Skunk

Origin/History

Skunk is an old New Jersey apple of American origin. Downing (1900), citing Coxe, identifies it as an old New Jersey apple. Elliott (1865) likewise records it as American, listing "Polecat" as an alternate name under which it was known. Beach (1905) reports that the variety was once cultivated in New Jersey under the name Skank, this information brought to his attention by M. C. Brokaw of Interlaken, N.Y., who noted that at the time of Beach's writing it was grown only in Southern Seneca County, New York. Beach states he was unable to find any mention of it by pomological writers prior to his account.

Tree

Tree medium to large, vigorous. Form spreading. Twigs medium in length, spreading, medium in thickness. The tree is hardy, healthy, and long-lived, a reliable cropper, yielding heavy crops in alternate years. (Beach, 1905.)

Bark, lenticels, buds, and leaves not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit large, or above medium (Downing, Beach); Elliott describes it as large. Uniform in size and shape (Beach). Form roundish conic to roundish, regular, pretty symmetrical (Beach). Elliott describes the form as flat, which conflicts with Beach's roundish conic to roundish description.

Stem

Stem medium in length, moderately thick to rather slender (Beach).

Cavity

Cavity acute to acuminate, deep, broad, sometimes compressed, thinly russeted, the russet not extending beyond the cavity (Beach).

Calyx

Calyx medium or below, closed or slightly open; lobes short to rather long, acute (Beach). Calyx tube medium to rather large, funnel-form to cone-shape. Stamens median to marginal (Beach).

Basin

Basin rather small, moderately shallow to rather deep, medium in width to narrow, somewhat abrupt, slightly wrinkled (Beach).

Skin

Color: Downing (1900) describes the skin as yellow, resembling Newtown Pippin, with red spots and blotches. Beach (1905) describes the skin as bright pale yellow, partially overspread and mottled with attractive red, distinctly splashed and often broadly striped with bright carmine; well-colored specimens are nearly covered with red. Elliott (1865) describes the color as dull dark red on yellow — a somewhat darker and less vivid characterization than Beach's "bright" and "attractive" red. Beach notes that the variety is usually not highly colored, and that on this account it would not rank as a first-class commercial variety; when highly colored the fruit is uniform and attractive.

Skin rather thin and tender, smooth (Beach).

Dots: Scattering, medium to above, russet or areolar with russet center (Beach).

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh yellowish (Downing, Beach, Elliott), sometimes with faint reddish tinge (Beach). Rather firm, fine-grained, crisp, tender, juicy (Beach). Mild subacid, agreeably aromatic, good to very good for dessert (Beach). Downing describes the flesh as juicy and pleasant, rating it Good. Elliott describes the flesh as dry — a characterization that conflicts with the juicy quality noted by Downing and Beach.

Core and Seeds

Core small, sessile or nearly so, abaxile; cells pretty symmetrical, usually open or partly open; core lines usually somewhat clasping. Carpels much concave, broadly roundish to slightly elliptical, emarginate. Seeds numerous, medium or below, rather narrow, quite plump, irregular, moderately acute to acuminate, rather dark brown (Beach).

Season

Downing (1900): November and December. Elliott (1865): December and January. Beach (1905): October to February or later. The sources collectively indicate a ripening season beginning as early as October and extending through February or later, suggesting a long keeping window.

Uses

When well grown, one of the best dessert apples of its season; should not be allowed to pass out of cultivation (Beach). Not of first-class commercial standing owing to typically light coloring (Beach). Downing rates it Good. Elliott does not specify use.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.