Sam's Crab

Origin and History

Sam's Crab originated in Herefordshire. According to Mr. Lindley, the variety "was originated in Herefordshire, where," as he adds, "it is at present but little known." However, this assertion is contradicted by contemporary observation: the variety is, on the contrary, well known in Herefordshire, widely distributed, and very highly esteemed in its region of origin.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Form: Conical or roundish ovate, even and regular in outline.

Skin: Beautifully streaked with crimson and yellow on the side next the sun, and less streaked on the shaded side, where it is more yellow.

Calyx (Eye): Closed, with connivent segments, set in a pretty deep, round, and somewhat plaited basin. The tube is funnel-shaped; stamens median.

Stalk and Cavity: Stalk about an inch long, slender, inserted in a deep cavity tinged with green.

Flesh: Yellowish, tender, juicy, sweet, and of good flavor. The flesh is tinged with red at the base of the eye, at the base of the stalk, and round the carpels.

Core and Seeds: Cells of the core are open; cell-walls ovate.

Flavor and Juice Composition

When well ripened, Sam's Crab has a rich aroma and a juicy, sweet, and piquant flavor that is seldom equalled.

A juice analysis conducted by Mr. With in the 1878 season provides the following measurements:

• Density of fresh juice: 1.037
• Density after 24 hours' exposure to air: 1.046

Per 100 parts by weight of juice:

• Sugar: 10.140%
• Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c.: 4.370%
• Water: 85.490%

Season

An early apple, highly esteemed as an early dessert fruit.

Uses

Sam's Crab is used as a dessert fruit, for cooking, and for cider. It is described as "one of the most useful of all our early Apples."

Growing Requirements

The variety requires a warm soil and sunny situation to bring its fruit to perfection. In unfavourable situations it could hardly be recognised as the same apple.

Subtypes and Variants

There are undoubtedly two varieties of this apple, or, as one great admirer of the fruit quaintly expressed it, "There are two sorts of Sam's Crab: a basket full of one kind is eaten the same day, but the same basket full of the other kind lasts three or four days."

Other

Sam's Crab is a prime favourite with Herefordshire school children, who are noted as "no mean judges of a good Apple." The fruit is equally attractive to birds and insects, who are drawn to its sweetness and feed upon it readily.