Oel Austin
Apple
Origin and History
Received at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station from A. F. Clark of Raymondville, St. Lawrence county, in 1896. The original tree, measuring 16 to 18 inches in diameter, was at that time standing neglected in an old pasture. Mr. Clark began to propagate the variety about 1891. He believes it is a seedling of Stone, a variety highly esteemed locally in St. Lawrence county. Known locally as Austin.
Note: A leading pomologist erroneously identified Stone as Bethel for Mr. Clark. While both Stone and Bethel belong to the Blue Pearmain group, they are distinct varieties. Stone is the believed parent variety.
Tree
Tree rather vigorous. Form upright, somewhat spreading, rather dense. Twigs medium to long, rather slender to moderately stout, nearly straight, somewhat pubescent; internodes short. Bark clear olive-green tinged with reddish-brown and mottled with gray scarf-skin. Lenticels rather numerous, small, scattering, round, raised but slightly if at all. Buds small, obtuse, appressed, pubescent.
The variety has demonstrated very good hardiness in St. Lawrence county and is a good thrifty grower.
Fruit
Size and Form. Small to above medium. Form broadly ovate to roundish conic, faintly ribbed, nearly regular, symmetrical, uniform.
Stem. Pubescent, medium to long, moderately slender.
Cavity. Small, acuminate, moderately shallow, narrow, sometimes russeted, symmetrical.
Calyx. Medium to small, open to nearly closed; lobes short, narrow, pubescent, converging and somewhat reflexed.
Basin. Moderately abrupt, shallow, narrow, slightly furrowed or wrinkled.
Skin. Thin, yellow nearly overspread with dull, purplish-red and striped with purplish-carmine.
Dots. Numerous, russet, sunken.
Calyx Tube. Rather narrow, conical or approaching funnel-form.
Stamens. Median.
Core. Abaxile, medium to large; cells open; core lines meeting or, when the calyx tube is funnel-form, clasping the funnel cylinder.
Flesh. Yellowish-white, sometimes tinged with red next the skin. Firm, fine-grained, crisp, juicy, mild subacid. Quality fair to good.
Season
In season from November to March or April.
Uses
An attractive apple of fairly good quality. Recommended for the home orchard, particularly in those sections of the state where superior hardiness is a prime requisite.
Subtypes and Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Belongs to the Blue Pearmain group.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)OEL AUSTIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Heiges, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1894:21. 2. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 15:688. 1896.
SYNONYMS. OEL (1). Austin.
An attractive apple of the Blue Pearmain group, of fairly good quality. It varies in size from small to above medium. It is in season from November to March or April. It is said to be very hardy in St. Lawrence county and a good thrifty grower, and it may prove desirable for the home orchard in those sections of the state where superior hardiness is a prime requisite.
Historical. Received here from A. F. Clark, Raymondville, St. Lawrence county, in 1896. The original tree, 16 to 18 inches in diameter, was then standing neglected in an old pasture. Mr. Clark began to propagate the variety about 1891. He believes that it is a seedling of Stone,¹ a variety which is highly esteemed locally in St. Lawrence county. It is known locally as Austin.
TREE.
Tree rather vigorous. Form upright, somewhat spreading, rather dense. Twigs medium to long, rather slender to moderately stout, nearly straight, somewhat pubescent; internodes short. Bark clear olive-green tinged with reddish-brown and mottled with gray scarf-skin. Lenticels rather numerous, small, scattering, round, raised but slightly if at all. Buds small, obtuse, appressed, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit small to above medium. Form broadly ovate to roundish conic, faintly ribbed, nearly regular, symmetrical, uniform. Stem pubescent, medium to long, moderately slender. Cavity small, acuminate, moderately shallow, narrow, sometimes russeted, symmetrical. Calyx medium to small, open to nearly closed; lobes short, narrow, pubescent, converging and somewhat reflexed. Basin moderately abrupt, shallow, narrow, slightly furrowed or wrinkled. Skin thin, yellow nearly overspread with dull, purplish-red and striped with purplish-carmine. Dots numerous, russet, sunken. Calyx tube rather narrow, conical or approaching funnel-form. Stamens median. Core abaxile, medium to large; cells open; core lines meeting or, when the calyx tube is funnel-form, clasping the funnel cylinder. Flesh yellowish-white sometimes tinged with red next the skin, firm, fine-grained, crisp, juicy, mild subacid, fair to good.
¹Stone was erroneously identified by a leading pomologist for Mr. Clark as Bethel, and for this reason in the account given by Heiges (1) it is erroneously stated that Oel Austin is a seedling of Bethel. Both Stone and Bethel belong in the Blue Pearmain group, but they are quite distinct varieties. For a comparison of the two the reader is referred to Stone.