Red Autumn Calville
AppleRed Autumn Calville
Origin/History
Red Autumn Calville is an old French apple of unknown origin (Downing). It has been grown under several French names, including Calville Rouge d'Automne, Calville Rouge, Calville d'Automne, and Pomme Violette, and in German-speaking regions as Erd Beere, meaning Strawberry of Switzerland. The name Rosseau has been applied to it incorrectly.
Tree
The tree is vigorous and productive (Downing; the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC, independently confirms vigor). Young wood is dark reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size
Downing describes the fruit as large. The Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC, records it as above medium size.
Form
Roundish conical and deeply ribbed (Downing); roundish conical and ribbed (Central Experimental Farm).
Stem
Not described in source.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Downing describes the skin as pale yellowish, washed and overspread with shades of rich dark, or very dark red. The Central Experimental Farm describes it as greenish yellow, nearly overspread with pale red — a somewhat lighter, less saturated red than Downing records. Bunyard (1901) characterizes the variety simply as similar to Calville Blanc but red.
Flesh/Flavor
The flesh is white, tender, and juicy (Downing; Central Experimental Farm). Downing notes it is often stained with red, with a sprightly aromatic, subacid flavor, and rates the quality as Good. The Central Experimental Farm describes the flavor as pleasantly acid and slightly aromatic, also rating quality as good. Bunyard records good flavor.
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September to December (Downing). The Central Experimental Farm records the season as October.
Uses
Downing considers Red Autumn Calville an unprofitable variety, despite its acceptable eating quality.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC, records that trees were planted in spring 1895 as part of a trial collection (Bulletin No. 3, 1900).
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Red Autumn Calville.
Calville Rouge d'Automne. Calville Rouge. Calville d'Automne. Pomme Violette. Erd Beere, or Strawberry of Switzerland. Rosseau, incorrectly.
An old French Apple of unknown origin. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood dark reddish brown.
Fruit large, roundish conical, deeply ribbed, pale yellowish, washed and overspread with shades of rich dark, or very dark red. Flesh white, tender, juicy, often stained with red, sprightly aromatic, subacid. Good. September to December. An unprofitable variety.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1895. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit above medium size, roundish conical, ribbed. Skin greenish yellow, nearly overspread with pale red. Flesh white, tender, juicy, pleasantly acid, slightly aromatic, quality good. Season October.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Similar to Calville Blanc but red. Good flavor.