Kentucky Sweet
Apple
Kentucky Sweet
Origin/History
A Kentucky or southern apple, found widely throughout the western country among emigrants from the South, for whom it was a great favorite on account of its abundant fruitage and rich sweetness (Warder). Downing describes the origin as unknown; Warder, the earlier and more detailed source, places it in Kentucky and the broader southern region. Specimens under the name were received by Warder from J. S. Downer, an intelligent southern pomologist of Fairview, Kentucky, and from J. W. Dodge of Pomona, Tennessee, from which the description and drawing (Fig. 145) were taken. The variety had also been observed frequently in Southern Illinois.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, conic, regular.
Stem: Short to medium.
Cavity: Acute, not deep, brown.
Calyx: Eye medium, long, open. Segments short.
Basin: Regular, narrow, not deep, leather-cracked.
Skin: Surface smooth. Ground color yellow, rarely visible. Skin deep red; stripes obscured and scarcely visible. Dots scattered, large, yellow.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy. Flavor very sweet, rich, slightly perfumed. Quality very good to best.
Core and Seeds: Core oval, regular, not meeting the eye, somewhat open. Seeds numerous, large and imperfect, brown.
Season
November to January. Keeps well.
Uses
Baking, market, and stock.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Kentucky Sweet.
This is an apple of Kentucky or southern origin, found in many parts of the western country among the emigrants from Dixie Land, with whom it is a great favorite on account of abundant fruitage and rich sweetness. Specimens, under name, were received from the intelligent southern pomologist, J. S. Downer, of Fairview, Kentucky, also from J. W. Dodge, of Pomona, Tennessee,
Fig. 145.—KENTUCKY SWEET.
from which the description and drawing are taken. It has also been seen frequently in Southern Illinois.
Fruit medium, conic, regular; Surface smooth, deep red, stripes obscured and scarcely visible, the yellow ground color rarely seen; Dots scattered, large, yellow.
Basin regular, narrow, not deep, leather-cracked; Eye medium, long, open; Segments short.
Cavity acute, not deep, brown; Stem short to medium. Core oval, regular, not meeting the eye, somewhat open; Seeds numerous, large and imperfect, brown; Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor very sweet, rich, slightly perfumed; Quality very good to best; Use, baking, market and stock; Season November to January. Keeps well.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Kentucky Sweet.
A Southern Apple of unknown origin.
Fruit medium, conic, regular, deep red, stripes obscured and scarcely visible. Dots scattered, large, yellow. Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy, very sweet, rich, slightly perfumed. November, January. (Warder.)