Red Astrachan
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Red Astrachan
Origin / History
A Russian apple (Warder, Hansen, Thomas, Beach, Hedrick). Elliott calls it simply "Foreign", and Bunyard says only that it probably came from the country of its name.
It was first imported into England from Sweden in 1816, together with the White Astrachan (Downing). Hogg, as cited by Beach, also gives 1816 for the importation. Lindley, as quoted by Beach, writes: "This very beautiful apple was imported from Sweden, and first fruited by William Atkinson, Esq., of Grove End, Paddington, in 1816."
Hovey gives the introduction as about 1816 but puts the first fruiting at 1820, in Mr. Atkinson's garden at Grove End, near London. In that year the fruit was exhibited before the London Horticultural Society and noticed in its Transactions, vol. iv. Figured in the Pomological Magazine, vol. iii, pl. 123. Hovey says its beauty as well as excellence commended it to the notice of cultivators, and it was very generally disseminated.
It was one of the first Russian apples imported into America. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society received it from the London Horticultural Society about 1835 (Beach). This was not the first importation, for fruit of Red Astrachan was included in one of the society's exhibitions in 1835. Lowther describes that fruit as grown in Massachusetts. Hedrick gives 1835 as the date of introduction into America.
Writing in 1852, Hovey had no precise information on the date of introduction. He found it in many collections but by no means extensively cultivated, and in the markets only in exceedingly small quantities.
Warder (1867) says it "has been perfectly adopted by our countrymen, and has proved itself a great favorite, particularly in the North, by its hardiness and productiveness, beauty and good qualities." Thomas calls it "now in general cultivation," although of second-rate flavor. He credits its standing to its earliness, its very handsome and fair appearance, the vigor and productiveness of the tree, and its excellent culinary qualities.
Beach says it is generally well known throughout the state, valued particularly for home use. It has become generally disseminated throughout the apple-growing districts of the continent and is commonly listed from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Canada to the Gulf states. Hedrick calls it the standard red summer apple for home orchards in the United States and Canada, "not because it is best in any of its characters, but because it is considerably above the average in all," and says it has long been grown in all the apple regions of America.
Stark says it succeeds in most apple-growing regions, but recommends Liveland Raspberry, Duchess, and Charlamof for most localities where Red Astrachan is grown. Bunyard calls it "A most attractive fruit but too poor a cropper for general use."
Every author who judges its appearance calls it beautiful or handsome. Hovey writes that if a fruit "should be entitled to the attention of cultivators for its beauty alone," Red Astrachan "would bear off the palm." He also judges it "an excellent apple, and one without which no collection can be complete," though "not quite equalling the Early Harvest, which ripens at about the same season." Downing calls it "a fruit of extraordinary beauty."
Tree
Hardy, vigorous, upright to upright spreading. Elliott values it most as a hardy, strong grower. Hovey calls it exceedingly vigorous, upright, and regular in growth, forming a handsome and rather compact head. His young trees are very erect, with short spurs on the main stem.
Beach gives the tree as medium to rather large and moderately vigorous to vigorous, upright spreading to roundish, and rather dense. Bunyard calls the growth moderate. Veitch describes a healthy and vigorous grower forming a large pyramid.
Beach calls it moderately long-lived. Hedrick calls it short-lived and "subject to most of the ills that apple-trees are heir to." Thomas reports it hardy far West. At Agassiz, B.C., trees planted in spring 1890 proved vigorous growers and productive.
Hovey finds it admirably adapted for dwarf trees, which have a very showy appearance when loaded with fruit. The George Bunyard catalog advises a warm soil and Paradise stock for garden culture, and says the fruit should be carefully thinned.
Wood stout, the shoots pubescent at the ends. The color is given as clear reddish chestnut sprinkled with distinct whitish specks (Hovey), clear reddish brown (Downing), reddish brown (Warder), dark brown (Elliott, Thomas), or clear brown lightly streaked with scarf-skin (Beach). Thomas describes the shoots as diverging and ascending, and Hovey the wood as rather short-jointed. Beach gives the twigs as medium to long, curved, stout to rather slender, with long internodes.
