Lady
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Lady
Origin / History
Lady is an old French apple, imported into America from France and known abroad as Api, usually with some modifying term. Coxe (1817) says it is called the Lady apple in New York "from the beauty of its appearance," and that in France it is sometimes called Long-bois, or Longwood. Downing says the name Lady Apple "has become too universal here to change it now."
According to Leroy, as cited by Beach, it has been in cultivation in France for at least three hundred years. Bunyard calls its origin "of great antiquity; possibly dating from Roman days," and says it was "known in this country in the seventeenth century." The earliest reference in Beach's list is Duhamel, 1768. Hedrick calls it one of the first European apples brought to America and says it is known wherever apples are grown. He attributes its popularity to "its beautiful miniature fruits which are of highest quality."
Warder calls it fully naturalized, having "received the enthusiastic admiration of the American people." Downing calls it "a universal favorite" and says "no amateur's collection should be without it." Beach says it has been sparingly disseminated from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He adds that it has long been recognized in the New York market as one of the most desirable apples for the holiday fancy trade, though in New York it is grown to a limited extent only and in restricted localities. Stark Bros. (1910) calls it "always popular" and says it belongs in all amateur collections. Bunyard dissents: "hardly worthy of cultivation except as a curiosity." Most authors dwell on its beauty; Coxe says no trees make a more handsome appearance in an orchard.
Tree
Tree of middling or medium size, or somewhat dwarfish, forming a small, close, very dense head. Hedrick calls the trees "not very satisfactory," being small and very dense. Growth remarkably straight and very upright, the branches erect and rather slender, the head almost pyramidal "like that of a Pear tree" (Elliott). Beach says the tree is moderately vigorous at first and eventually becomes a rather slow grower. Thomas calls it "rather tender."
Wood and shoots very dark, straight, erect, approaching black. Beach gives the bark as bright brown approaching black, partly overlaid with thin scarf-skin, slightly pubescent toward the tips. Twigs long and slender, or rather short on old trees; internodes short. Bunyard calls the growth very slender. Lenticels numerous, conspicuous, round or sometimes elongated, usually medium to small, sometimes large. Buds usually large, rather narrow, acute to acuminate, plump, quite pubescent, free (Beach).
Leaves small and rather narrow. Warder describes the foliage as small, crowded, curled, and very dark; Bunyard gives the leaf as small, oval, upfolded, shallow crenate.
Fruit borne in clusters or bunches on short spurs, with which the branches are full. It hangs well and late on the tree. Slow to come into bearing; Elliott says the tree must be ten or more years old before bearing much, and Coxe calls it "a late but abundant bearer." Once mature it is very productive, and most authors call it productive, fertile, or a great bearer. Beach calls it a reliable cropper in favorable locations, bearing heavy crops biennially or in rare instances nearly annually. Hedrick calls the trees unproductive. Beach notes that the upright limbs and small fruit make picking unusually expensive.
Warder calls the tree healthy. Beach says it must be protected from insects and fungi, particularly the apple scab fungus, by which it is often seriously damaged; Hedrick calls it very susceptible to scab.
Elliott says it appears to succeed in all soils. Beach says it does fairly well on any good apple soil, but a warm, gravelly or sandy loam suits it best. Such soil develops "the characteristically beautiful color and delicate high flavor of this variety, upon which its value chiefly depends." Warder says that in the rich soils of the West it is apt to be too large and has generally failed to meet the requisitions, but it succeeds well in Michigan and the neighboring region of Indiana. Lowther's table records it from 3 reporting stations in the Northern Division and 4 in the Central Division.
Fruit
Size: Small to very small; Bunyard gives 2 by 1¾. Uniform in size and shape when well grown. Warder says it is often overgrown and irregularly developed.
Form: Flat or oblate, quite flat in Warder's account, regular, and symmetrical. Beach says it varies to roundish inclined to conic and is often obscurely ribbed. Budd and Hansen call it sometimes unequal.
Stem: Short to medium, slender, deeply inserted. Budd and Hansen give medium to long.
Cavity: Wide and pretty large, regular, obtuse to acute, moderately shallow to deep, most describers calling it deep. Gently furrowed, sometimes thinly russeted (Beach). Budd and Hansen note green rays and stellate russet.
Calyx: Small, closed; Bunyard calls the eye half open. Beach gives the lobes as small and acute; Budd and Hansen call the segments divergent. Calyx tube conical, or somewhat funnel-form with a short truncate cylinder (Beach). Stamens marginal.
