Sarah

Origin/History

Sarah originated on the farm of John Tufts, East Wilton, Maine. Downing (1900) describes it as a valuable and profitable apple for both market and home use. Lowther (1914) records it as reported in more than one division of the Northern Division, indicating some regional spread.

Tree

Very vigorous, forming a broad, spreading top. An early and good bearer annually, with very large crops in alternate years (Downing).

Fruit

Size

Large to very large (Downing); large (Thomas; Lowther).

Form

Oblate conic (Downing); oblate, striped (Thomas); flat (Lowther). The descriptions are broadly consistent — oblate with a flattened profile.

Stem

Short, small (Downing).

Cavity

Broad, deep (Downing).

Calyx

Closed, or half open (Downing).

Basin

Medium, slightly corrugated (Downing).

Skin

Yellow, shaded and mottled with light red, striped and splashed with dark red; some splashes almost purplish; a few light dots (Downing). Thomas describes it simply as striped; Lowther as striped or splashed red.

Flesh and Flavor

Whitish, coarse, tender, juicy, brisk subacid; core medium (Downing). Thomas rates quality as good; Lowther rates it very good.

Core and Seeds

Core medium (Downing).

Season

October (Downing). Autumn (Thomas; Lowther).

Uses

Valuable and profitable for market and home use (Downing). Suited to both kitchen and market (Lowther).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.