Krauser
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Krauser
Origin/History
Originated in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Warder found it very popular there as a productive winter apple for all purposes; Elliott likewise notes it was exceedingly popular in that locality.
Tree
Large, vigorous, healthy, spreading, and very productive (Warder; Budd & Hansen). Downing and Elliott describe it as a handsome grower and an abundant bearer, with Downing adding that bearing is regular. Young wood dark reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size
Medium (Downing, Elliott, Budd & Hansen); medium to large (Warder).
Form
Round, slightly conic, regular (Warder); roundish conic (Downing, Elliott, Budd & Hansen).
Stem
Rather short (Downing, Elliott); short to medium (Warder); rather short (Budd & Hansen).
Cavity
Medium.
Calyx
Closed; eye medium (Warder).
Basin
Small, folded (Warder); small and corrugated (Downing, Elliott, Budd & Hansen).
Skin
Surface rather smooth, pale yellow, nearly covered with red, and splashed carmine (Warder). Downing: whitish yellow, striped and splashed with bright red. Elliott: whitish yellow, striped and splashed with carmine. Budd & Hansen: whitish yellow, much striped and splashed with bright red and dark crimson.
Flesh/Flavor
Flesh whitish to white, tender, juicy (Warder; juiciness noted by Warder); flavor mild sub-acid, rich, agreeable (Warder); mild subacid (Downing, Elliott, Budd & Hansen). Rated good to very good (Downing, Budd & Hansen).
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
December to March.
Uses
A good market fruit (Warder); a productive winter apple for all purposes (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867) — listed as Krowser
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Krowser
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Krowser.
Origin Berks County, Pennsylvania, where I found it very popular as a productive winter apple for all purposes.
Tree vigorous, healthy, large, spreading, and very productive.
Fruit medium to large, round, slightly conic, regular; Surface rather smooth, pale yellow, nearly covered with red, and splashed carmine.
Basin small, folded; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity medium; Stem short to medium.
Flesh whitish, tender, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, rich, agreeable; Use, a good market fruit; Season, December to March.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Krauser.
Krowser. Krouser.
Origin, Berks Co., Pa. Tree vigorous, a handsome grower and an abundant and regular bearer. Young wood dark reddish brown.
Fruit medium, roundish conic. Color whitish yellow, striped and splashed with bright red. Stalk rather short, inserted in a medium cavity. Calyx closed. Basin small and corrugated. Flesh white, tender, mild subacid. Good to very good. December, March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Krowser.
Origin, Berks Co., Pa., where it is exceedingly popular. Tree, a handsome grower and abundant bearer. Fruit, medium, roundish conic ; color, whitish yellow, striped and splashed with carmine ; stalk, rather short, inserted in a medium cavity ; calyx, closed ; basin, small and corrugated ; flesh, white, tender, mild sub-acid flavor. December, March.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Krauser. — Origin, Berks Co., Pennsylvania; tree large, vigorous, spreading, very productive.
Fruit medium, roundish conic; surface whitish yellow, much striped and splashed with bright red and dark crimson; cavity medium; stem rather short; basin small, corrugated; flesh white, tender, mild, subacid, good to very good. December, March.