Basin: Rather wide, shallow to moderately deep, furrowed, with small plaits, narrowly ridged and wrinkled or slightly corrugated. Beach calls it obtuse; Warder calls it medium and rather abrupt. Thomas describes the calyx as deep set.
Skin: Moderately thick and tough (Beach). Very smooth, glossy, shining, or polished. Ground light clear yellow when ripe, described as brilliant or bright yellow, lively lemon yellow (Downing), pale waxen yellow (Warder), and pale yellow or whitish (Beach). Over this lies a brilliant red to deep red cheek or blush, dark red in Coxe's account. Budd and Hansen describe it approaching crimson on the sunny side, and Bunyard gives a rich crimson flush. Warder describes bright carmine nearly covering the fruit, contrasting finely with the ground color wherever the fruit was shaded by a leaf. Beach says the blush is often irregular and sharply outlined against the ground. The prevailing effect is beautiful bright red and yellow; Lowther's table gives the color as yellow-red. Beach warns that it does not always color properly.
Dots: Minute, numerous, obscure or inconspicuous, white or whitish, or with a russet point.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, firm and fine-grained (Beach), crisp, breaking, rather tender to tender, and juicy, very juicy in Budd and Hansen's account. Warder notes it is tender and juicy "when ripe." The taste is delicate; Coxe says "of a very delicate taste," with the juice "mild and agreeable." Flavor mild subacid, pleasant, pleasantly aromatic or slightly perfumed. Beach says it becomes nearly sweet, and Budd and Hansen call it sweet.
Quality runs from good to excellent. Beach rates it "good to very good for dessert," and Lowther's table gives "very good." Thomas gives the lower verdict, "flavor good." Budd and Hansen and Stark Bros. call it "excellent," and Hedrick speaks of fruits "of highest quality."
Core and seeds: Core small, with very little core in Coxe's account; Warder calls it regular and wide. Axile and closed, the axis very short (Warder). Cells symmetrical and closed; Budd and Hansen call them obovate and slit. Core lines clasping. Carpels smooth, roundish or inclined to elliptical, emarginate, mucronate (Beach). Seeds numerous, plump, short, wide, and obtuse, completely filling the cells; Coxe calls them small.
Season
A winter and spring apple, a keeper; the recorded season runs from November to May. Most authors give December to May. The shortest account closes in March, and one opens in November and runs to April.
Coxe says it keeps well through the winter. Downing says the fruit is very hardy and may be left on the tree till severe frosts. Beach says it keeps well enough in ordinary storage till midwinter and, properly handled, may be held in cold storage till summer. There is little demand for it after the holiday season, so there is little occasion for cold storage. Hedrick says it keeps well until April or May but is in greatest demand during the holidays.
Uses
An exquisite little fancy dessert apple, much admired, especially suited to ornament, decoration, and the table. Its beauty commands a high price, with demand at its height at Christmas and the holiday season. Downing says it brings "the highest price of any fancy apple in the market" and, being a great bearer, is a profitable sort for the orchardist. Thomas records it sometimes selling for $10 a barrel. Warder says that wherever it is produced in proper size and color it is one of the most profitable varieties, but it must be entirely perfect to find favor as a table ornament.
Beach says it is in some cases grown with profit. Poorly colored fruit, he says, is of little value for anything but cider, being too small either for general market purposes or for culinary use. Lowther's table gives its use as "both kitchen and market."
Subtypes / Variants
Downing describes four other varieties of the Lady group. The Api Noir, or Black Lady Apple, differs only in its nearly black color and is nearly the same in shape, size, season, and flavor. From its unusually dark hue it is a singular and interesting fruit, of "poor flavor."
The true Api Étoile, or Star Lady Apple, was figured and described by Poiteau in the Pomologie française. Its fruit is of the same general character as the Lady but has five prominent angles that give it the form of a star. It is rather scarce, and French nurserymen frequently send out the common Lady in its place. It keeps until quite late in the spring, when its flavor becomes excellent, though in winter it is rather dry. The growth of the tree resembles that of the other Apis.
The Api Gros, or Large Lady Apple, resembles the true Lady in growth. Its fruit is a trifle larger, more roundish, less brightly colored, and "quite inferior in quality." The Api Gros Pomme de Rose, or Rose-colored Lady Apple, has fruit of medium size, roundish, pale yellow washed with bright rosy red. Its flesh is yellowish white, fine-grained, juicy, crisp, and aromatic.
