Metoisee

Apple

Metoisee (French Crab)

Origin/History

An old variety, listed by Coxe in 1817 under the name Metoisee, or French Crab. By Downing's time (1900), recorded as Metoiree (French Crab) and considered of little value.

Tree

Of moderate growth and regular form (Coxe). Foliage dark and luxuriant (Coxe). Holds its fruit quite late in autumn, with the fruit hanging on the tree very late in the fall (both sources agree).

Fruit

Size: Middling size (Coxe); medium (Downing).

Form: Oblong (both sources agree).

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Smooth (Coxe). Coxe describes the ground color as a fair red, streaked with a dark shade of red mingled with yellow, with the blossom end full of yellow spots. Downing describes the color as yellow shaded over with red — suggesting yellow as the ground color with a red overcast, which conflicts with Coxe's characterization of red as the dominant color.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh rich, juicy, and well flavoured (Coxe); juicy, good flavor for baking (Downing).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Fruit hangs late in fall (Coxe); late in autumn (Downing).

Uses

A fine baking apple (Coxe); good flavor for baking (Downing). Keeps remarkably well (Coxe).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Metoisee, Or French Crab
Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Metoiree

View original book sources (2)

NO. 91. METOISEE, OR FRENCH CRAB.

Is a fair red apple of middling size; the skin is smooth, streaked with a dark shade of red, mingled with yellow—the form is oblong, the blossom end is full of yellow spots, the flesh is rich, juicy and well flavoured; a fine baking apple, and keeps remarkably wel. The tree is of moderate growth and regular form, the foliage dark and luxuriant—the fruit hangs on the tree very late in the fall.

— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)

Metoiree. French Crab. An old variety, of little value. Tree of moderate growth, holding its fruit quite late in autumn. Fruit medium, oblong, yellow, shaded over with red. Flesh juicy. Good flavor for baking.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

French Crab Metoiree John Apple Cowarne's Queening Easter Pippin Robin Green Cheem