Mouse
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Mouse Apple
Origin/History
An old variety originating in Ulster County, New York, where it was formerly popular. First documented by Downing in 1845 and cited by Thomas (1849), Emmons (1851), Elliott (1854), Hooper (1857), and Warder (1867). As of Beach's 1905 survey, the variety had become unknown to him and his correspondents, suggesting it had fallen out of circulation by that time.
Tree
Vigorous and productive (Downing). Not otherwise described in sources.
Fruit
Size and form: Large, roundish, slightly conical (Downing); roundish conical (Elliott).
Weight: Light for its size (Downing).
Skin: Pale greenish yellow ground, with a brownish blush on the sun-exposed side. Surface marked with a few scattered, russety gray dots (Downing); russet dots (Elliott).
Stem: Slender (Elliott). Not described by Downing.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Closed (Elliott). Not described by Downing.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Flesh/Flavor: Very white, fine-grained, moderately juicy, delicate, faintly perfumed, mild subacid (Downing). Elliott describes the flesh as white, sprightly, and faintly perfumed — the characterization "sprightly" suggests a livelier, more pronounced acidity than Downing's "mild subacid."
Quality: Good (Downing); "not more than very good" (Elliott).
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Downing gives October to November. Elliott gives December to March. These accounts conflict substantially; the two assessments may reflect different regional conditions, or one source may have the variety confused with another.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Mouse Apple. Moose Apple. Origin, Ulster Co., N. Y. Tree vigorous and productive. Fruit, in weight, light ; in size, large, roundish, slightly conical, pale greenish yellow, with a brownish blush on one side, and a few scattered, russety gray dots. Flesh very white and fine-grained, moderately juicy, delicate, faintly perfumed, mild subacid. Good. October, November.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)MOUSE.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1845:117. 2. Thomas, 1849:182. 3. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:82. 1851. 4. Elliott, 1854:147. 5. Hooper, 1857:62. 6. Warder, 1867:727.
SYNONYMS. Moose (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). MOUSE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
An old variety which originated in Ulster county, N. Y., where it was formerly popular (1). According to Downing the fruit is large, roundish conical, pale greenish-yellow with brownish blush; flesh very white, fine-grained, delicate, mild subacid; good; season October to November. This variety is unknown to us and we have received no reports concerning it from any of our correspondents.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Mouse. Moose. From Ulster Co., N. Y. Fruit, large, roundish conical ; pale greenish yellow, brownish blush in sun, russet dots ; stem, slender ; calyx, closed ; flesh, white, sprightly, faintly perfumed; not more than "very good." December to March.