Mason's Stranger
Apple
Mason's Stranger
Origin/History
A chance seedling found on the farm of Dr. George Mason, Virginia. A popular and favorite apple where it originated. Also recorded in early sources under the names Mason's Pippin, Old Field, and Izzard.
Tree
Of vigorous growth, forming a large, symmetric head. Very productive annually. Young shoots brownish red.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, oblate, somewhat depressed.
Stem: Stalk short, small.
Cavity: Large, with slight russet.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Large, deep, smooth.
Skin: Bright yellow, sometimes a shade of light red where exposed to the sun, with a few brownish dots.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, fine, rather compact, crisp, juicy, mild subacid, inclining to sweet, somewhat spicy and rich. Quality rated very good.
Core/Seeds: Core small.
Season
December to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (Lowther, 1914) includes this variety in a variety-characteristic table but provides no prose description:
Mason's Strange........... M fl VG b W ......
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Mason's Stranger.
Mason's Pippin. Old Field. Izzard.
A chance seedling found on the farm of Dr. George Mason, Virginia. Tree of vigorous growth, forming a large symmetric head, very productive annually; a popular and favorite apple where it originated; young shoots brownish red.
Fruit medium, oblate, somewhat depressed; skin bright yellow, sometimes a shade of light red where exposed to the sun, and a few brownish dots; stalk short, small; cavity large, slight russet; calyx open; basin large, deep, smooth; flesh whitish, fine, rather compact, crisp, juicy, mild subacid, inclining to sweet, somewhat spicy and rich; very good; core small. December, February.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Mason's Strange........... M fl VG b W ......