Leland Spice
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
Originates from Sherburne, Massachusetts (Downing, Thomas). Elliott notes simply "from Mass." Elliott remarks that the variety "deserves more attention than yet received."
Tree
Vigorous and productive (Downing). Not described in other sources.
Fruit
Size
Large. All three sources agree.
Form
Roundish (all sources). Elliott and Thomas add slightly conical; Thomas qualifies this as "obscurely conical." Both Elliott and Thomas note it is slightly ribbed.
Stem
Half an inch long (Elliott, Thomas). Downing describes the stalk only as short without a measurement. Downing specifies the stalk is inserted in a narrow cavity.
Cavity
Narrow (Downing); ribbed (Elliott, Thomas).
Calyx
Small, closed (Downing). Not described in other sources.
Basin
Shallow (Downing); ribbed (Elliott, Thomas).
Skin
Sources agree on a yellow ground largely covered by red, with some variation in description:
- Downing: yellow, nearly covered with bright red.
- Elliott: greenish yellow, mottled with crimson stripes, dark crimson in sun.
- Thomas: whole surface with brilliant red streaks on yellow ground, dotted with yellow.
Flesh/Flavor
Yellowish (Downing); yellowish white (Elliott, Thomas). Rather tender and juicy, with a very rich aromatic subacid flavor (Downing). Sub-acid, spicy, rich (Thomas). Elliott describes it as spicy and sub-acid, rating it "best." Downing calls it excellent for both dessert and kitchen use and rates it good to very good. Thomas calls it fine.
Core/Seeds
Not described in any source.
Season
October (Thomas); September through October (Downing); October through December (Elliott).
Uses
Excellent for dessert and kitchen (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in any source.
Other
Not described in any source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Leland Spice. Leland Pippin. New York Spice. Origin, Sherburne, Mass. Tree vigorous, productive. Fruit large, roundish. Color yellow, nearly covered with bright red. Stalk short, inserted in a narrow cavity. Calyx small, closed. Basin shallow. Flesh yellowish, rather tender, juicy, with a very rich aromatic subacid flavor, excellent for dessert or kitchen. Good to very good. September, October.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Leland Spice. Leland Pippin, | New York Spice. From Mass. Fruit, large, roundish, slightly conical, and ribbed ; greenish yellow, mottled with crimson stripes, dark crimson in sun ; stem, half-inch : cavity and basin, ribbed ; flesh, yellowish white, spicy, sub-acid ; "best." October to December. Deserves more attention than yet received.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Leland Spice. (Leland Pippin.) Large, roundish, obscurely conical, slightly ribbed; whole surface with brilliant red streaks on yellow ground, dotted with yellow; stalk half an inch long; cavity and basin ribbed; flesh yellowish white, sub-acid, spicy, rich, fine. October. Origin, Sherburne, Mass.