Lenticels quite numerous, medium to small, oblong, slightly raised (Beach). Hovey describes the buds as large, broad, with rather stout shoulders and somewhat flattened, and the flower-buds as oval. Beach gives the buds as medium, plump, obtuse to acute, free, and pubescent.
Foliage broad (Elliott, Thomas); Warder calls it large and rich green. Hovey gives leaves of medium size, roundish oblong, wavy on the margin, shortly acuminate, rather deeply and obtusely serrated. His petioles are of medium length and moderately stout, and his stipules narrow. Bunyard gives the leaf as long oval, pale green, held flat, and crenate. Flowers medium size (Hovey).
Comes into bearing early. Hovey says young, thrifty trees often produce fruit the fourth or fifth year. Most authors call it an abundant or productive bearer; Downing says it bears abundantly with us, and Veitch that it bears freely. Hedrick says it bears regularly and abundantly. Beach calls it a reliable cropper yielding moderate to good crops biennially or sometimes annually. Elliott calls it a regular, moderate bearer of fruit always fair. At the far end, Stark calls it "a tardy and shy bearer" and Bunyard gives "fertility poor."
Fruit
Size: Medium to large, the sources spread evenly across that span. Some give medium or good medium size, others above medium, and Hovey and Rivers call it large. Thomas says rather large, sometimes quite large. Hovey measures it about three inches broad and two and a half deep; Bunyard gives 2¼ by 2¼. Beach finds it not very uniform in size, a considerable amount of the crop being small or otherwise unmarketable.
Form: Roundish to roundish oblate, flattened round, or oblate (Warder), a little narrowed or tapering toward the eye, inclined to conical. Hovey adds that it is flattened at the base. Warder calls it regular and Bunyard fairly regular. Beach finds it somewhat ribbed, with sides a little unequal, and not very uniform in shape. Veitch calls it handsomely shaped, and Hedrick says the apples are beautiful in shape when well grown.
Stem: Short; Elliott says varying, generally short. Hovey gives about half an inch and Thomas one-half to three-fourths of an inch. Hovey describes it as rather stout and straight. Beach calls it medium, rather slender, and bracted. Warder alone calls it long, and yellow.
Cavity: Shallow to deep. Hovey, who calls it a basin, describes it as broad and rather shallow, with the stem moderately inserted. Warder and Hansen call it shallow and regular, and Hansen adds obtuse. Downing has the stalk deeply inserted. Beach describes the cavity as acute to sometimes obtuse, medium to deep, moderately broad, usually symmetrical, sometimes lipped. Elliott alone calls it narrow. A little russet about the stem, sometimes or occasionally present (Hovey, Downing); Beach describes it as often thin greenish russet, and Bunyard as scaly.
Calyx: Small to large: rather large (Hovey), large (Elliott), medium to rather large (Beach), small (Warder, Hansen). Partially closed (Hovey, Downing), closed (Warder, Hansen, Bunyard), or open or closed (Beach). Lobes rather long, moderately broad (Beach). Calyx tube funnel-form, long according to Beach. Stamens median to marginal (Hansen, Beach).
Basin: Shallow and slight, sometimes a little irregular. Hovey describes it as broad and somewhat ridged, with the eye slightly depressed. Elliott calls it uneven; Thomas calls it small and slightly uneven. Beach gives it as narrow to medium in width, obtuse, and wrinkled. Warder calls it medium and regular, and Hansen smooth.
Skin: Rather thin, moderately tender, smooth, very fair. Ground color greenish yellow, pale yellow, or green, showing a little in the shade. Nearly or quite overspread with deep crimson: rich and brilliant on the sunny side and paler in the shade, with a peculiar abruptness of coloring from the one to the other (Hovey). Elliott calls the color rich purplish crimson.
