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Rawle's Janet

Apple
Illustration from Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Rawle's Janet

Origin/History

Originated in Amherst County, Virginia, on the farm of Caleb Rawle (Downing). A famous southern apple that spread throughout the West, and even the Northwest, where it has not proved hardy (Warder). Particularly valuable for the South and Southwest, where it is much cultivated; so far has not succeeded well at the North (Downing). In suitable soils it is very fine and deservedly a favorite with planters, some of whom recommend fifty trees of this variety in an orchard of one hundred (Warder). It also has the fault of over-bearing, when the fruit is often small and insipid (Warder).

Tree

Both sources agree the tree is spreading. Warder describes it as thrifty and not large; Downing describes it as hardy and vigorous. Young wood is clear reddish brown (Downing); twigs brownish (Warder). Foliage medium, rather whitish (Warder). The tree puts forth its leaves and blossoms much later than other varieties in the spring, and consequently avoids injury by late frosts — a characteristic noted by both sources as particularly valuable in southern growing regions. Tendency toward over-bearing, with diminished fruit quality under heavy crop loads (Warder).

Fruit

Size and Form: Warder describes the fruit as medium, sometimes large when thinned, flattened, conic, and regular in outline. Downing describes it as rather large and oblate conic. Both sources thus agree on the oblate-conic form.

Skin: Surface smooth (Warder). Ground color yellowish, shaded with red and striped with crimson (Downing); Warder describes the surface as mixed and striped crimson on yellow and green ground. Dots numerous and small (Warder).

Stem: The two sources conflict on this feature. Warder describes the stem as long and curved; Downing describes the stalk as short and thick.

Cavity: The sources conflict here as well. Warder describes the cavity as acute, deep, regular, and brown. Downing describes it as a broad, open cavity.

Calyx: The sources conflict. Warder gives the eye as small and closed, with segments reflexed. Downing states the calyx is partially open.

Basin: Sources conflict. Warder describes the basin as wide and regular. Downing describes it as rather shallow.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish (Warder) or whitish yellow (Downing), crisp, breaking, fine-grained, and juicy (Warder); tender and juicy (Downing). The two sources conflict on texture: Warder's "crisp, breaking" suggests a firmer, crisper texture, while Downing's "tender" implies a softer one. Flavor sub-acid, vinous, and refreshing (Warder); pleasant subacid (Downing). Quality good to very good (both sources).

Core and Seeds: Core regular, heart-shaped, closed, and clasping. Seeds numerous and plump (Warder). Not described in Downing.

Season

Warder gives the season as February, March, and later. Downing extends this range to February through June, indicating exceptional keeping qualities.

Uses

Dessert, kitchen, market, and cider (Warder).

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 21 catalogs (1886–1921) from Alabama, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Virginia, Washington

View original book sources (2)

Rawle's Janet. JANETTING OR GENETON — NEVER FAIL — ROCK RIMMON, ETC., ETC.

This famous southern apple has been spread throughout the West, and even the Northwest where, however, it has not proved hardy. It also has the fault of over-bearing, when the fruit is often small and insipid. In suitable soils it is very fine and deservedly a favorite with planters, some of whom recommend fifty trees of this variety in an orchard of one hundred. Origin Virginia.

Tree thrifty, not large, spreading; Twigs brownish, foliage medium, rather whitish. Blossoms appear later than other sorts, and thus they sometimes escape a spring frost.

Fruit medium, sometimes large when thinned, flattened, conic, regular; Surface smooth, mixed and striped crimson on yellow and green; Dots numerous, small.

Basin wide, regular; Eye small, closed; Segments reflexed.

Cavity acute, deep, regular, brown; Stem long, curved.

Core regular, heart-shaped, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellowish, crisp, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, vinous, refreshing; Quality good to very good; Use, dessert, kitchen, market and cider; Season, February, March, and later.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Rawle's Janet.

Missouri Janet ? Rock Remain. Jennett. Red Neverfail ? Rock Rimmon. Neverfail. Rawle's Jannet. Yellow Janett. Indiana Jannetting. Rawle's Jannetting. Winter Jannetting. Rawle's Gennetting. Rawle's Genet. Jeniton.

Originated in Amherst Co., Va., on the farm of Caleb Rawle. Tree hardy, vigorous, spreading; it puts forth its leaves and blossoms much later than other varieties in the spring, and consequently avoids injury by late frost; it is, therefore, particularly valuable for the South and Southwest, where it is much cultivated. Young wood clear reddish brown.

Fruit rather large, oblate conic, yellowish, shaded with red and striped with crimson. Stalk short and thick, inserted in a broad open cavity. Calyx partially open, set in a rather shallow basin. Flesh whitish yellow, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good to very good. February to June. So far has not succeeded well at the North.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
Geneton Indiana Jannetting Jan et de Rawle Janet de Rawie Janetting Jefferson Pippin Jeniton Jennett Missouri Janet Never Fail Neverfail Raul's Gennetting Raule's Jannetting Raule’s Jannetting Raul’s Gennetting Rawle's Genet Rawle's Gennetting Rawle's Jannet Rawle's Jannetting Red Neverfail Rock Remain Rock Rimmon Rock Romain Winter Janneting Winter Jannetting Yellow Janet Yellow Janett Ralls Margil Fail-Me-Never Muscat Reinette Raules' Janet Rall's Genet Winter Genneting Rawle's Genet