Lecker. Laquier, | Lacker. From Lancaster, Pa. Described by Thomas as Laquier. Medium, roundish oblate: skin, striped with crimson on a pale red, with numerous large dots; stem, short and slender, sometimes stout; cavity, russeted, narrow, rather deep; basin, wide, deep, plaited: core, small; seed, dark cinnamon, short, plump; flesh, whitish, fine texture, tender, juicy, "good," at least. December to March. (W. D. B.)

[Additional entry in this volume: "Lacker", pp. 158–158]

Lecker. Laquier, | Lacker. From Lancaster, Pa. Described by Thomas as Laquier. Medium, roundish oblate : skin, striped with crimson on a pale red, with numerous large dots ; stem, short and slender, sometimes stout ; cavity, russeted, narrow, rather deep ; basin, wide, deep, plaited : core, small ; seed, dark cinnamon, short, plump ; flesh, whitish, fine texture, tender, juicy, "good," at least. December to March. (W. D. B.)

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Lacker.

This old Pennsylvania apple is cultivated to some extent in the Western States for its beauty. Specimens from Henry Myers, South Bend, Indiana, from his beautiful collections shown at the State Fairs. Fruit full medium to large, very handsome, oblate, regular; Surface smooth, highly polished, bright red on pale yellow, striped dark red; Dots numerous, pale. Basin wide, wavy; Eye small, closed; Segments short. Cavity deep, narrow, wavy; Stem short to medium. Core small, roundish or oval, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh whitish, breaking, fine-grained, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, aromatic, fine; Quality good; use table, market; Season January to March.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Lacker.

Laquier.

Origin, Lancaster Co., Pa.

Fruit medium, oblate, sides sometimes unequal, pale red, striped and splashed with crimson. Stalk short, slender, inserted in a narrow russeted cavity. Calyx closed. Basin wide, deep, corrugated. Flesh white, tender, crisp, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. November to March.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Lacker. Rather large, oblate, somewhat irregular; striped light and dark red on greenish yellow, with conspicuous whitish specks; stalk half an inch long; basin furrowed; flesh white, fine-grained, firm, crisp, fresh, mild, agreeable, sub-acid. Keeps through winter. Cultivated in Western New York; originally from Lancaster, Pa.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

LACKER.

REFERENCES. 1. Watts, Horticulturist, 1:482, 483. 1847. 2. Thomas, 1849:168. 3. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:101. 1851. fig. 4. Elliott, 1854:142. 5. Downing, 1857:163. 6. Hooper, 1857:53. 7. Warder, 1867:443.

SYNONYMS. Lacker (2, 4). LACQUIER (1). LAQUIER (2, 3, 6). Laquier (4, 5). LECKER (4).

A red-striped winter apple evidently of the Rambo class. Fifty years ago in some sections of Western New York it was held to be one of the most desirable apples for that region (1, 2), but it has made little headway as a commercial variety and is gradually passing out of cultivation. It keeps rather better than Baldwin but is less attractive in appearance having a rather dull red color as it comes from the tree. It has been valued because of its fine dessert quality particularly in the spring but as it has a rather mild flavor it is less highly esteemed for culinary use. The tree is somewhat subject to canker. It bears biennially or in some cases almost annually and yields good crops. The fruit hangs well to the tree.

Historical. Disseminated from Lancaster, Pa. (4), and formerly planted to some extent in some portions of New York and the Middle West (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7). Occasionally very old trees of the variety are found still growing in New York in old orchards, but we have no knowledge of its being planted within recent years.

TREE.

Tree medium in size, a moderately vigorous grower. Form erect. Twigs medium in length, rather stout, rather thick at tips, straight or nearly so; internodes short. Bark dull reddish-brown, uniformly overlaid with a thin scarf-skin; heavily pubescent. Lenticels scattering, conspicuous, below medium in size, round, somewhat raised. Buds medium, moderately projecting, roundish, adhering, very pubescent.

FRUIT.

Fruit medium to large. Form varies from oblate to roundish, often tending to elliptical and somewhat ribbed; sides usually a little unequal; fairly uniform in shape and size. Stem short, not exserted. Cavity somewhat furrowed, sometimes compressed, narrow to moderately wide, rather deep, acuminate, green or russet, often lipped. Calyx closed or partly open; lobes pubescent. Basin somewhat variable, usually obtuse but sometimes rather abrupt, medium in width and depth, furrowed and wrinkled. Skin thick, tough, smooth, light yellow or greenish nearly covered with red, mottled and striped with crimson and conspicuously marked with grayish areolar dots which are mingled with smaller, whitish or russet dots. Prevailing color striped red, sometimes clear and bright but more often dulled by a waxy coating of bluish bloom. Calyx tube inclined to funnel-form. Stamens median. Core medium to rather small, somewhat abaxile; cells usually pretty symmetrical, closed or partly open; core lines somewhat clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, emarginate, somewhat tufted. Seeds tufted, medium or below, obtuse to acute, plump, numerous. Flesh white or nearly so, firm, tender, crisp, juicy, mild subacid, agreeably aromatic, good to very good for dessert, less desirable for culinary uses. Season December to May.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)