Mottled, marbled, and striped crimson (Warder). Beach describes light and dark red, splashed and irregularly striped with deep crimson or carmine, presenting a striped appearance. Bunyard alone calls it unstriped. Lowther, condensing Beach, calls it yellowish red with some parts dark red. Stark calls it largely yellow covered with light and dark red. The George Bunyard catalog describes a red-cheeked fruit. Hedrick says the apples are often poorly colored.
Covered with a bloom like that of a plum. The bloom is white or pale white, soft and thin (Hovey) or delicate (Hansen). Warder and Thomas call it thick or heavy. Beach calls it rather heavy, distinct, and bluish.
Dots: Minute (Warder, Hansen); numerous, small, whitish (Beach). Hovey alone gives large yellow specks.
Flesh and flavor: White, sometimes stained with pink (Hovey) or often strongly tinged with red (Beach). Warder alone calls it yellow. Fine, crisp, tender; Warder calls it breaking, and Thomas only rather crisp. Juicy; Hovey says tolerably abundant, and Downing moderately juicy.
Flavor acid to subacid: subacid (Hovey), brisk subacid (Beach), brisk acid (Hansen). Downing calls it "agreeable, rich, acid"; Warder "quite acid, not rich"; Thomas "rather acid, slightly austere." Beach adds aromatic and sometimes slightly astringent, and the George Bunyard catalog also calls it aromatic. Bunyard alone calls the flesh sweet. Veitch calls it "delicate and richly flavoured," the Agassiz station "a rich flavour," and Rivers "a pleasant medium flavour." Elliott finds it rather acid for dessert unless fully ripe. Mealy if left on the tree (Hovey, Downing, Veitch).
Most verdicts run from "good" to "good to very good." Below that, Thomas calls it "of second-rate flavor," Stark "only of fair quality," and Hedrick "fair for dessert," while Warder calls it "poor for table." Rivers calls it "a prime."
Core and seeds: Core small (Elliott, Beach), though Hovey calls it large. Warder calls it regular. Closed or rather close (Hovey, Warder, Hansen). Beach gives the core as somewhat abaxile, with cells closed or somewhat open and core lines clasping or sometimes nearly meeting. Hansen describes it as barely clasping, with open, obovate cells. Carpels broadly ovate or obovate, slightly tufted (Beach). Seeds small; Hansen calls them many. They are ovate (Hovey, Elliott), plump, obtuse and moderately wide (Beach), or angular (Warder, Hansen). Elliott gives the color as dark brownish black, and Warder simply as dark.
Season
July to September. Most authors give late July through August, or August alone. Warder alone gives July. Hovey gives the middle of August to the beginning of September, and Veitch and Rivers August and September. Thomas places it a few days after Early Harvest.
Beach says it is in season for home use from late July to September, being fit for culinary purposes before fully ripe. Hedrick likewise credits it with a long season of usefulness. The fruit hangs to the tree pretty well till fully ripe, but the crop matures unevenly, and there is considerable loss from dropping unless several pickings are made (Beach).
Hovey and Downing advise gathering it as soon as ripe, and Thomas a few days before fully mature. Veitch says it must be eaten fresh from the tree. Very perishable; Hedrick says the apples "cannot be handled or stored."
Uses
Culinary and dessert; Bunyard classes it as a dessert apple. Fit for cooking before it is ripe; Thomas and Stark call it excellent for cooking. Beach finds it desirable for dessert when fully ripe and mellow, Hedrick fair for dessert, and Downing counts it among the handsomest dessert fruits.
Elliott says that for marketing or cooking "it has few equals, at its time," and Warder rates it "first rate for market and cooking." Stark says its splendid appearance makes it valuable on the market. Beach finds it too perishable for shipping to distant markets. He says it is very common in local markets, but the supply often so much exceeds the demand that prices are low. Hedrick gives it small place as a market fruit. The George Bunyard catalog calls it fine for exhibition.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Bunyard cites Ronalds, p. V. Hovey's vignette is drawn from a tree two years from the bud. Stark's entry is marked "NCS."
