Lewis

Lewis Apple

Origin / History

Originated in Putnam County, Indiana, as one of the many seedlings raised by Reuben Ragan (Warder). Downing notes: "It is claimed by some that there is another Lewis, but our experience in fruiting them does not enable us to so decide."

Elliott's description is drawn directly from Downing and does not represent an independent observation.

Tree

A good grower and productive (Downing, Elliott). Warder describes the tree as thrifty and productive.

Fruit

Size: Medium (all sources).

Form: Warder describes the fruit as regular and oblate. Downing and Elliott describe it as oblate conic — a conflict that may reflect the disputed identity of the variety.

Stem: Short (all sources). Downing and Elliott specify it is inserted in a deep cavity.

Cavity: Warder describes the cavity as wide, regular, and brown. Downing and Elliott describe it as deep.

Calyx / Eye: Warder: eye small, closed. Downing and Elliott: calyx closed, or nearly so.

Basin: Warder: medium, regular, not deep. Downing and Elliott: moderate.

Skin: Warder describes the surface as smooth, deep red on yellow, with numerous, large, yellow dots. Downing and Elliott describe it as yellowish, striped with crimson, and partially covered with thin cinnamon russet, sprinkled with gray and brown dots. These descriptions conflict substantially — Warder emphasizes deep red over yellow with large yellow dots; Downing/Elliott emphasize crimson striping over a yellow ground with russet coverage and small gray and brown dots.

Flesh and Flavor: All sources agree the flesh is yellow. Warder describes it as tender, fine-grained, and juicy, with a sub-acid, aromatic flavor, and rates the quality as nearly first-rate for table use. Downing and Elliott describe the flesh as compact and not very juicy, with a rich sub-acid flavor, rating it simply as Good. The tenderness, grain, juiciness, and quality assessments thus conflict between Warder and Downing.

Core and Seeds: Warder: core wide, regular, closed, meeting the eye; seeds numerous and plump. Not described in Downing or Elliott.

Season

Warder gives October. Downing and Elliott give November through February — a significant conflict, possibly supporting the suggestion of two distinct varieties under the same name.

Uses

Table fruit. Warder: nearly first-rate. Downing: Good.

Subtypes / Variants

Downing notes that some claim there is another variety called Lewis, but was unable to resolve the question through his own fruiting trials. The substantial conflicts between Warder's description and that of Downing — particularly in form, skin appearance, juiciness, and season — lend weight to the possibility that the two authors were describing different seedlings.

Other

Not described in source.