Rose Red
Apple
Origin/History
A variety of unknown origin, supposed to have originated on the farm formerly owned by Gideon Ramsdell, Egypt, Monroe County, N.Y. Thomas places it in Western New York, consistent with this provenance. Beach (1905) notes that his station was unacquainted with the variety and had received no report concerning it from any correspondents. Published references include: Rural N.Y., 1871; Downing, 1872 (with a figure); Thomas, 1875; Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890; Ragan, U.S.P.B.I. Bul. 56:267, 1905.
Tree
Thrifty, strong grower; upright in habit, inclining to spread. Very productive and a regular, reliable bearer.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Oblate to roundish oblate.
Stem: Short, small.
Cavity: Large, deep, smooth, with a slight greenish cast.
Calyx: Half closed.
Basin: Large and deep.
Skin: Whitish ground, shaded, striped and splashed with light and dark red, the coloring sometimes quite dark and covering nearly the whole surface. Many light dots, a portion of which are areole.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish, fine, very tender, juicy, vinous, lively subacid. Quality rated very good. Core small.
Season
Downing gives the season as middle of September through November; Beach, paraphrasing the same source, renders it as late September, October, and November. Thomas describes it as an autumn variety.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Rose Red.
Of unknown origin, supposed to be on the farm formerly owned by Gideon Ramsdell, Egypt, Monroe County, N. Y. Tree a thrifty, strong grower, upright, inclining to spread; very productive and regular bearer.
Fruit medium, oblate, or roundish oblate; skin whitish, shaded, striped and splashed with light and dark red, sometimes quite dark, nearly over the whole surface, many light dots, a portion being areole; stalk short, small; cavity large, deep, smooth, a little greenish; calyx half closed; basin large, deep; flesh yellowish, fine, very tender, juicy, vinous, lively subacid; very good; core small. Middle of September and November.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)ROSE RED.
REFERENCES. 1. Rural N. Y., 1871 (cited by 5). 2. Downing, 1872:30 app. fig. 3. Thomas, 1875:511. 4. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 5. Ragan, U. S. P. B. I. Bul., 56:267. 1905.
SYNONYMS. Autumn Rose (4). ROSE RED (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
A variety of unknown origin. It is supposed to have originated in Egypt, Monroe county, N. Y. According to Downing (2) the tree is thrifty, a reliable cropper and very productive; the fruit medium, roundish oblate, whitish, striped and splashed with light and dark red; flesh yellowish, very tender, lively subacid, very good; in season during late September, October and November. We are unacquainted with this variety and have received no report concerning it from any of our correspondents.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Rose Red. Medium, oblate, striped and shaded red; lively sub-acid, very good. Autumn. Western N. Y.