Book Sources
Described in 12 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905)
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- The Herefordshire Pomona (1876–1885)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) — listed as Astrachan Red
- Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852) — listed as The Red Astrachan Apple
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 70 catalogs (1850–1947) from Alabama, Arkansas, California, England, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, Washington
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- Joseph Breck & Co. , Boston , Massachusetts — 1855
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Fancher Creek Nursery , Fresno , California — 1886
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Palouse Nursery and Pleasant Dale Fruit Farm , Colfax, Washington Territory (situated two miles northeast of Colfax) - undated (single-page broadside flyer; "Washington Territory" suggests pre — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Glen St. Mary Nurseries (G.L. Taber , Proprietor), Glen St. Mary , Florida — 1893
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Oregon Wholesale Nurseries , Salem , Oregon — 1893
- Sherwood Hall Nursery Co. , Timothy Hopkins (Menlo Park Nurseries), San Francisco / Menlo Park , California — 1893
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1896
- The Lovett Company , Little Silver , New Jersey — 1896
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- The Salem Nursery (John A. Francis , Proprietor), Salem , Virginia — 1897
- Arthur J. Collins & Sons , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1898
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1901
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- Mountain Grove Nurseries (Tippin & Moore , Proprietors; Geo. T. Tippin, J. W. Tippin, J. C. Moore), Mountain Grove , Missouri — 1901
- S.L. Watkins , Grizzly Flats, El Dorado County , California — 1901
- Yarbrough Bros. , Stephens , Arkansas — 1901
- Forestville Nurseries , T.J. True, Forestville , California — 1902
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
- Henderson Luelling / Traveling Nursery (historical recall) , Oregon — 1904
- OSU Bulletin 81 — 1904
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- Fancher Creek Nurseries , George C. Roeding, Fresno , California — 1918
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1918
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
- Fresno Nursery Co. , Fresno , California — 1924
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925
- Hudson's Wholesale Nurseries , Tangent , Oregon — 1936
- Milton Nursery Co. , Milton-Freewater , Oregon — 1947
- North-Western Nurseries , Walla Walla , Washington
View original book sources (17)
— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)THE RED ASTRACHAN APPLE.
Red Astrachan. Pomological Magazine, vol. iii. pl. 123.
If a fruit should be entitled to the attention of cultivators for its beauty alone, the Red Astrachan, among our great number of varieties, would bear off the palm. It has not only a rich, deep crimson, skin, often heightened by the peculiar abruptness of the coloring from the sunny to the shaded side, but it is covered with a soft bloom, as beautiful as that of a plum. Its fine appearance, however, is not its only recommendation ; for, although not quite equalling the Early Harvest, which ripens at about the same season, it is an excellent apple, and one without which no collection can be complete.
It was first introduced into England, from Sweden, about the year 1816, and fruited in the garden of Mr. Atkinson, at Grove End, near London, in 1820, at which period it was exhibited before the London Horticultural Society, and noticed in their Transactions, (vol. iv.) Its beauty as well as excellence commended it to the notice of cultivators, and it was very generally disseminated. At what time it was introduced into this country we have no precise information. Though in many collections of fruit, it is by no means extensively cultivated, and we believe that it has not yet been so abundantly raised as to be found in our markets, only in exceedingly small quantities.
It is a hardy and exceedingly vigorous variety, admirably adapted for dwarf trees, which, when loaded with fruit, have a very showy appearance. It comes into bearing rather early, young and thrifty trees often producing fruit the fourth or fifth year. The fruit should be gathered as soon as ripe, for, if allowed to hang upon the tree, it soon becomes mealy.
Tree. — Vigorous, upright, and regular in growth, forming a handsome and rather compact head ; young trees very erect, with short spurs on the main stem : our vignette is from a tree two years from the bud.
