Spice Russet
AppleSpice Russet
Origin/History
Origin unknown (Downing).
Tree
A good grower and productive (Downing). Lowther reports the variety as adapted to more than one division, with one station reporting from the Northern Division and one from the Central Division; no Southern Division stations are listed.
Fruit
Size: Below medium (Downing, Elliott); small (Lowther, Thomas).
Form: Roundish flattened (Downing, Elliott); round oblate (Thomas); flat and conical (Lowther).
Stem/Stalk: Slender.
Cavity: Narrow (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Shallow (Elliott).
Skin: Light yellow russet, with numerous small fine dots; exposed to the sun, carmine and yellow bronzed (Downing, Elliott). Lowther summarizes color as yellow, russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish (Downing); white, slightly tinged with yellow (Elliott); fine-grained, juicy, almost sweet (Downing) or slightly sweet (Elliott), aromatic; Downing terms the flavor "aromatic subacid." Quality rated "very good" (Elliott; also Lowther: very good; Thomas: good); aromatic (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Core large, somewhat hollow; seeds ovate (Elliott).
Season
December to March (Downing, Elliott); winter (Lowther, Thomas).
Uses
Family (Lowther).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
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)Spice Russet.
Sweet Russet of some, erroneously.
Origin unknown. Tree a good grower and productive.
Fruit below medium, roundish flattened, light yellow russet, with numerous small fine dots, exposed to the sun carmine and yellow bronzed. Stalk slender. Calyx closed. Flesh whitish, fine-grained, juicy, almost sweet, aromatic subacid. December to March. (Elliott.)
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Spice Russet: size small; form flat and conical; color yellow, russet; quality very good; use family; season winter. Reported by 1 station in the Northern Division and 1 station in the Central Division; the asterisk on both indicates the variety is reported as adapted to more than one division. No Southern Division stations are listed.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Spice Russet. Sweet Russet, of some erroneously.
Fruit, below medium, roundish flattened; light yellow russet, numerous small fine dots; exposed to sun, carmine and yellow bronzed; stem, slender; cavity, narrow; calyx, closed; basin, shallow; core, large, somewhat hollow; seeds, ovate; flesh, white, slightly tinged with yellow, fine-grained, juicy, slightly sweet, aromatic; "very good." December to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Spice Russet. Small, round oblate, yellow russet; aromatic, good. Winter.