Somerset (N. Y.)
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Somerset (N. Y.)
Origin/History
Somerset (N. Y.) was brought to notice by C. L. Hoag of Lockport, New York. Its origin is unknown but is supposed to be Somerset, Niagara county, New York. The variety appears to have been but sparingly disseminated. It is referenced in pomological literature beginning with Downing (1869) and was listed in the American Pomological Society Catalogue in 1877. It should not be confused with a distinct variety of Maine origin which is also called Somerset.
A.J. Downing (1900) notes that Somerset (N. Y.) is "grown in Western New York" and that the wood as well as the fruit of the two Somersets is quite distinct.
Tree
Tree vigorous, upright spreading, and productive. An unusually early bearer.
Wood: Downing distinguishes the wood of Somerset (N. Y.) as "dull grayish reddish brown, downy" (as contrasted with the Maine Somerset, whose wood is reddish brown).
Fruit
Size: Medium or below medium. Downing describes the fruit as "medium or below"; Beach describes it as "below medium." Lowther's table does not report size.
Form: Roundish conical, like Black Gilliflower. Lowther's table codes form as "re."
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Deep golden-yellow to whitish-yellow, sometimes with a few nettings of russet, and sparsely sprinkled with brown dots. Downing describes the color as "whitish yellow, partially netted with russet." Lowther's table codes color as "yf."
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh quite white (Beach) or yellow (Downing), tender, juicy, with a rich aromatic, high, sprightly flavor. Quality very good or best. An early apple of high sprightly flavor; a fine family fruit.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Late August to October. Downing gives August, September; Beach gives late August to October; Lowther gives autumn.
Uses
Family fruit.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source. (A separate, distinct variety of Maine origin also bears the name Somerset, but it is not a subtype of Somerset (N. Y.).)
Other
Beach lists no synonyms for Somerset (N. Y.).
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Somerset
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) — listed as Somerset
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Somerset
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Somerset.
Origin, Somerset Co., Me. Tree very vigorous, upright spreading.
Fruit large, roundish, somewhat flattened, bright yellow, mostly covered with splashes and stripes of bright red. Flesh yellowish, sometimes a little stained with red, tender, juicy, agreeable subacid. September. (Me. Rep.)
There is another Somerset grown in Western New York, the fruit of which is medium or below, roundish conical, whitish yellow, partially netted with russet. Flesh yellow, tender. Good. August, September.
The wood as well as fruit of these is quite distinct, the former being reddish brown, the latter dull grayish reddish brown, downy.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SOMERSET (N. Y.).
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1869:356. 2. Downing, Tilt. Jour. Hort., 7:303. 1870. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1877:14. 4. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1881:318. 5. Hoag, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:28. 6. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 129:40, 43. 1896. 7. Mich. Sta. Bul., 152:222, 226. 1898.
SYNONYMS. None.
An early apple of high sprightly flavor. A fine family fruit. The tree is an unusually early bearer, upright spreading, vigorous and productive. Season late August to October (4, 6, 7).
There is a distinct variety of Maine origin which is also called Somerset.
Historical. Brought to notice by C. L. Hoag, Lockport, N. Y. Origin unknown but supposed to be Somerset, Niagara county, N. Y. (2). This variety appears to have been but sparingly disseminated.
FRUIT (2, 5).
Fruit below medium. Form like Black Gilliflower, roundish conical. Skin deep golden-yellow to whitish-yellow with sometimes a few nettings of russet and sparsely sprinkled with brown dots. Flesh quite white, tender, juicy, with a rich aromatic flavor; quality very good or best.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Somerset (Maine): size medium; form flat; color striped or splashed (red); quality very good; use family; season summer; Northern Division 1 station (cross-division reporting indicated); Central Division and Southern Division not reported. Somerset (N. Y.): size not reported; form "re"; color "yf"; quality very good; use family; season autumn; Northern Division, Central Division, and Southern Division not reported.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Somerset. Large, roundish, yellow and red; tender, juicy, sub-acid. September.