Wood. — Clear reddish chestnut, sprinkled with distinct whitish specks, stout, rather short-jointed, pubescent at the ends ; buds large, broad, with rather stout shoulders, and somewhat flattened : Flower-buds oval.
Leaves. — Medium size, roundish oblong, wavy on the margin, shortly acuminate, rather deeply and obtusely serrated ; petioles of medium length, and moderately stout ; stipules narrow.
Flowers. — Medium size.
Fruit. — Large, about three inches broad, and two and a half deep : Form, roundish, flattened at the base, and narrowing little towards the eye : Skin, very fair, smooth, rich brilliant crimson on the sunny side, paler in the shade, though occasionally little greenish, sometimes russeted around the stem, dotted with large yellow specks, and covered with a thin whitish bloom : Stem, short, about half an inch in length, rather stout, straight, and moderately inserted in a broad, rather shallow basin : Eye, rather large, partially closed, and slightly depressed in a broad, shallow, and somewhat ridged basin : Flesh, white, with occasional stains of pink, fine, crisp, and tender : Juice, tolerably abundant, subacid and good : Core, large, rather close : Seeds, small, ovate.
Ripe from the middle of August to the beginning of September.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)RED ASTRACHAN.
Foreign. Most valuable as a hardy, strong grower, regular, moderate bearer of fruit, always fair. As a dessert fruit, it is rather acid, unless fully ripe; but, for marketing or cooking, it has few equals, at its time. Shoots stout, dark brown, broad foliage.
Fruit, medium to large; form, roundish, tapering toward the apex; color, greenish yellow, mostly overspread with rich purplish crimson, a little russet near the stem and a white bloom; stem, varying, generally short: cavity, narrow; calyx, large; basin, shallow, uneven; flesh, white, crisp, juicy, acid; core, small; seeds, ovate, dark brownish black. August.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Red Astrachan.
This Russian fruit has been perfectly adopted by our countrymen, and has proved itself a great favorite, particularly in the North, by its hardiness and productiveness, beauty and good qualities.
Tree vigorous, upright, productive, hardy ; Shoots reddish brown, foliage large, rich green.
Fig. 100.—RED ASTRACHAN.
Fruit medium to large, regular, oblate ; Surface smooth, mottled, marbled and striped crimson on greenish-yellow ; Dots minute, heavy bloom.
Basin medium, regular ; Eye small, closed.
Cavity shallow, regular ; Stem long, yellow.
Core regular, closed ; Seeds angular, small, dark ; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy ; Flavor quite acid, not rich ; Quality first rate for market and cooking, poor for table ; Season July.
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)[Page 409 text not captured by OCR — description unavailable for verbatim transcription]
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Red Astrachan.
Deterding's Early. Vermilion d'Ete. Astrachan Rouge. Abe Lincoln. Rother Astrakan.
A fruit of extraordinary beauty, first imported into England, with the White Astrachan, from Sweden, in 1816. It bears abundantly with us, and its singular richness of color is heightened by an exquisite bloom on the surface of the fruit, like that of a plum. It is one of the handsomest dessert fruits, and its quality is good, but if not taken from the tree as soon as ripe it is liable to become mealy. Tree a vigorous grower, upright spreading. An early and abundant bearer. Young shoots clear reddish brown.
Fruit pretty large, rather above the middle size, and very smooth and fair, roundish, a little narrowed towards the eye. Skin almost entirely covered with deep crimson, with sometimes a little greenish yellow in the shade, and occasionally a little russet near the stalk, and covered with a pale white bloom. Stalk rather short and deeply inserted. Calyx partially closed, set in a slight basin, which is sometimes a little irregular. Flesh quite white, crisp, moderately juicy, with an agreeable, rich, acid flavor. Good to very good. Ripens from last of July to middle of August.
