Royal Russet
Apple
Royal Russet
Origin/History
Imported from England, where it is highly esteemed as a valuable winter apple.
Tree
Bears abundantly. Other characteristics not described in source.
Fruit
Size
Moderate.
Form
Flat when ripe.
Stem
Short and thick, with small swellings in the surrounding parts.
Cavity, Calyx, Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
The side next the sun is a rich red, intermixed with russet, with spots of white.
Flesh/Flavor
Well flavoured, sprightly, and tender.
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
Winter apple.
Uses
Fine cooking apple; keeps well.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The variety is also known as Leather-Coat.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Royal Russet, Or Leather-Coat
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1913) from England, Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (1)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 68. ROYAL RUSSET, OR LEATHER-COAT.
This is an apple of moderate size, and of a flat form when ripe, the side next the Sun is a rich red, intermixed with russet, with spots of white : the flesh is well flavoured, sprightly, and tender ; the stem short and thick, with small swellings in the surrounding parts it is a fine cooking apple, keeps well and bears abundantly. It was imported from England, where it is highly esteemed as a valuable winter apple.