Beach says the Large Lady is the only one of these disseminated to any considerable extent in New York. It is seldom or never planted intentionally but is sometimes grown by mistake for the true Lady. It is distinguished by twig bark not so nearly black, and by fruit more nearly round, with a very shallow basin, a little larger and less highly colored. Beach calls it undesirable.
Lady often produces seedlings with a general similarity to the parent; some have entered cultivation, but by Beach's time none had superseded it. Fruits of various Lady seedlings had been received at the New York Station, none yet sufficiently tested to show whether it deserved general cultivation. Beach notes a remarkable lot originated by Le Grand M. Smith of Nyack, N. Y., briefly noticed in 1895 (Rural N. Y., 54:106), some of which may be as desirable as the Lady.
Helen, an apple of the Lady class, is much larger than Lady and fully as attractive in color. Its flesh is very white, crisp, juicy, and of mild agreeable flavor. It is grown by R. N. Lewis of Red Hook, Dutchess County, N. Y., who reports the tree productive and the fruit late-keeping and bringing good prices. Highland Beauty is another Lady seedling.
Other
The Stark Bros. entry calls it "novel" and "dainty" and closes with the notation "NCS."
Book Sources
Described in 10 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Pomme D'Apis
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) — listed as Api
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 39 catalogs (1845–1921) from Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon, Washington
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell Prairie, Marion County, OR (Marion Co., Ogn.) — 1864
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Sherwood Hall Nursery Co. , Timothy Hopkins (Menlo Park Nurseries), San Francisco / Menlo Park , California — 1893
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- S.L. Watkins , Grizzly Flats, El Dorado County , California — 1901
- Henderson Luelling / Traveling Nursery (historical recall) , Oregon — 1904
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1916
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1918
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
View original book sources (11)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 28. POMME D'APIS.
This apple is called in New-York the Lady apple from the beauty of its appearance; it is of a very small size, and flat form; the colour when ripe, a brilliant yellow, with a dark red cheek; the skin smooth, the flesh white, crisp, breaking, and of a very delicate taste, with very little core; the juice mild and agreeable, the seeds small, short and wide: the tree grows remarkably straight, with upright branches; and is of middling size. In France, from whence it was imported, it is sometimes called Long-bois, or Longwood; the fruit grows in clusters; it is a late but abundant bearer; it keeps well during the winter, and hangs late on the tree: it is a much admired dessert apple; no trees make a more handsome appearance in an orchard; the leaves are small, and the wood dark, approaching to a black.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Lady Apple. Api, Petit Api, Pomme d'Api, Pomme Rose, | Petit Api Rouge, Pomme d'Api Rouge, Gros Api Rouge.
Foreign. Trees, very upright, forming almost pyramidal heads, like that of a Pear tree, producing the fruit in clusters; require to be ten or more years old, ere bearing much; after which, very productive. Shoots, very dark color, straight, erect, leaves small; appears to succeed in all soils, and the fruit, though small, from its beauty, always commands a high price.
Fruit, small; form, flat; color, brilliant red, on light, clear yellow; very glossy; stem, short; cavity, deep; calyx, small; basin, furrowed; flesh, white, crisp, tender, juicy; core, small. December to May.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Lady.
API PETIT, ETC.
This beautiful little French apple has been fully naturalized in our country, and has received the enthusiastic admiration of the American people. The fruit needs to be entirely perfect to meet with favor as an ornament to the table, for which use it is especially adapted; unfortunately it is often overgrown and irregularly developed. Wherever produced in proper size and color, it is one of the most profitable varieties, commanding fancy prices at the period of Christmas decorations. In the rich soils of the West it is apt to be too large, and has generally failed to meet the requisitions; but it succeeds well in Michigan, and the neighboring region of Indiana.
Tree of medium size, very close and upright, healthy and productive; Shoots very dark; the foliage small, crowded, curled, and very dark.
Fruit very small, quite flat, very regular; Surface very smooth, shining or polished, of a pale waxen yellow, nearly covered with bright carmine, which contrasts finely with the ground color, wherever the fruit has been shaded by a leaf; Dots minute.
Basin medium, rather abrupt; Eye small, closed.
Cavity acute, deep, regular; Stem short.