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Red Astrachan—Origin, Russia—First imported into England with the White Astrachan from Sweden in 1816. Tree of vigorous, upright, spreading growth, an early and abundant bearer—Fruit above medium, roundish, somewhat conical; surface smooth, greenish yellow, almost entirely covered with mottled, marbled and striped deep crimson, with delicate white bloom, a beautiful fruit; dots minute; cavity shallow, regular, obtuse, russeted; stem short; basin shallow, smooth, sometimes a little irregular; calyx small, closed. Core closed, barely clasping; cells open, obovate; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal or median; seeds many, angular, plump, small; flesh white, crisp, juicy, brisk acid, good. Late July, early August.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Red Astrachan.* Rather large, sometimes quite large, roundish-oblate, slightly approaching conical, rather smooth; nearly whole surface brilliant deep crimson, with a thick bloom like a plum; stalk one-half to three-fourths of an inch long; calyx in a small slightly uneven basin; flesh white, rather crisp; good, rather acid, slightly austere. A few days after Early Harvest. Excellent for cooking. Shoots stout, dark brown, diverging and ascending; leaves broad. This apple, although of second-rate flavor, because of its earliness and very handsome and fair appearance, by the vigor and productiveness of the tree, and its excellent culinary qualities, is now in general cultivation. It should be picked a few days before fully mature. Hardy far West. Russian. Fig. 367.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)RED ASTRACHAN.
REFERENCES. 1. London Hort. Soc. Trans., 4:522 (cited by 2). 2. Forsyth, 1824:131. 3. Pom. Mag., 1830:No. 123, col. pl. 4. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831:No. 31. 5. Kenrick, 1832:90. 6. Floy-Lindley, 1833:4. 7. Kenrick, 1835:58. 8. Mag. Hort., 1:391. 1835. 9. Manning, 1838:50. 10. Ib., Mag. Hort., 7:48. 1841. 11. Downing, 1845:75. fig. 12. Horticulturist, 1:146. 1846. 13. Hovey, Mag. Hort., 14:15. 1848. fig. 14. Cole, 1849:98. fig. 15. Goodrich, 1849:49. 16. Thomas, 1849:143. 17. Waring, 1851:29. 18. Barry, 1851:279. 19. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:14. 1851. col. pl. No. 53. 20. Hovey, 1:35. 1851. col. pl. and fig. 21. Mass. Hort. Soc. Trans., 1852:103. col. pl. 22. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1852. 23. Horticulturist, 7:437. 1852. 24. Elliott, 1854:103. fig. 25. Horticulturist, 10:443. 1855. fig. 26. Hooper, 1857:13, 77. 27. Gregg, 1857:38. fig. 28. Mag. Hort., 30:162. 1864. 29. Ib., 32:17, 51. 1866. 30. Warder, 1867:456. fig. 31. Downing, 1869:323. fig. 32. Todd, 1871:210. fig. 33. Fitz, 1872:143, 160, 172. 34. Leroy, 1873:82. fig. 35. Hatch, Horticulturist, 29:51. 1874. 36. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1876:8. 37. Hogg, 1884:185. 38. Wickson, 1889:243. 39. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 40. Can. Hort., 14:261. 1891. 41. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234, 247. 42. Am. Gard., 15:404. 1894. fig. 43. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 2:10. 1895. fig. 44. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:337. 1896. 45. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:131. 1897. 46. Bunyard, Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1898:354. 47. Craig, Cyc. of Am. Hort., 1901:1404. 48. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:305. 1901. 49. Can. Hort., 25:305. 1902. figs. 50. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:90. 1902. 51. Bruner, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:21. 1903. 52. Budd-Hansen, 1903:160. fig.
