Mote's Sweet
Apple
Mote's Sweet
Origin / History
Seedling of the Stillwater Sweet, grown by L. S. Mote, Miami County, Ohio; Downing says it originated on the property of L. S. Mote. Warder calls it "quite an improvement upon its parent," which "has obtained a high reputation as a choice autumnal sweet apple," and "one of the most delicious sweet apples." Downing calls it "a valuable, but as yet comparatively new Apple."
Tree
Vigorous; habit round and spreading (Warder) or upright spreading (Downing). Productive (Downing). Young shoots pale (Warder); light reddish brown, downy (Downing). Foliage large, wide, finely serrated, and rather pale (Warder).
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish, globular, somewhat flattened, or conic-truncated, rather angular (Warder); roundish, somewhat roundish oblate conic (Downing).
Stem: Long, yellow, curved (Warder); medium, slender (Downing).
Cavity: Deep, wide, wavy (Warder); large, deep (Downing).
Calyx: Closed (Warder); closed or partially open, segments short, erect (Downing). Eye medium, long (Warder).
Basin: Medium; abrupt, wavy (Warder); uneven (Downing).
Skin: Very smooth, greenish yellow to whitish, with a rare faint blush (Warder). Pale whitish yellow, with a tinge of red in the sun (Downing).
Dots: Scattered, gray, often rosy, whitish bases (Warder); moderately sprinkled, gray (Downing).
Flesh and flavor: Yellow or yellowish; very fine-grained, almost melting, juicy (Warder); tender, moderately juicy (Downing). Flavor very sweet, pleasant (Warder); rich honeyed sweet (Downing). Quality "best" (Warder); "very good" (Downing).
Core and seeds: Core medium, open, clasping (Warder); small (Downing). Seeds numerous, angular, pale (Warder).
Season
September (Warder); September, October (Downing).
Uses
Table and kitchen (Warder).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Mote's Sweet.
This seedling from the Stillwater Sweet, grown by L. S. Mote, of Miami County, Ohio, is quite an improvement upon its parent, which has obtained a high reputation as a choice autumnal sweet apple. Tree round, spreading, vigorous; Shoots pale; Foliage large, wide, finely serrated, and rather pale.
Fruit large, globular, somewhat flattened, or conic-truncated, rather angular; Surface very smooth, greenish yellow to whitish, with a rare faint blush; Dots scattered, gray, often rosy, whitish bases.
Basin medium, abrupt, wavy; Eye medium, long, closed.
Cavity deep, wide, wavy; Stem long, yellow, curved.
Core medium, open, clasping; Seeds numerous, angular, pale; Flesh yellow, very fine-grained, almost melting, juicy; Flavor very sweet, pleasant; Use, table and kitchen; Quality best; Season, September. One of the most delicious sweet apples.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Mote's Sweet.
Originated on the property of L. S. Mote, Miami Co., Ohio. A valuable, but as yet comparatively new Apple. Tree vigorous, upright spreading, productive. Young shoots light reddish brown, downy.
Fruit large. Form roundish, somewhat roundish oblate conic. Color pale whitish yellow, with a tinge of red in the sun, and moderately sprinkled with gray dots. Stalk medium, slender. Cavity large, deep. Calyx closed or partially open. Segments short, erect. Basin medium, uneven. Flesh yellowish, tender, moderately juicy, rich honeyed sweet. Very good. Core small. September, October.