Mote's Sweet

Mote's Sweet

Origin/History

A seedling of the Stillwater Sweet, grown by L. S. Mote, of Miami County, Ohio. Warder (1867) considers it "quite an improvement upon its parent, which has obtained a high reputation as a choice autumnal sweet apple," and calls it "one of the most delicious sweet apples." Downing (1900) notes it as "a valuable, but as yet comparatively new Apple."

Tree

Vigorous, spreading in habit. Warder describes the form as round and spreading; Downing as upright spreading, and productive. Shoot color is described differently between sources: Warder gives "pale," while Downing specifies "light reddish brown, downy." Foliage large, wide, finely serrated, and rather pale (Warder).

Fruit

Size: Large.

Form: Warder describes the fruit as globular, somewhat flattened or conic-truncated, and rather angular. Downing gives roundish, somewhat roundish oblate conic.

Stem: Described by Warder as long, yellow, and curved; by Downing as medium and slender.

Cavity: Deep and wide, with wavy walls (Warder). Downing describes it as large and deep.

Calyx/Eye: Warder gives the eye as medium, long, and closed. Downing describes the calyx as closed or partially open, with segments short and erect.

Basin: Medium in depth. Warder adds abrupt and wavy; Downing describes it as uneven.

Skin: Surface very smooth (Warder). Color pale whitish yellow — Warder specifies greenish yellow to whitish; Downing, pale whitish yellow. Both sources note a faint red blush: Warder calls it "a rare faint blush," Downing notes "a tinge of red in the sun." Dots scattered, gray, moderately sprinkled (Downing); Warder notes the dots are often rosy with whitish bases.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow to yellowish. Warder describes it as very fine-grained, almost melting, and juicy, with flavor very sweet and pleasant. Downing describes it as tender and moderately juicy, with a rich, honeyed sweetness. The two sources differ slightly on juiciness — Warder says simply juicy; Downing, moderately juicy.

Core/Seeds: Core described as open and clasping by Warder, who sizes it as medium; Downing describes it as small. Seeds numerous, angular, pale (Warder).

Season

September (Warder). September–October (Downing).

Uses

Table and kitchen (Warder). Quality rated "best" by Warder; "very good" by Downing.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.