Core regular, wide, closed; Seeds numerous; Axis very short; Flesh white, breaking, tender and juicy when ripe; with a mild sub-acid flavor; Use ornament and dessert; Season December until March.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lady Apple. Api. Api Petit. Pomme Rose. Pomme d'Api Rouge. Petit Api Rouge. Gros Api Rouge.
An exquisite little dessert fruit, the pretty size and beautiful color of which render it a universal favorite ; as it is a great bearer, it is also a profitable sort for the orchardist, bringing the highest price of any fancy apple in the market. It is an old French variety, and is nearly always known abroad by the name of Api ; but the name of Lady Apple has become too universal here to change it now. No amateur's collection should be without it.
Fruit quite small, but regularly formed and flat. Skin smooth and glossy, with a brilliant deep red cheek, contrasting with a lively lemon yellow ground. Stalk of medium length, and deeply inserted. Calyx small, sunk in a basin with small plaits. Flesh white, crisp, tender, and juicy, with a pleasant flavor. The tree has upright, almost black shoots, with small leaves ; forms a very upright, small head, and bears its fruit in bunches. The latter is very hardy, and may be left on the tree till severe frosts. The Lady Apple is in use from December to May.
The Api Noir, or Black Lady Apple, differs from the foregoing sort only in the color, which is nearly black. In shape, size, season, and flavor, it is nearly the same. It is, from its unusually dark hue, a singular and interesting fruit — poor flavor.
The true Api Etoile, or Star Lady Apple, figured and described by Poiteau, in the Pomologie francaise, is another very distinct variety ; the fruit is of the same general character, but having five prominent angles, which give it the form of a star. This variety is rather scarce, the common Lady Apple being frequently sent out for it by French nurserymen. It keeps until quite late in the spring, when its flavor becomes excellent, though in winter it is rather dry. The growth of the tree resembles that of the other Apis.
The Api Gros, or Large Lady Apple, is of a similar habit in growth of the tree to the true Lady Apple, the fruit a trifle larger, more roundish, less brightly colored, and quite inferior in quality.
The Api Gros Pomme de Rose, or Rose-colored Lady Apple, is also another variety, with fruit of medium size, roundish, pale yellow, washed with bright rosy red. Flesh yellowish white, fine-grained, juicy, crisp, aromatic.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Lady Apple.* (Pomme d'Api.) Quite small, regular, flat; a brilliant deep-red cheek on light clear yellow; stalk and calyx deep set; flesh tender, delicate, sub-acid, flavor good. A fancy dessert apple, sometimes selling for $10 a barrel. Winter and spring. Tree rather tender. France.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)LADY.
REFERENCES. 1. Duhamel, 1768:309. 2. Knoop, 1771:68. 3. Forsyth, 1803:49. 4. Coxe, 1817:117. fig. 5. Thacher, 1822:129. 6. Ronalds, 1831:63. 7. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831. 8. Kenrick, 1832:47. 9. Floy-Lindley, 1833:87. 10. Manning, 1838:59. 11. Downing, 1845:115. fig. 12. Cole, 1849:130. 13. Thomas, 1849:181, 189. fig. 14. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:89. 1851. col. pl. No. 47. 15. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1852. 16. Elliott, 1854:87. 17. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 20:29. 1854. 18. Hooper, 1857:52. 19. Lucas, 1859:557. 20. Warder, 1867:411. 21. Fitz, 1872:166. 22. Downing, 1872:244. 23. Leroy, 1873:65. fig. 24. Barry, 1883:348. 25. Hogg, 1884:8. 26. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:294. 27. Wickson, 1891:248. 28. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:243. 29. Bredsted, 2:210. 1893. 30. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 3:10. 1896. figs. 31. Budd-Hansen, 1903:111. fig. 32. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul. 248:128. 1904.
SYNONYMS. Almindelig (29). API (1, 23, 25, 29, 30). Api (11, 16, 18, 22, 31). Api eller (29). Api Fin (23). Api Ordinaire (23). Api Petit (11, 12, 20, 22, 25). Api Rose (23). Api Rouge (25). Apy Rouge (23). Cardinale (23). Christmas Apple (32). Gros Api Rouge (11, 16, 22). KLEINER API (19). LADY APPLE (5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24). Lady Apple (4, 10, 23, 25). Lille Api (29). Long Bois (23). PETIT API (6, 7). Petit Api (16, 18). Petit Apis (23). Petit Api Rose (23). Petit Api Rouge (11, 16, 22, 23, 25). POMME D'API (2, 3). Pomme d'Api (8, 9, 13, 16, 21, 25). Pomme d'Api Rouge (11, 16, 22). POMME D'APIS (4). Pomme Rose (11, 16, 18, 22). Pomone d'Apis (5).
