Scrivener's Red
Apple
Scrivener's Red
Origin/History
An admired cider fruit in parts of the states of Maryland and Delaware, noted as such by Coxe (1817) and still identified by the same regional reputation in Downing (1900).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing).
Form: Oblong, diminishing towards the crown (Coxe); roundish oblong conical (Downing). In general appearance, resembling the Wine-Sap (Coxe).
Stem: Long (Coxe).
Cavity: Deep (Coxe).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: A bright red. The streaking is described differently by the two sources: Coxe gives "faint red streaks" with small white spots; Downing gives "dark stripes." Both agree the ground color is bright red.
Flesh/Flavor: Juicy, breaking, and highly flavoured (Coxe); juicy, breaking, rich (Downing). Described by Coxe as a handsome and fair apple.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripens in October. Keeps well (Coxe).
Uses
An admired cider fruit in some parts of the states of Maryland and Delaware.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 51. SCRIVENERS RED.
Is a handsome and fair apple—the colour a bright red, with faint red streaks, and small white spots—in appearance, resembling the wine-sap: the stalk is long, and grows in a deep cavity; the shape oblong, diminishing towards the crown—the flesh is juicy, breaking, and highly flavoured; it ripens in October, and keeps well. It is an admired cider fruit in some parts of the states of Maryland and Delaware.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Scrivener's Red. An admired cider fruit in some parts of Maryland and Delaware. Fruit medium, roundish oblong conical, bright red, with dark stripes. Flesh juicy, breaking, rich. October.