Metoisee

Apple

Metoisee

Origin/History

Metoisee is an old variety, also historically referred to as "French Crab." Coxe documented it in 1817 under the heading "Metoisee, or French Crab." Downing, writing in the 1900 edition of The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, lists it under the spelling "Metoiree" and characterizes it as an old variety of little value.

Tree

The tree is of moderate growth and regular form. The foliage is dark and luxuriant. (Downing concurs on moderate growth.) The fruit hangs on the tree very late in the fall, holding quite late in autumn.

Fruit

Size

Medium (middling size).

Form

Oblong.

Stem

Not described in source.

Cavity

Not described in source.

Calyx

Not described in source.

Basin

Not described in source.

Skin

Smooth. The ground color is yellow, shaded and streaked over with red; Coxe describes the red as a dark shade, mingled with yellow. The blossom end is full of yellow spots.

Flesh/Flavor

The flesh is rich, juicy, and well flavoured (Coxe). Downing describes the flesh as juicy, with good flavor for baking, but characterizes the variety overall as of little value.

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Fruit hangs very late in the fall/autumn. Keeps remarkably well (Coxe).

Uses

A fine baking apple (Coxe). Good flavor for baking (Downing).

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 Robin