Russian Baldwin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Russian Baldwin
Origin/History
Russian Baldwin is a Russian apple of commercial value received from the late Charles Gibb and named by Dr. T. H. Hoskins of Newport, Vermont. Dr. Hoskins was also instrumental in introducing Yellow Transparent and Scott, and held Russian Baldwin in high regard, writing in 1897: "The Russian Baldwin has all the merits with none of the defects of the old Baldwin—being as large and handsome, as good a bearer, better quality, and a much better keeper."
References: Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:573 (1894); Can. Hort., 18:222, 266 (1895); Heiges, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1895:32; Can. Hort., 20:242 (1897); Budd-Hansen (1903:170).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Fruit above medium in size (Beach: "medium or above medium"). Form roundish oblate, faintly ribbed (Beach).
Stem: Short. Beach describes it as moderately thick; Budd-Hansen describes it as of medium size.
Cavity: The two sources conflict on cavity depth. Beach describes the cavity as deep, narrow to moderately wide, russeted, somewhat furrowed, and sometimes lipped. Budd-Hansen describes it as medium, irregular, with a gradual slope, slightly lipped, and somewhat russeted.
Calyx: The sources conflict on calyx size and posture. Beach gives the calyx as above medium to small, usually partly open, with lobes short and wide. Budd-Hansen gives the calyx as small, closed or nearly so, with segments short, wide, and converging.
Basin: Small, shallow, furrowed. Beach adds narrow; Budd-Hansen describes it as regular.
Skin: Thin, smooth. Beach: almost entirely mottled and splashed with bright red over a clear yellow background, becoming deep red on the exposed cheek with some indistinct streaks of purplish-carmine. Budd-Hansen: yellow ground, washed with mixed red, splashed and striped with crimson. Dots small; Beach describes them as pale or russet; Budd-Hansen describes them as erupted and russet.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh whitish tinged with yellow (Beach) / yellowish white (Budd-Hansen). Moderately fine, moderately juicy. Flavor subacid; Beach specifies mild subacid and adds crisp. Quality good.
Core and Seeds: Core wide, partially open, with clasping core lines. Beach gives the core as above medium to large; Budd-Hansen gives it simply as large. Seeds numerous, small, plump, dark brown.
Season
Late winter (Budd-Hansen). Beach characterizes Russian Baldwin as an all-winter keeper and notes Dr. Hoskins's praise of its keeping qualities relative to Baldwin.
Uses
Described by Budd-Hansen as an all-winter Russian apple of commercial value.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)RUSSIAN BALDWIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:573. 1894. 2. Can. Hort., 18:222, 266. 1895. 3. Heiges, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1895:32. 4. Can. Hort., 20:242. 1897. 5. Budd-Hansen, 1903:170.
A Russian apple commended very highly by Dr. T. H. Hoskins, Newport, Vermont, who was instrumental in introducing Yellow Transparent and Scott. He believed this to be worth more than both of the others and said of it,¹ "The Russian Baldwin has all the merits with none of the defects of the old Baldwin—being as large and handsome, as good a bearer, better quality, and a much better keeper."
FRUIT.
Fruit medium or above medium. Form roundish oblate, faintly ribbed. Stem short, moderately thick. Cavity deep, narrow to moderately wide, russeted, somewhat furrowed, sometimes lipped. Calyx above medium to small, usually partly open; lobes short, wide. Basin small, shallow, narrow, somewhat furrowed. Skin thin, smooth, almost entirely mottled and splashed with bright red over a clear yellow background, becoming deep red on the exposed cheek with some indistinct streaks of purplish-carmine. Dots small, pale or russet. Core above medium to large, wide; cells partly open; core lines clasping. Seeds numerous, small, plump, dark brown. Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, moderately fine, crisp, moderately juicy, mild subacid, good.
¹Letter, 1897.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Russian Baldwin. — An all-winter Russian apple of commercial value; received from the late Charles Gibb and named by Dr. T. H. Hoskins.
Fruit above medium, roundish oblate; skin thin; surface smooth, yellow, washed with mixed red, splashed and striped with crimson; dots erupted, russet; cavity medium, irregular, with gradual slope, slightly lipped and somewhat russeted; stem of medium size, short; basin small, regular, shallow, furrowed; calyx small, closed or nearly so; segments short, wide, converging. Core large, wide, partially open, clasping; seeds numerous, small, plump, dark brown; flesh yellowish white, moderately fine, moderately juicy; flavor subacid; quality good. Season late winter. (U. S. Pomologist Report, 1895.)