Ostrakoff

Origin/History

A Russian variety. Described by Budd in 1885 under the name Ostrakoff's Glass and again in 1890 under the name Ostrakoff. It was received in 1884 for testing at the New York Station from Ellwanger and Barry, Rochester, N.Y., under the name Astravaskoe. At the Central Experimental Farm in Agassiz, B.C., it was planted in the spring of 1895.

Ostrakoff is reported as a promising variety for portions of Northern New England and other regions where superior hardiness is a prime requisite, but is of no value where common standard varieties succeed.

Tree

Beach describes the tree as moderately vigorous; Hansen as a vigorous grower. The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz likewise records it as a strong grower. Hansen additionally notes the tree is subject to blight and does best on high limestone and clay soils.

Form spreading or roundish, open. Twigs short, curved, stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium. Bark dark brown tinged with green, heavily streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent near the tips. Lenticels quite numerous, medium size, round, raised, rather conspicuous. Buds prominent, large, long, plump, obtuse, free.

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit medium or above, pretty uniform in size and shape. Beach describes the form as roundish to somewhat ovate or oblong, somewhat conical, a little angular. Hansen (technical description) records it as round, slightly conical, and unequal. The Central Experimental Farm describes it as oblong, conical.

Stem

Characteristically long, often curved, twisted, or irregularly enlarged, or inserted under a fleshy protuberance. Hansen's technical description concurs: stem very long.

Cavity

Acute or approaching acuminate, shallow to moderately deep, medium in width to narrow, partly covered with light greenish-russet, often lipped (Beach). Hansen's technical description records the cavity as regular and acute.

Calyx

Beach: closed or open, rather large, leafy; lobes rather broad, acute to obtuse. Hansen's technical description records the calyx as closed with segments erect and convergent; the Rus. Nom. Com. description records it as half open.

Basin

Characteristically irregular, medium in width and depth, abrupt, sharply ridged and wrinkled (Beach). Hansen's technical description records it as narrow, rather shallow, and corrugated.

Skin

Beach: moderately thin, rather tough, smooth, pale waxen-yellow, sometimes with a faint reddish shade. Dots very numerous, small, submerged, often areolar.

Hansen's technical description records the surface as yellow, approaching white, with dots white, minute, suffused, and obscure. The Rus. Nom. Com. description gives a more varied picture: yellowish green, shaded brown on the sun side, with many grayish spots, and often covered with blackish fungus spots.

The Central Experimental Farm records the skin as pale yellow, sometimes with a faint blush.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh yellowish-white (Beach, Hansen); the Central Experimental Farm records it as white. Firm, rather fine, juicy, brisk subacid (Beach). Hansen: fine-grained, subacid. Central Experimental Farm: crisp, moderately juicy, with a pleasant flavour.

Quality: fair to good (Beach); good (Hansen, Central Experimental Farm).

Calyx Tube and Stamens

Calyx tube medium to large, rather wide, conical to peculiarly funnel-form, with a broad truncate cylinder. Stamens basal to median (Beach). Hansen's technical description records the tube as broadly conical and the stamens as median.

Core and Seeds

Core medium size, axile; cells closed or slightly open; core lines meeting. Carpels roundish to broadly ovate, emarginate. Seeds medium brown, large, wide, rather flat, obtuse to acute (Beach). Hansen's technical description records the core as closed, cells ovate, entire.

Season

Beach: late fall and early winter; commonly in its prime from late September into November, though a portion of the fruit may often be kept well into winter. Keeping qualities vary considerably in different seasons. Hansen: early winter.

[NOTE: The Central Experimental Farm catalog records the season as "last of August," which conflicts sharply with the late fall/early winter ripening reported by Beach and Hansen. This may reflect an error, a mislabeled specimen, or an anomalous local growing condition at Agassiz, B.C. The physical description in the same catalog entry (pale yellow, faint blush, oblong conical) is broadly compatible with other sources. The season figure should be treated with caution.]

Uses

A greenish-yellow apple of good size, brisk subacid flavor, and fair to good quality. Valued chiefly for its superior hardiness, making it useful for northern regions where standard commercial varieties will not succeed. Keeping quality variable by season.