Prolific Sweet

Apple

Prolific Sweet

Origin/History

Downing and Elliott both place the origin in Connecticut. Thomas, however, designates the variety as "Russian," which conflicts with the Connecticut origin reported by the other sources.

Tree

A good grower and very productive (Downing). Not described further in sources.

Fruit

Size: Medium (Thomas). Not specified by Downing or Elliott.

Form: Downing and Elliott describe the fruit as roundish conic. Thomas describes it as oblate conical, with base and apex very irregular — a conflict with the other two sources on both the primary shape (oblate vs. conic) and the regularity of outline.

Stem: Not described in sources.

Cavity: Not described in sources.

Calyx: Not described in sources.

Basin: Not described in sources.

Skin: Greenish (Downing, Elliott). Thomas describes it as smooth, yellowish white, lined with green.

Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, tender, with a pleasant, sweet, spicy flavor (Downing); whitish, tender, sweet (Elliott); white, firm, juicy, sweet, with clear water spots (Thomas). Thomas's description of the flesh as firm conflicts with Downing's and Elliott's characterization of it as tender.

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

November to February (Downing, Elliott). Thomas gives September in Vermont — a substantial conflict with the late-season window reported by the other two sources.

Uses

Fine for cooking (Downing). Thomas rates the variety Good for quality.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in sources.

Other

Thomas references Fig. 375 in his work as an illustration of this variety.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Prolific Sweet. From Connecticut. Tree a good grower, very productive, fine for cooking. Fruit roundish conic. Skin greenish. Flesh whitish, tender, with a pleasant, sweet, spicy flavor. November to February.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Prolific Sweet. From Connecticut. Roundish conic; skin, greenish; flesh, whitish, tender, sweet. November to February.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Prolific Sweet. Medium, oblate conical, base and apex very irregular; smooth yellowish white, lined green; flesh white, firm, juicy, sweet, with clear water spots. Good. September in Vermont. Fig. 375. Russian.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Prolific Sweeting