Schuyler's Sweet
AppleSchuyler's Sweet
Origin/History
Schuyler's Sweet originated on the farm of Rensselaer Schuyler, Seneca Falls, New York. The variety was described by Thomas in 1871 in the American Pomological Society Report (p. 149), where it was characterized as "a large, showy apple, ripening in October, originated on the lands of Rensselaer Schuyler, Seneca Falls, N. Y." It was also noted in Rural New York in 1871 and in Downing's appendix of 1872. By the time of Beach's 1905 Apples of New York, Schuyler's Sweet had become unknown to that survey's compilers, who received no reports of it from any correspondents, suggesting the variety had fallen out of wide circulation by the early twentieth century.
Tree
Schuyler's Sweet is a vigorous, spreading tree with an open head, described as a regular and productive bearer. According to Thomas (as cited by Beach), the tree "in vigor and form resembles the Baldwin."
Fruit
Size and Form
The fruit is large. In form it is roundish or roundish oblate, slightly conic, and slightly angular (Downing). Thomas's 1871 description, as cited by Beach, agrees on the roundish to roundish oblate form but does not note the conic or angular character.
Stem
The stalk is rather short (Downing) and slender.
Cavity
The cavity is large and deep. The stalk is inserted in this large, deep cavity (Thomas/Beach).
Calyx
The calyx is closed.
Basin
The basin is large, deep, and slightly corrugated.
Skin
The skin is pale yellow with a few scattering brown dots.
Flesh and Flavor
The flesh is white (Downing) or whitish (Thomas/Beach), half fine, tender, and moderately juicy. The flavor is mild, pleasant, and sweet, with Downing adding that it is slightly aromatic. Quality is rated good to very good.
Core and Seeds
The core is small.
Season
September and October (Downing). Thomas's description places ripening in October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach lists no synonyms for Schuyler's Sweet. The references cited by Beach are: (1) Thomas, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:149; (2) Rural N. Y., 1871:108; (3) Downing, 1872:31 app.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905) — listed as Schuyler Sweet
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Schuyler's Sweet.
Originated on the farm of Rensselaer Schuyler, Seneca Falls, N. Y. Tree vigorous, spreading, open head, a regular bearer, and productive.
Fruit large, roundish or roundish oblate, slightly conic, slightly angular; skin pale yellow, a few scattering brown dots; stalk rather short, slender; cavity large, deep; calyx closed; basin large, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh white, half fine, tender, moderately juicy, mild, pleasant sweet, slightly aromatic; good to very good; core small. September, October.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SCHUYLER SWEET.
REFERENCES. 1. Thomas, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:149. 2. Rural N. Y., 1871:108. 3. Downing, 1872:31 app.
SYNONYMS. None.
This variety is unknown to us. We have received no report concerning it from any of our correspondents. Thomas gave the following description of it in 1871 (1): "A large, showy apple, ripening in October, originated on the lands of Rensselaer Schuyler, Seneca Falls, N. Y. Tree in vigor and form resembles the Baldwin, and is productive."
"Fruit large, roundish, inclining to roundish oblate; pale yellow with a few scattering brown dots; stalk slender, inserted in a large deep cavity; calyx closed; basin large, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh whitish, half fine, tender, moderately juicy, pleasant, sweet; quality good to very good; core small."