A strikingly beautiful little apple especially suitable for decorative use and for dessert. In New York it is grown to a limited extent only and in restricted localities. It is in some cases grown with profit and often sells at very high prices. It does fairly well on any good apple soil, but a warm, gravelly or sandy loam seems to suit it best, developing to a marked degree the characteristically beautiful color and delicate high flavor of this variety, upon which its value chiefly depends. The upright habit of the limbs, together with the smallness of the apples, makes the picking of the fruit unusually expensive. The branches are full of short spurs upon which the fruit is borne in clusters. The fruit hangs well to the tree. The tree is but a moderate grower and does not come into bearing young, but in favorable locations, after it reaches maturity, it is a reliable cropper, bearing heavy crops biennially or in rare instances nearly annually. In order to grow Lady most successfully, particular pains must be taken to protect it from the attacks of insects and fungi, particularly from the apple scab fungus, by which it is often seriously damaged. When well grown, the crop is pretty uniform in size and shape and satisfactory in color and quality. It does not always color properly, and is then of little value for anything but cider, being too small either for general market purposes or for culinary use. Properly handled, it may be held in cold storage till summer, but there is little demand for it after the holiday season, and as it keeps well enough in ordinary storage till midwinter there is but little occasion for holding it in cold storage.
Historical. According to Leroy, who gives an excellent historical account of this variety, the Lady apple, or as it is there known, Api, has been in cultivation in France for at least three hundred years. It has been sparingly disseminated throughout this country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It has long been recognized in the New York market as one of the most desirable apples for fancy trade at the holiday season.
TREE. Tree at first moderately vigorous, eventually becomes a rather slow grower; size medium or somewhat dwarfish; branches erect, rather slender. Form rather dense, erect. Twigs long and slender, or on old trees rather short; internodes short. Bark bright brown approaching black, partly overlaid with thin scarf-skin, slightly pubescent towards the tips. Lenticels numerous, conspicuous, round or sometimes elongated, usually medium to small, sometimes large. Buds usually large, rather narrow, acute to acuminate, plump, quite pubescent, free. Leaves not large, rather narrow.
FRUIT. Fruit small to very small, uniform in size and shape. Form usually oblate but varies to roundish inclined to conic, often obscurely ribbed, symmetrical. Stem medium, slender. Cavity pretty large and wide, obtuse to acute, moderately shallow to deep, gently furrowed, sometimes thinly russeted. Calyx small, closed; lobes small, acute. Basin rather wide, shallow to moderately deep, obtuse, narrowly ridged and wrinkled. Skin moderately thick, tough, smooth, glossy with a deep red blush which is often irregular and sharply outlined against the clear pale yellow or whitish ground color. Dots whitish or with russet point, inconspicuous. Prevailing effect beautiful bright red and yellow. Calyx tube conical or somewhat funnel-form with short truncate cylinder. Stamens marginal. Core small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core lines clasping. Carpels smooth, roundish or inclined to elliptical, emarginate, mucronate. Seeds plump, wide, obtuse, completely filling the cells. Flesh white, firm, fine-grained, crisp, rather tender, juicy, pleasantly aromatic, mild subacid becoming nearly sweet, good to very good for dessert. Season December to May.
OTHER VARIETIES OF THE LADY GROUP.
The Lady often produces seedlings which have a general similarity to the parent. Some of these have found their way into cultivation but up to the present time none of them has superseded the Lady. Downing (22) mentions besides the Lady four other varieties of the Lady group, namely: the BLACK LADY APPLE (Api Noir), the STAR LADY APPLE (Api Étoile), the LARGE LADY APPLE (Api Gros), and the ROSE-COLORED LADY APPLE (Api Gros Pomme de Rose). Of these the Large Lady apple appears to be the only one which has been disseminated to any considerable extent in this state. It is seldom or never intentionally planted by the fruit grower but sometimes it has been cultivated by mistake in place of the true Lady. It is easily distinguished from the true Lady because the bark of the twigs is not so nearly black, the fruit is more nearly round, has a very shallow basin and is a little larger and less highly colored than the Lady. It is an undesirable variety.
