Pratt's Sweet
ApplePratt's Sweet
Origin/History
Originated on the farm of Daniel Pratt, Richland, Oswego County, New York. First brought to notice in New York in 1869, when Downing described it. By the time of Beach's writing (1905), the variety had apparently fallen into obscurity — not known among New York fruit growers, with no record of its having been grown outside the locality of its origin.
A historical question of identity surrounds the name: Humrickhouse, in a list of new American seedling apples published in 1853, mentions a fall variety under the name of Pratt. Since Pratt's Sweet appears to have been a local variety not brought to wider notice until 1869, and since its season is given as December to March (winter, not fall), it would seem to be distinct from the Pratt of Humrickhouse. Ragan at first listed them as identical but later considered them "possibly identical." Beach had not personally examined the variety at the time of writing.
Tree
Vigorous, with an open spreading head. An annual bearer and productive. Young shoots dark reddish brown.
Fruit
Size and form: Large, roundish conical, with broad yet slight ribs.
Stem: Rather short, slender.
Cavity: Deep, broad, and open.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Abrupt, moderately deep, round, and slightly corrugated.
Skin: Rich pale yellow ground, marbled, striped, and shaded over two-thirds of the surface with two shades of clear bright pinkish red, dotted with inconspicuous light dots.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, crisp, breaking, tender, rather fine-grained and juicy; mild, pleasant, rich, sweet. Quality rated very good.
Core/Seeds: Core medium.
Season
December to March.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Pratt's Sweet. Origin, on the farm of Daniel Pratt, Richland, Oswego Co., N. Y. Tree vigorous, with an open spreading head, an annual bearer, and productive. Young shoots dark reddish brown. Fruit large, roundish conical, with broad yet slight ribs. Color rich pale yellow ground, marbled, striped, and shaded over two-thirds the surface, with two shades of clear bright pinkish red, and dotted with inconspicuous light dots. Stalk rather short, slender. Cavity deep, broad, and open. Calyx closed. Basin abrupt, moderately deep, round, and slightly corrugated. Flesh yellowish white, crisp, breaking, tender, rather fine-grained and juicy, mild, pleasant, rich, sweet. Very good. Core medium. December to March.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)PRATT SWEET.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1869:312. 2. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul. 56:241. 1905. SYNONYMS. PRATT (2). Pratt Sweet (2).
A sweet winter apple which originated on the farm of Daniel Pratt, Richland, Oswego county, N. Y. We have not seen this variety. According to Downing (1) the tree is vigorous and annually productive; the fruit large, roundish conical, yellow striped and shaded with clear pinkish-red; the flesh is yellowish-white, breaking, tender, juicy, rich and very good in quality. So far as we can discover it is not now known among New York fruit growers, nor do we find any record of its having been grown outside of the locality of its origin. Humrickhouse, in a list of new American seedling apples published in 1853, mentions a fall variety under the name of Pratt.¹ Since Pratt Sweet appears to have been but a local variety and since it was not brought to notice in New York till 1869, and since its season is given as December to March, it would seem that it is distinct from the Pratt of Humrickhouse. Ragan at first listed them as identical (2) but now considers them as "possibly identical."²