Phillips' Sweet
ApplePhillips' Sweet
Origin / History
American; a native of Ohio. It originated on the farm of George Phillips, Coshocton Co., Ohio (Downing). Warder, who gives the origin as "believed to be Ohio," cites Downing for "Chotocton County, Ohio." Thomas gives central Ohio. Warder reports that Elliott thought Phillips' Sweet "may prove to be the same with Richmond." Lowther's station table records it from one station in the Northern Division and also from another division.
Tree
Vigorous, thrifty, healthy; growth upright. Very productive (Warder, Downing). Young wood smooth, light, clear reddish brown (Downing). Wants strong heavy soil (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Medium to large; medium or above (Downing).
Form: Roundish, slightly flattened, slightly conical, regular; roundish oblate, inclining to conic. Warder adds that it is "obscurely angular or flattened on the sides."
Stem: Medium length to long; slender to rather slender.
Cavity: Large (Warder), deep (Downing).
Calyx: Closed. Segments long (Warder); short (Downing).
Basin: Abrupt, deep (Downing). Warder calls it regular and "closed."
Skin: Surface smooth (Warder). Ground yellow to whitish yellow. The ground is more or less covered, to mostly overspread, with red, shaded with light red. The red is mottled red, yellow, and dark red, and is striped with crimson and striped and splashed with dark red. Thomas calls it very handsome and more showy than Ladies' Sweeting.
Dots: Numerous (Warder); large and light (Downing).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellowish to rich yellow (Elliott, Warder, Thomas); white (Downing). Tender, crisp, juicy. Flavor sweet, rich, pleasant; Warder adds spicy. Downing rates it "good to very good," and Lowther rates it "very good." Thomas judges it "not equal in flavor" to Ladies' Sweeting.
Core and seeds: Core small (Downing).
Season
The recorded season runs from November to March; it is an early-winter to winter apple. Elliott gives the narrower span of December and January.
Uses
Both kitchen and market (Lowther).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Phillips' Sweet.
American; native of Ohio. Growth, vigorous, upright, wants strong heavy soil.
Fruit, medium to large; form, roundish conical, slightly flattened; color, yellow ground, mostly overspread and mottled with red; flesh, yellowish, tender, juicy, crisp. December and January.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Phillips' Sweet.
Origin believed to be Ohio; Downing says, Chotocton County, Ohio.
Tree vigorous, healthy, growth upright, very productive. Elliott thinks it may prove to be the same with Richmond.
Fruit roundish, flattened, slightly conical, obscurely angular or flattened on the sides; Surface smooth, yellow, more or less covered with red, striped crimson; Dots numerous.
Basin abrupt, regular, closed; Eye closed, segments of calyx long.
Cavity large; Stem medium length, rather slender.
Flesh yellow, tender, crisp, juicy; Flavor sweet, spicy, rich; Season, November to March.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Phillips' Sweet.
Originated on the farm of George Phillips, Coshocton Co., Ohio. Tree thrifty, upright, very productive. Young wood smooth, light, clear reddish brown.
Fruit medium or above, roundish oblate, inclining to conic, whitish yellow, shaded with light red, and striped and splashed with dark, large light dots. Stalk long, slender. Cavity deep. Calyx closed. Segments short. Basin abrupt, deep. Flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy, rich, pleasant, sweet. Good to very good. Core small. December, March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Phillips' Sweet. Medium or large, roundish, slightly flattened and conical, regular; mottled red, yellow, and dark red; flesh rich yellow, tender, juicy, crisp, sweet. Very handsome; resembles Ladies' Sweeting, but more showy and not equal in flavor. Early winter. Growth upright, vigorous. Central Ohio.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Phillips' Sweet: size medium; form roundish (oblate); color striped or splashed (red); quality very good; use both kitchen and market; season winter; Northern Division reports 1 station, also reported in another division.