Lancaster Sweet
Apple
Lancaster Sweet
Origin/History
Origin is uncertain. Warder (1867) records it as grown in Central Ohio, where it was much admired, without identifying a place of origin. Downing (1900) attributes it probably to Pennsylvania.
Tree
Vigorous, productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. The two sources describe the form differently: Warder describes the fruit as regular, oblate, and slightly conical; Downing describes it as roundish conic.
Stem: Very short and small (Warder).
Cavity: Wide and wavy (Warder).
Calyx/Eye: Eye small, closed; segments of calyx long and reflexed (Warder).
Basin: Medium, regular (Warder).
Skin: The two sources conflict on color. Warder describes the surface as green, with scattered, dark, minute dots. Downing describes the skin as whitish, splashed and marbled with red.
Flesh/Flavor: The sources conflict on texture. Warder describes the flesh as greenish-white, tender, fine-grained, juicy, rich, and very sweet. Downing describes the flesh as whitish, not very tender, juicy, and sweet, rating it Good.
Core/Seeds: Core medium, regular, closed, meeting the eye. Seeds numerous, dark, and plump (Warder).
Season
September and October (both sources agree).
Uses
Baking and apple butter; quality considered not first rate except for cooking (Warder). Downing rates it simply Good without specifying use.
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)Lancaster Sweet.
Origin unknown, grown in Central Ohio, where it is much admired for baking and apple butter.
Fig. 55.—LANCASTER SWEET.
Fruit medium, regular, oblate, slightly conical; Surface green; Dots scattered, dark, minute. Basin medium, regular; Eye small, closed; Segments of calyx long and reflexed. Cavity wide, wavy; Stem very short and small. Core medium, regular, closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, dark, plump; Flesh greenish-white, tender, fine grained, juicy, rich; very sweet. Quality not first rate, except for cooking; Season September and October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lancaster Sweet. Origin, probably Pennsylvania. Tree vigorous, productive. Fruit medium, roundish conic, whitish, splashed and marbled with red. Flesh whitish, not very tender, juicy, sweet. Good. September, October.