Lewis
Apple
Lewis
Origin/History
Originated in Putnam County, Indiana. Warder (1867) attributes it specifically to "my old friend Reuben Ragan" as one of the many seedlings he produced, citing Ragan as the source of the variety. Downing (1900) notes: "It is claimed by some that there is another Lewis, but our experience in fruiting them does not enable us to so decide."
Tree
A good grower and productive (Elliott, Downing). Warder describes the tree as thrifty and productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Oblate conic (Elliott, Downing, Thomas); Warder describes it as regular and oblate. Warder also notes the surface as smooth.
Stem/Stalk: Short, inserted in a deep cavity (Elliott, Downing). Warder describes the stem as short.
Cavity: Deep (Elliott, Downing); Warder describes the cavity as wide, regular, and brown.
Calyx/Eye: Closed or nearly so (Elliott, Downing); Warder describes the eye as small and closed.
Basin: Moderate (Elliott, Downing); Warder describes the basin as medium, regular, and not deep.
Skin: Sources differ somewhat on the skin color and markings. Elliott and Downing describe the skin as yellowish, striped with crimson, and partially covered with thin cinnamon russet, and sprinkled with gray and brown dots. Warder describes the surface as deep red on yellow, with numerous, large, yellow dots. Thomas describes the skin simply as yellow, striped.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellow (all sources agree). Elliott, Downing, and Thomas describe the flesh as compact, with a rich sub-acid flavor; Elliott and Downing add that it is not very juicy. Warder, by contrast, describes the flesh as tender, fine-grained, and juicy, with a sub-acid, aromatic flavor. Warder rates the quality as nearly first-rate for table use. Downing rates it "Good."
Core/Seeds: Warder describes the core as wide, regular, closed, meeting the eye; seeds numerous and plump. (Elliott, Downing, and Thomas do not describe the core or seeds.)
Season
Sources differ on season. Elliott and Downing give the season as November to February. Thomas calls it an early winter apple. Warder gives the season as October.
Uses
Warder rates the quality as nearly first-rate for table use. Other sources do not specify uses beyond the implied dessert/table use suggested by the rich sub-acid flavor.
Subtypes/Variants
Downing (1900) notes: "It is claimed by some that there is another Lewis, but our experience in fruiting them does not enable us to so decide."
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Lewis.
Origin, Putnam Co., Indiana. A good grower, and productive. Fruit, medium, oblate conic ; skin, yellowish, striped with crimson, and partially covered with thin cinnamon russet, and sprinkled with gray and brown dots ; stalk, short, inserted in a deep cavity ; calyx, closed, or nearly so, in a moderate basin ; flesh, yellow, compact, with a rich sub-acid flavor ; not very juicy. November, February. (Downing.)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Lewis. — Of Ragan.
Originated in Putnam County, Indiana, as one of the many seedlings produced by my old friend Reuben Ragan.
Tree thrifty and productive.
Fruit medium, regular, oblate; Surface smooth, deep red on yellow; Dots, numerous, large, yellow.
Basin medium, regular, not deep; Eye small, closed
Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem short.
Core wide, regular, closed, meeting the eye; seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellow, tender, fine-grained, juicy; flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality nearly first-rate for table; Season, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lewis.
Origin, Putnam Co., Ind. A good grower, and productive. Fruit medium, oblate conic, yellowish, striped with crimson, and partially covered with thin cinnamon russet, and sprinkled with gray and brown dots. Stalk short, inserted in a deep cavity. Calyx closed or nearly so, in a moderate basin. Flesh yellow, compact, with a rich subacid flavor, not very juicy. Good. November, February. It is claimed by some that there is another Lewis, but our experience in fruiting them does not enable us to so decide.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Lewis. Medium, oblate conic, skin yellow, striped; flesh yellow, compact, rich, sub-acid. Early winter. Indiana.