Sailee Russet
AppleOrigin and History
A local variety grown in the vicinity of Lake Champlain, originating in the orchard of Sailee, a Frenchman who came from France approximately one hundred years prior to 1901 and established a farm on Cumberland Head, Clinton County, New York, just across from Grand Isle. Sailee maintained a large orchard containing varieties brought from France, obtained from other sources, and some of his own origination. The variety is supposed to have originated in his own grounds and takes its name from the proprietor. It was early distributed to Grand Isle and may be found in several of the older and more complete collections of the region.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Form and Size: Oblate, slightly conic; small to medium.
Cavity: Very deep and broad.
Stem: Medium long, slender.
Basin: Deep, corrugated.
Calyx: Small, closed.
Skin and Surface: Dull green with occasional blush and considerable russet. Dots russet. Skin tough.
Flesh: White.
Core: Small.
Flavor and Quality: Subacid; quality good.
Season
Early winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes and Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Compared to Roxbury, Sailee Russet is described as a good variety but not superior to that established sort.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SAILEE RUSSET.
REFERENCE. i. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:307. 1901.
SYNONYMS. None.
A local variety grown in the vicinity of Lake Champlain. The following account of it is given by Waugh (i): "Sailee was a Frenchman who came over from France about a hundred years ago and who had a farm on Cumberland Head, Clinton county, N. Y., just across from Grand Isle. He had a large orchard and grew many varieties of apples, some of which he had brought from France, others of which came from other sources, and some of which he originated himself. From his having given his own name to this variety it is supposed to have originated in his own grounds. It was early distributed to Grand Isle, and may be found in several of the older and more complete collections. It is a good variety, but not superior to Roxbury.
"Fruit oblate, slightly conic, size small to medium, cavity very deep and broad, stem medium long, slender, basin deep, corrugated, calyx small, closed, color dull green with occasional blush and considerable russet, dots russet, skin tough, flesh white, core small, flavor subacid, quality good, season early winter."