Pumpkin Sweet

Origin / History

An old Connecticut fruit (Elliott). Downing received the variety from Mr. S. Lyman of Manchester, Connecticut, and notes that there is also in Connecticut and Massachusetts another Pumpkin Sweet — Downing describes both forms (see Subtypes/Variants below) and remarks that there are also several other apples circulating under the name Pumpkin Sweet, but he considers the two he describes the best he has known. Warder reports that fruit was exhibited at the Ohio State Fair at Zanesville, and that in Ohio the variety was known as Sweet Russet. The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC planted it in the spring of 1894 for trial.

Tree

Downing describes the first (Lyman) form as upright, spreading, with brown young wood; the second Connecticut/Massachusetts form as a strong, upright grower, very productive, with young wood reddish brown and slightly downy. Elliott notes that it bears regularly, with the crop evenly distributed. The Central Experimental Farm (Agassiz, 1900) describes the tree as a vigorous grower.

Fruit

Size: Large (Elliott, Warder, Lowther); very large (Downing's first form, Central Experimental Farm); large in Downing's second form.

Form: Roundish (Elliott, Warder, Central Experimental Farm); roundish, conical (Warder); roundish, more or less furrowed or ribbed, especially near the stalk (Downing, first form); roundish oblate (Downing, second form); roundish (oblate) (Lowther); ribbed at base (Elliott).

Stem / Cavity: Stem short (Elliott); stem long, slender (Warder). Cavity deep, greenish, russeted (Elliott); cavity deep, narrow, regular (Warder).

Calyx / Eye / Basin: Calyx small (Elliott); eye medium, closed (Warder). Basin irregular (Elliott); basin medium, regular (Warder).

Skin / Color: Yellowish green with whitish dots and streaks (Elliott). Downing's first form: pale green, with obscure whitish streaks near the stalk and numerous white dots near the eye, sometimes becoming a little yellow next the sun. Downing's second form: rich yellow, frequently with considerable russet. Warder: surface dull green, covered with a rough coat of russet. Central Experimental Farm: green, with a few whitish dots. Lowther: yellow-red.

Flesh / Flavor: White, tender, sweet, "good" (Elliott); white, very sweet, but not very juicy, good (Downing, first form); yellowish white, breaking, rich, sugary, sweet (Downing, second form); spongy, light, flavor sweet, quality scarcely good (Warder); whitish, crisp, juicy, sweet, pleasant, quality good (Central Experimental Farm); quality good (Lowther). Elliott warns that in wet soils or heavy clay the fruit is liable to be water-cored.

Core / Seeds: Core medium, regular; seeds numerous, small, plump (Warder). Other sources do not describe the core or seeds.

Season

Sources disagree. Elliott: September to November. Warder: autumn. Downing's first form: September to December; second form: ripening in September and October. Lowther: winter. Central Experimental Farm: December.

Uses

Valued for baking (Elliott, Downing, Warder). Also for stock-feeding (Warder, Downing's second form). Lowther reports use for both kitchen and market. Downing notes it is perhaps inferior to the Jersey Sweet or the Summer Sweet Paradise for the table, but is a very valuable apple for baking and deserves a place on this account in every orchard. Warder writes that the apple has never commended itself very highly to his notice in the limited opportunities he has had for its examination, but it is esteemed in some parts of the country for baking and for stock-feeding.

Subtypes / Variants

Downing distinguishes two Pumpkin Sweets:

1. Lyman's form (received from S. Lyman, Manchester, Conn.) — tree upright, spreading; young wood brown; fruit very large, roundish, more or less furrowed or ribbed near the stalk; pale green with obscure whitish streaks near the stalk and numerous white dots near the eye, sometimes becoming a little yellow next the sun; flesh white, very sweet, but not very juicy; September to December.

2. The other Connecticut and Massachusetts form — tree a strong, upright grower, very productive; young wood reddish brown, slightly downy; fruit large, roundish oblate, rich yellow, frequently with considerable russet; flesh yellowish white, breaking, rich, sugary, sweet; ripening in September and October; very valuable for baking or stock-feeding.

Downing adds that several other apples circulate under the name Pumpkin Sweet, but he considers the two above the best he has known. Warder records the Ohio name Sweet Russet for the variety he describes (large, roundish conical, dull green covered with rough russet).

Other

Lowther's 1914 station reports: Northern Division — 6 stations reporting (also reported in another division); Central Division — 2 stations reporting (also reported in another division).