Seedlings. Fruits of different seedlings of the Lady have from time to time been received at this Station. None of these has been sufficiently tested as yet to show whether it is worthy of being introduced into general cultivation. One of the most remarkable lot of Lady seedlings which has come to our attention is that originated by Le Grand M. Smith of Nyack, N. Y., a brief notice of which was published in 1895.¹ Some of these may be as desirable as the Lady.
HELEN is an apple of the Lady class much larger than Lady and fully as attractive in color. The flesh is very white, crisp, juicy and of mild agreeable flavor. It is grown by R. N. Lewis of Red Hook, Dutchess county, N. Y., who reports that the tree is productive and that the fruit keeps late and brings good prices.
HIGHLAND BEAUTY, another Lady seedling, is described on a previous [page].
¹Rural N. Y., 54:106. 1895.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Lady. — A very old French variety, known abroad by the name of Api; a fancy little dessert apple noted for its beautiful color and excellent quality.
Fruit quite small, regular, sometimes unequal, flattened; surface smooth, polished, pale yellow with brilliant deep red, approaching to crimson on sunny side; dots obscure, numerous, white, minute; cavity wide, deep, regular, obtuse, with green rays and stellate russet; stem medium to long; basin wide, shallow, slightly corrugated; calyx closed; segments divergent. Core closed; cells obovate, axile, slit; tube conical; stamens marginal; seeds plump, short, numerous; flesh white, crisp, tender, very juicy, sweet, slightly perfumed, excellent. December to May.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Lady. Size: small. Form: flat. Color: yellow-red. Quality: very good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter. Northern Division: 3 reporting stations (also reported in another division). Central Division: 4 reporting stations (also reported in another division).
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)API. Ronalds, 32. F., Api ; G., Kleine Api. (Api rouge, Api petit, Lady.) Dessert, November to April, very small, 2 by 1¾, flat, regular. Colour, bright yellow, rich crimson flush. Flesh, tender, aromatic. Eye, half open in a shallow wide basin. Stem short in a rather wide cavity. Growth, upright, very slender making a small close tree, fertile. Leaf, small, oval, upfolded, shallow crenate. Origin, of great antiquity ; possibly dating from Roman days. Known in this country in the seventeenth century. It is hardly worthy of cultivation except as a curiosity.
Api Petit : see Api.
Api Rouge : see Api.
Aporta : see Emperor Alexander.
Arbroath Pippin : see Oslin.
Aromatic Pippin : see Kerry Pippin.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)LADY. Fig. 31. Api. Christmas Apple. This variety is known wherever apples are grown, usually, except in America, under the name Api with some modifying term. Its popularity is due to its beautiful miniature fruits which are of highest quality, most suitable for dessert and for decorative purposes. The apples keep well until April or May, but are in greatest demand during the holiday season. The trees are not very satisfactory, being small, very dense in growth, unproductive, and come in bearing late. The fruit is borne in clusters on short spurs and hangs well to the tree. The variety is very susceptible to the apple-scab fungus. Lady has been in cultivation in France, under the name Api, for over three hundred years, and was one of the first European apples to be brought to America. Tree vigorous, dwarf, dense, erect; branches erect, slender. Leaves narrow. Fruit very small, uniform in size and shape, oblate to round-conic, obscurely ribbed, symmetrical; stem slender; cavity large and wide, obtuse, shallow, gently furrowed, sometimes thinly russeted; calyx small, closed; lobes small, acute; basin wide, shallow, obtuse, narrowly ridged and wrinkled; skin thick, tough, smooth, glossy with a deep red blush which is often irregularly and sharply outlined against the pale yellow ground-color; dots white or with russet points, inconspicuous; calyx-tube conical with short, truncate cylinder; stamens marginal; core small, axile; cells symmetrical, closed; core-lines clasping; carpels smooth, round or elliptical, emarginate, mucronate; seeds plump, wide, obtuse, completely filling the cells; flesh white, firm, fine-grained, crisp, tender, juicy, aromatic, mild subacid; good to very good; December to May.
— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)A novel, dainty, small, flat apple of uniform size—brilliant deep red in color. Being a little apple and of such splendid, attractive color, always popular. Quality is excellent and a keeper—should be in all amateur collections gardens. NCS