SYNONYMS. Abe Lincoln (31, 32, 34, 48). AMERICAN RED (4, 46). Anglesea Pippin (37). ASTRACAN ROUGE (34). ASTRACHAN (23). ASTRACHAN RED (2, 18). Astrachan Rouge (31). Astrakhan Rouge (32). Deterding's Early (31, 32). Hamper's American (37). RED ASTRACAN (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19). RED ASTRACHAN (1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52). Red Astrachan (34). RED ASTRAKHAN (32). Rother Astrakhan (31, 32). Vermilion d'Ete (31, 32, 34). Waterloo (37).
This is a very beautiful early summer apple of good medium size, yellow, largely covered with light and dark red, presenting a striped appearance, and overspread with bluish bloom. It is generally well known throughout the state, being valued particularly for home use. It is fit for culinary purposes before it becomes fully ripe, so that for home use it is in season from late July to September. When fully ripe and mellow it is desirable for dessert use. The tree is of medium size, a good grower, moderately long-lived, comes into bearing rather young and is a reliable cropper, yielding moderate to good crops biennially or sometimes annually. The fruit hangs to the tree pretty well till it is fully ripe, but as the crop matures unevenly there is apt to be considerable loss from the dropping of the fruit unless several pickings are made. It is not very uniform in size, and a considerable amount of it is small or otherwise unmarketable. It is very perishable, and on this account not well adapted for shipping to distant markets. It is very common in local markets, but often the supply so much exceeds the demand that prices are consequently low.
Historical. Hogg states that Red Astrachan was imported from Sweden into England in 1816 but Lindley (6) states that "This very beautiful apple was imported from Sweden, and first fruited by William Atkinson, Esq., of Grove End, Paddington, in 1816." It was one of the first of the Russian apples imported into America. It was received by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from the London (Eng.) Horticultural Society about 1835 but this was not the first importation for fruit of Red Astrachan was included in one of the exhibitions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1835 (8). It has become generally disseminated throughout the apple-growing districts of the continent and is commonly listed from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Canada to the Gulf states.
TREE.
Tree medium to rather large, moderately vigorous to vigorous. Form upright spreading to roundish, rather dense. Twigs medium to long, curved, stout to rather slender; internodes long. Bark clear brown, lightly streaked with scarf-skin, pubescent near the tips. Lenticels quite numerous, medium to small, oblong, slightly raised. Buds medium in size, plump, obtuse to acute, free, pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium to sometimes large, not very uniform in size or shape. Form roundish to roundish oblate, inclined to conical, somewhat ribbed; sides a little unequal. Stem medium, rather slender, bracted. Cavity acute to sometimes obtuse, medium to deep, moderately broad, often thinly russeted with greenish russet, usually symmetrical, sometimes lipped. Calyx medium to rather large, open or closed; lobes rather long, moderately broad. Basin shallow, narrow to medium in width, obtuse, wrinkled. Skin rather thin, moderately tender, smooth, pale yellow or greenish often nearly or quite overspread with light and dark red splashed and irregularly striped with deep crimson or carmine and covered with rather heavy distinct bluish bloom. Dots numerous, small, whitish. Calyx tube long, funnel-form. Stamens median to marginal. Core small, somewhat abaxile; cells closed or somewhat open; core lines clasping or sometimes nearly meeting. Carpels broadly ovate or obovate, slightly tufted. Seeds small, moderately wide, plump, obtuse. Flesh white often strongly tinged with red, rather fine, crisp, tender, juicy, brisk subacid, aromatic, sometimes slightly astringent, good to very good. Season late July to September.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Red Astrachan.
Red Astrachan. — Origin, Russia ; first imported into England with the White Astrachan from Sweden in 1816. Tree of vigorous, upright, spreading growth, an early and abundant bearer. Fruit above medium, roundish, somewhat conical; surface smooth, greenish yellow, almost entirely covered with mottled, marbled and striped deep crimson, with delicate white bloom, a beautiful fruit; dots minute; cavity shallow, regular, obtuse, russeted; stem short; basin shallow, smooth, sometimes a little irregular; calyx small, closed. Core closed, barely clasping; cells open, obovate; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal or median; seeds many, angular, plump, small; flesh white, crisp, juicy, brisk acid, good. Late July, early August.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Red Astrachan
This is an early summer apple, medium size, yellowish red, some parts being a dark red, and causing the apple to present a striped appearance, and is also overspread with a bluish bloom. It is good for culinary purposes before it becomes fully ripe, so that it is valued for home use.
