Phillips' Sweet
ApplePhillips' Sweet
Origin/History
American; native of Ohio. Originated on the farm of George Phillips, Coshocton County, Ohio (Downing; Warder cites Downing as giving "Chotocton County, Ohio"). Elliott notes it may prove to be the same as Richmond (per Warder). Thomas locates it in Central Ohio.
Tree
Vigorous, healthy, thrifty, upright in growth, and very productive. Wants strong, heavy soil (Elliott). Young wood smooth, light, clear reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size
Medium to large; medium or above (Downing); medium (Lowther).
Form
Roundish, slightly flattened and conical, regular (Thomas); roundish oblate, inclining to conic (Downing); roundish, flattened, slightly conical, obscurely angular or flattened on the sides (Warder); roundish conical, slightly flattened (Elliott).
Stem
Medium length, rather slender (Warder); stalk long, slender (Downing).
Cavity
Large (Warder); deep (Downing).
Calyx
Eye closed; segments of calyx long (Warder); segments short (Downing).
Basin
Abrupt, regular, closed (Warder); abrupt, deep (Downing).
Skin
Surface smooth; yellow or whitish yellow ground, more or less covered with red, striped crimson, and shaded with light red, striped and splashed with dark (Warder; Downing); mostly overspread and mottled with red (Elliott); mottled red, yellow, and dark red (Thomas); striped or splashed red (Lowther). Dots numerous, large and light.
Flesh/Flavor
Flesh yellow to rich yellow (Warder, Thomas); white (Downing); yellowish (Elliott). Tender, crisp, juicy. Flavor sweet, spicy, rich, pleasant. Quality good to very good. Very handsome; resembles Ladies' Sweeting, but more showy and not equal in flavor (Thomas).
Core/Seeds
Core small (Downing).
Season
Early winter; November to March (Warder); December to March (Downing); December and January (Elliott); winter (Lowther).
Uses
Both kitchen and market (Lowther).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Lowther notes the variety was reported by 1 station in the Northern Division, and also reported in another division.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— 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.
— 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.
— 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 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.