Lake
AppleLake
Origin/History
Originated with D. C. Richmond, Sandusky, Ohio. Described by both Elliott (1865) and Downing (1900).
Tree
Strong, upright growth. Productive; Elliott notes it is an abundant bearer and that the fruit hangs well on the tree. Young shoots stout, short-jointed, dull reddish brown, slightly downy.
Fruit
Size: Sources disagree — Downing calls the fruit medium; Elliott describes it as below medium.
Form: Sources disagree on the precise shape — Downing gives roundish oblate conical; Elliott gives round ovate conical.
Skin: Ground color yellow. Downing describes the overcolor as striped, splashed, and shaded with deep red. Elliott describes it as mostly overspread and striped with deep lake red, with many dots.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Deep (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed (Elliott).
Basin: Open (Elliott).
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow (Elliott; Downing gives yellowish), tender, juicy, subacid. Downing adds "rich, pleasant" and rates it Good to Very Good; Elliott rates it "very good."
Core: Sources disagree — Downing calls the core small; Elliott calls it medium.
Seeds: Plump (Elliott).
Season
Ripe in October. Downing extends the window to September and October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
}Apparently distinct.
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lake.
Origin, D. C. Richmond, Sandusky, O. Tree of strong upright growth, productive. Young shoots stout, short-jointed, dull reddish brown, slightly downy.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate conical, yellow, striped, splashed, and shaded with deep red. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, rich, pleasant subacid. Good to very good. Core small. Ripe September and October.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Lake.
Grown by D. C. Richmond, Sandusky, Ohio. Tree, abundant bearer, fruit hangs well. Fruit, below medium, round ovate conical, yellow, mostly overspread and striped with deep lake red, many dots; cavity, deep; calyx, closed; basin, open; core, medium; seeds, plump; flesh, yellow, tender, juicy, sub-acid; "very good." October.