Mountain Beet
AppleMountain Beet
Origin / History
The Mountain Beet apple was originally raised from seed at Abbotsford, Quebec, by the grandfather of Mr. J. M. Fisk of Abbotsford, and planted in an orchard about eighty-five years before the account was recorded. The name was applied later. For the last twenty-five years before the account, the variety had not been profitable in the eastern townships owing to scab, to which it was subject quite as much as, if not more than, the Fameuse. W. T. Macoun of the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada, recorded this information from Mr. J. M. Fisk. N. E. Hansen received trees of the variety from Canada for his study of northwestern apples, published in 1902.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium. The fruit is usually largest toward the apex.
Form: Irregular, roundish, unequal, tapering to both ends, truncated.
Stem: Medium to long.
Cavity: Acute, regular, narrow.
Calyx: Closed. The calyx tube is conical. The stamens are median.
Basin: Shallow, wide, slightly corrugated.
Skin: Surface yellow, nearly covered with solid dark red with darker stripes.
Dots: Distinct, numerous, minute, white.
Flesh and flavor: White, stained red especially next to the skin. Firm, only moderately juicy, with a quince-like texture, like Haas. Flavor subacid. Quality fair.
Core and seeds: Core closed, distant, roundish ovate. Cells axile, ovate. Seeds few, pointed.
Season
Fall.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Mountain Beet—Fruit medium, irregular, roundish, unequal, tapering to both ends, truncated, usually largest toward apex; surface yellow, nearly covered with solid dark red with darker stripes; dots distinct, numerous, minute, white; cavity acute, regular, narrow; stem medium to long; basin shallow, wide, slightly corrugated; calyx closed. Core closed, distant, roundish ovate; cells axile, ovate; tube conical; stamens median; seeds few, pointed; flesh white, stained red especially next to the skin, firm, only moderately juicy, quince-like texture, like Haas, subacid, fair. Fall: Trees received from Canada.
Mountain Beet—"The Mountain Beet apple originally was raised from seed at Abbotsford, Quebec, by the grandfather of Mr. J. M. Fisk, of Abbotsford, and planted in an orchard about eighty-five years ago. It received its name later on. For the last twenty-five years it has not been profitable in the eastern townships owing to the scab, to which it is subject quite as much, if not more so, as the Fameuse. This above information I received from Mr. J. M. Fisk." W. T. MACOUN, Central Exp. Farm, Ottawa, Canada.