Lane's Sweet
AppleLane's Sweet
Origin / History
Downing records two distinct varieties bearing this name. The first originated in Boylston, Massachusetts. A second Lane's Sweet originated in Hingham, Massachusetts. Thomas attributes the variety to Massachusetts. The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC planted Lane's Sweet in the spring of 1894 for testing.
Tree
Boylston, Mass. strain (Downing): A good grower and productive. Young shoots smooth, light reddish brown.
Hingham, Mass. strain (Downing): Vigorous and productive. Young shoots dark reddish brown, slightly downy.
Central Experimental Farm observation: Tree a moderate grower.
Fruit
Size
Small (Elliott). Medium (Downing — both strains; Thomas; Central Experimental Farm).
Form
Roundish flattened (Elliott). Roundish conical (Downing's Boylston strain; Central Experimental Farm). Oblate, slightly conic (Downing's Hingham strain). Oblate (Thomas).
Stem / Stalk
Boylston strain: stalk medium, slender (Downing). Hingham strain: stalk short (Downing).
Cavity
Hingham strain: cavity large, russeted (Downing). Not described for the Boylston strain or the other sources.
Calyx
Closed (Downing — both strains).
Basin
Boylston strain: corrugated (Downing). Hingham strain: basin small, open (Downing).
Skin
Yellow with red (Elliott). Yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with red, moderately sprinkled with large light dots (Downing's Boylston strain). Fine yellow, with a sunny cheek (Downing's Hingham strain). Yellow (Thomas). Clear yellow, splashed with bright red, with a few light dots (Central Experimental Farm).
Flesh / Flavor
Yellowish, dry (Elliott). White, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant sweet; quality good to very good (Downing's Boylston strain). Yellowish, not very tender, juicy, sweet, aromatic (Downing's Hingham strain). Sweet, aromatic (Thomas). White, crisp, tender, juicy, sweet, quality good (Central Experimental Farm).
Core / Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
November (Elliott). September — Boylston strain (Downing). November to March — Hingham strain (Downing). Winter (Thomas). Early September (Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Downing distinguishes two separate varieties carrying this name:
- Boylston, Mass. origin: smaller-sized fruit, roundish conical, yellow shaded/splashed/striped with red and large light dots, white crisp tender juicy pleasant sweet flesh, September ripening, on a good-growing productive tree with smooth light reddish brown young shoots.
- Hingham, Mass. origin: medium oblate slightly conic fruit, fine yellow with a sunny cheek, large russeted cavity, short stalk, small open basin, yellowish flesh that is not very tender but juicy sweet aromatic, November to March season, on a vigorous productive tree with dark reddish brown slightly downy young shoots.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Lane Sweet. Small, roundish flattened, yellow with red ; flesh, yellowish, dry. November.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lane's Sweet. Origin, Boylston, Mass. Tree a good grower and productive. Young shoots smooth, light reddish brown. Fruit medium, roundish conical, yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with red, moderately sprinkled with large light dots. Stalk medium, slender. Calyx closed. Basin corrugated. Flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy, pleasant sweet. Good to very good. September. There is another Lane's Sweet which originated in Hingham, Mass. Tree vigorous and productive. Young shoots dark reddish brown, slightly downy. Fruit medium, oblate, slightly conic. Color fine yellow, with a sunny cheek. Stalk short. Cavity large, russeted. Calyx closed, basin small, open. Flesh yellowish, not very tender, juicy, sweet, aromatic. November to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Lane Sweet. Medium, oblate, yellow; sweet, aromatic. Winter. Mass.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1894. Tree a moderate grower. Fruit of medium size, roundish conical. Skin clear yellow, splashed with bright red, with a few light dots. Flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy, sweet, quality good. Season early September.