Schoonmaker
AppleOrigin/History
An old variety, probably of foreign origin. It was grown in Detroit as early as 1804 (Elliott). Downing describes the origin as unknown. Beach notes that the variety was still grown to a limited extent in some portions of Southeastern New York as of 1905, where it was esteemed as an apple of very good quality.
Tree
Moderately vigorous, upright spreading.
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Roundish oblate, sometimes angular.
Stem: Short and stout.
Cavity: Deep.
Calyx: Small, closed (Elliott).
Basin: Open (Elliott).
Skin: A little rough. Yellow or greenish-yellow with bronze blush in the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish-white, crisp, briskly subacid. Downing rates it good to very good; Elliott rates it "very good"; Thomas rates it good.
Core/Seeds: Core small. Elliott adds that it is compact.
Season
January to March. Thomas gives simply "Winter."
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)SCHOOLMAKER. Schoolmocker. An old Apple. Origin unknown. Tree moderately vigorous, upright spreading. Fruit large, roundish oblate, yellow, bronzed blush in the sun. Flesh yellowish white, crisp, brisk subacid. Good to very good. January to March.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)SCHOONMAKER.
REFERENCES. 1. Elliott, 1854:156. 2. Downing, 1869:348. 3. Thomas, 1875:511.
SYNONYM. Schoolmocker (1, 2).
This old variety is still grown to a limited extent in some portions of Southeastern New York where it is esteemed as an apple of very good quality. Elliott (1) remarks that it is probably of foreign origin and that it was grown in Detroit as early as 1804. The tree is upright spreading and moderately vigorous. Fruit large, roundish oblate, sometimes angular. Stem short and stout. Cavity deep. Skin a little rough, yellow or greenish with bronze blush. Core small. Flesh yellowish-white, crisp, briskly subacid. Season January to March (1, 2).
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)SCHOONMAKER. Schoonmocker. Probably Foreign. Grown in Detroit, in 1804. Fruit, large, roundish flattened, sometimes angular ; greenish yellow, bronzed blush in sun ; skin, little rough ; stem, short, stout ; cavity, deep ; calyx, small, closed ; basin, open ; core, small, compact ; flesh, yellowish white, crisp, brisk sub-acid ; "very good." January to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Schoonmaker. Large, roundish-oblate, greenish-yellow; brisk sub-acid, good. Winter.