Richmond
Apple
Origin & History
Origin, farm of D. C. Richmond, near Sandusky, Ohio. According to Warder, Elliott described and named the variety for Richmond, who found it in an old seedling orchard with several other good varieties; the seeds were supposed to have been brought from the old French orchards of Canada. Elliott states he received it from Richmond as a native seedling and was unable to identify it with any known sort.
Tree
Large, vigorous, productive, and a free grower (Downing: "a profuse bearer"). Warder notes the tree "would appear to have been hardy."
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish, with occasional specimens having one side a little enlarged (Elliott, Warder). Downing describes the form as oblate. Thomas gives roundish-oblate, slightly ribbed.
Stem: Varying, mostly short, slender.
Cavity: Deep, open, regular, a little brownish at bottom (Elliott, Warder). Thomas describes the cavity as large.
Calyx: Large, segments long (Elliott, Warder). Downing describes the calyx as open. Thomas gives large, open.
Basin: Deep, open, uniformly furrowed (Elliott, Warder). Thomas describes the basin as large, furrowed.
Skin: Light yellow ground, mostly or quite overspread with light and dark red stripes, with many dots or specks of light russet (Elliott, Warder). Downing describes it as light yellow, striped, splashed, and marbled with crimson, and thickly sprinkled with light brown dots. Thomas gives splashed and striped with crimson on yellow ground, with numerous dots.
Flesh & Flavor: White, tender, juicy. Elliott and Warder describe the flavor as "delicate sweet." Downing describes it as "vinous, sweet, and rich." Thomas gives "sweet, rich."
Core: Medium.
Seeds: Large, full.
Season
Elliott and Warder give October to December. Downing extends the season to October to February. Thomas gives late autumn. Downing rates the quality "Good."
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Richmond.
Described by F. R. Elliott, author of American Fruit Growers' Guide, and named for our mutual friend, D. C. Richmond, near Sandusky, Ohio, who found it in an old seedling orchard with several other good varieties. The seeds were supposed to have been brought from the old French orchards of Canada. Tree large, vigorous, productive, and would appear to have been hardy. Mr. Elliott says: "Fruit large; Form roundish, occasional specimens have one side a little enlarged; Color light yellow ground, mostly or quite overspread with light and dark red stripes, many dots or specks of light russet; Stem varying, mostly short, slender; Cavity deep, open, regular, a little brownish at bottom; Calyx large, segments long; Basin deep, open, uniformly furrowed; Flesh white, tender, juicy, delicate, sweet; Core medium; Seeds large, full; Season October to December."
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Richmond.
Origin, farm of D. C. Richmond, Sandusky, O. Tree a free grower, and a profuse bearer.
Fruit large, oblate, light yellow, striped, splashed, and marbled with crimson, and thickly sprinkled with light brown dots. Stalk short. Calyx open. Flesh white, tender, juicy, vinous, sweet, and rich. Good, October to February.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Richmond.
We received this fine variety from D. C. Richmond, Esq., near Sandusky, as a native seedling, and are unable to identify it with any known sort.
Fruit, large ; form roundish ; occasional specimens have one side a little enlarged : color, light yellow ground, mostly or quite overspread with light and dark red stripes, many dots or specks of light russet ; stem, varying, mostly short, slender ; cavity, deep, open, regular, a little brownish at bottom ; calyx, large, segments long, basin, deep, open, uniformly furrowed ; flesh, white, tender, juicy, delicate sweet ; core, medium ; seeds, large, full. October to December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Richmond. Large, roundish-oblate, slightly ribbed; splashed and striped with crimson on yellow ground, with numerous dots; stalk short, cavity large; calyx large, open; basin large, furrowed; flesh white, tender, sweet, rich. Late autumn. Origin, Sandusky, O.