Quality good to best (Warder); good (Downing).
Core/Seeds
Core very small, regular, closed, clasping. Seeds numerous, short, plump (Warder).
Season
December to January (Warder); November to February (Downing, Elliott).
Uses
For table and kitchen (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Elliott notes that there is another Red Seek-no-further, grown near Lebanon, Pennsylvania, which is distinct from Keiser and a universal favorite there, with a season of December to April. This is a different variety, not a sport or strain of Keiser.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Keiser.
Origin Jefferson County, Ohio; not widely distributed. Tree thrifty, upright. The following description was made from fruit obtained of my friend T. S. Humrickhouse, of Coshocton.
Fruit full medium to large, oblate, uneven; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, mixed and striped red; Dots scattered, minute.
Basin wide, deep, folded; Eye small, closed.
Cavity acute, deep; Stem quite short.
Core very small, regular, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, short, plump; Flesh yellow, tender, fine grained, juicy; Quality good to best; for table and kitchen; Season, December to January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Keisek.
Red Seek-no-Further.
An old variety, much grown in Jefferson Co., Ohio, and highly prized ; growth of tree like Bambo.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly oblique, angular. Skin pale yellow, shaded with red, indistinctly striped and thickly sprinkled with large, grayish dots. Stalk short, inserted in a large cavity. Calyx small, closed, in a broad, shallow, corrugated basin. Flesh yellowish, not very juicy, but mild subacid. Good. November to February.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Keiser. Red Seek-no-further. An old variety much grown in Jefferson Co., Ohio, and highly prized, growth of tree like Puambo. Fruit, medium, roundish oblate, slightly oblique, angular; skin, pale yellow, shaded with red, indistinctly striped and thickly sprinkled with large grayish dots; stalk, short, inserted in a large cavity; calyx, small, closed in a broad, shallow, corrugated basin; flesh, yellowish, not very juicy, but mild sub-acid. November to February. There is another Red Seek-no-further, grown near Lebanon, Pa., distinct, and a universal favorite there. December to April.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Red Seek-no-further. See Keiser.