The tree is of medium size, a good grower, moderately long lived, comes into bearing young and produces well. The crop matures unevenly and in order to save the fruit it is important to give several pickings. The fruit is tender and perishable, and for this reason not well adapted to commercial purposes.
Historical. Hogg states that the Red Astrachan was imported into England from Sweden in 1816. It was one of the first Russian apples imported into America, and was received by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from London, England, about 1835; but this was not the first importation, for the same year fruit of this variety grown in Massachusetts was exhibited at the meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)ASTRACHAN RED. Ronalds, p. V. (American Red, Anglesea Pippin.) Dessert, early August, medium, 2¼ by 2¼, flattened round, fairly regular. Colour, deep crimson, unstriped. Flesh, crisp, white, sweet. Eye, closed in a shallow basin. Stem, short in a scaly russet cavity. Growth, moderate, fertility poor. Leaf, long oval, pale green, held flat, crenate. Origin, probably from the country of its name. Introduced to England in 1816. A most attractive fruit but too poor a cropper for general use.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)RED ASTRACHAN. Fig. 45. Red Astrachan is the standard red summer apple for home orchards in the United States and Canada, not because it is best in any of its characters, but because it is considerably above the average in all. The apples are beautiful in color and shape when well grown, but are often poorly colored and lacking in uniformity of size and shape. They are fit for cooking long before maturity, and, when fully ripe, are fair for dessert, having a long season of usefulness. The trees come into bearing young and bear regularly and abundantly, but are short-lived and subject to most of the ills that apple-trees are heir to. The apples cannot be handled or stored, and, therefore, the variety has small place as a market fruit. Red Astrachan is a Russian apple introduced into America in 1835, and has long been grown in all of the apple regions of America.
Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, dense.
Fruit medium to large, not uniform in size or shape, round-oblate, conical, ribbed, sides unequal; stem slender, bracted; cavity acute, deep, broad, often russeted with greenish-russet, usually symmetrical, sometimes lipped; calyx large, open, or closed; lobes long, broad; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, wrinkled; skin thin, tender, smooth, pale yellow often overspread with light and dark red, splashed and irregularly striped with deep crimson or carmine and covered with heavy bloom; dots numerous, white; calyx-tube long, funnel-form; stamens median; core small, abaxile; cells closed or open; core-lines clasping; carpels broadly ovate, tufted; seeds small, wide, plump, obtuse; flesh white often tinged with red, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, brisk subacid, aromatic, sometimes astringent; good to very good; late July to September.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1890. Tree a vigorous grower, and productive. Fruit above medium size, roundish. Skin green, nearly overspread with deep crimson. Flesh white, crisp, juicy, with a rich flavour, quality good. Season August.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Medium, beautiful red-cheeked fruit, fine for exhibition; should be carefully thinned; best on a warm soil, and on Paradise stock for garden culture; aromatic flavour.
— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)A beautiful apple of medium size, largely yellow covered with light and dark red. A tardy and shy bearer, but succeeds in most apple-growing regions. Tree is a vigorous grower, hardy; fruit only of fair quality. Its splendid appearance makes it valuable on the market. It is an excellent cooking apple. We recommend Liveland Raspberry, Duchess, and Charlamof for most localities where Red Astrachan is grown. NCS
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size, beautifully coloured and handsomely shaped, flesh delicate and richly flavoured, but requires to be eaten fresh from the tree or it soon becomes mealy, the tree is a healthy and vigorous grower, forming a large pyramid and bears freely ... Aug. & Sept.
— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)large; a pleasant medium flavour; a prime - Aug & Sept.