Richmond
Apple
Richmond
Origin / History
Richmond is a native seedling found near Sandusky, Ohio, on the farm of D. C. Richmond. F. R. Elliott received it from Mr. Richmond as a native seedling and was unable to identify it with any known sort; he called it "this fine variety." Warder records that it was described by Elliott, whom he names as "author of American Fruit Growers' Guide." He adds that it was named for "our mutual friend, D. C. Richmond," who found it in an old seedling orchard with several other good varieties. The seeds of that orchard were supposed to have been brought from the old French orchards of Canada.
Tree
Large and vigorous (Warder), a free grower, productive, and a profuse bearer (Downing). Warder says it "would appear to have been hardy."
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish (Elliott) to oblate (Downing), roundish-oblate and slightly ribbed in Thomas. Occasional specimens have one side a little enlarged (Elliott).
Stem: Short. Elliott calls it varying, mostly short, slender.
Cavity: Large, deep, open, regular, a little brownish at bottom. Thomas gives the size as large and Elliott the remaining detail.
Calyx: Large, open, segments long (Elliott).
Basin: Large, deep, open, uniformly furrowed.
Skin: Light yellow ground, mostly or quite overspread with stripes and splashes of crimson. Elliott gives the stripes as light and dark red. Downing adds marbling to the striping and splashing.
Dots: Many, thickly sprinkled. Elliott gives them as dots or specks of light russet; Downing as light brown.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, tender, juicy, sweet, and rich. Elliott calls the flavor "delicate sweet," and Downing calls it "vinous, sweet, and rich." Downing rates it "Good."
Core and seeds: Core medium. Seeds large, full (Elliott).
Season
The recorded season runs from October to February. Elliott and Thomas place it in autumn, October to December or late autumn; Downing alone carries it into February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— 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 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.
— 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.