Starr
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
The Starr is an early summer apple originating from Woodbury, New Jersey. The two book sources give differing accounts of the original tree: Downing states it was an accidental seedling found on the premises of the late John Starr of Woodbury, N.J.; Beach records that the original tree was found on the grounds of Judge J. M. White of Woodbury, N.J., on property which afterward came into the possession of Mrs. Starr. Beach notes that propagation of the variety was begun by Wm. Parry in 1865 under the name Starr, and that as of 1905 it had been but little planted in New York. Beach regards it as worthy of testing where a fruit of this type is desired.
Tree
The two book sources disagree on vigor: Downing characterizes the tree as a vigorous grower, while Beach describes it as only moderately vigorous. Similarly, Downing describes the branches as rather slender, while Beach describes them as short, moderately stout, and curved. Both sources agree the tree forms a round, somewhat spreading or upright-spreading head; Beach adds the form is rather dense.
Per Beach: twigs long, curved, stout, with large terminal buds; internodes long. Bark brownish-red, tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent near tips. Lenticels quite numerous, medium size, round, not raised. Buds prominent, large, long, broad, plump, acute, free, pubescent. Downing concurs that buds are prominent, and adds that young wood is light reddish yellow-brown.
Downing notes the tree is a regular and abundant bearer, and Beach, on the basis of Station trials, records that it comes into bearing young and gives promise of being an annual bearer.
Fruit
Size and Form
Beach describes the fruit as very large to large, pretty uniform in size and shape. Downing gives large (in extended description) or medium to large (in brief description). Thomas gives large. Form is distinctly oblate to roundish oblate (Beach), or roundish oblate (Downing, Thomas). Surface regular or faintly ribbed (Beach, Thomas); Downing uses the term obscurely ribbed.
Stem
The sources conflict: Beach describes the stem as short to medium, moderately thick, sometimes swollen at the base; Downing describes it as slender.
Cavity
Acute, varying from a little obtuse to somewhat acuminate, shallow to medium, broad, smooth or gently furrowed. (Beach)
Calyx
Medium size, closed; lobes long to medium, rather narrow, acuminate. (Beach)
Basin
Medium in depth, narrow, abrupt, somewhat furrowed. (Beach)
Skin
Rather thick, tough, nearly smooth (Beach). Color: green becoming yellowish-green at maturity (Beach); Downing gives greenish white or pale yellow at full maturity; Thomas gives pale green. Both Beach and Thomas note that a blush sometimes appears on the sunny side — Beach describes it as "indications of a faint blush," Downing as "sometimes a shade of light red in the sun," and Thomas as "often with blush on sunny side." Dots numerous, small and large, pale or russet (Beach).
Calyx Tube, Stamens
Calyx tube long, very wide to moderately wide, conical to cylindrical and large, extending to the core. Stamens nearly marginal. (Beach)
Core and Seeds
Core medium to rather large, abaxile to nearly axile; cells closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels obovate, sometimes tufted. Seeds dark brown, medium to large, rather wide, plump, acute to nearly acuminate. (Beach)
Flesh and Flavor
The sources disagree on flesh color: Downing gives whitish; Beach says tinged with yellow; Thomas says yellowish. The sources also conflict on texture: Beach describes the flesh as very tender and crisp; Thomas describes it as firm. All sources agree the flavor is subacid — Beach elaborates: very juicy, sprightly subacid, aromatic, very good. Beach rates the quality as very good. Thomas rates it good.
Season
Downing gives July to September. Beach gives August and September. Thomas gives Summer.
Uses
The sources conflict directly on use: Downing states the variety is for cooking only, and describes it as valuable as an early market sort for culinary uses. Beach, in contrast, states it is very good in quality especially for dessert use, while also acknowledging its value as an early market sort.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Starr.
From New Jersey Fruit medium to large, roundish oblate, greenish white. Stalk slender. Flesh whitish, pleasant subacid. July to September. Cooking only.
This large early apple was an accidental seedling on the premises of the late John Starr, of Woodbury, N. J. The tree is said to be a vigorous grower, forming a round, somewhat spreading head; branches rather slender; a regular and abundant bearer; valuable as an early market sort, and for culinary uses; young wood light reddish yellow brown, buds prominent.
Fruit large, roundish oblate, obscurely ribbed; skin greenish white, or pale yellow at full maturity, sometimes a shade of light red in the sun
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)STARR.
References. 1. Downing, Tilt. Jour. Hort., 6:347. 1869. fig. 2. Downing, 1869:360. 3. Thomas, 1875:512. 4. Hexamer, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1895:70. 5. Rural N. Y., 54:587. 1895. 6. Parry, Wm., Parry, N. J., Cat., 1896.
Synonyms. None.
Fruit large, very attractive for a green or yellowish apple, and very good in quality, especially for dessert use. Season, August and September. The tree is a pretty good grower, comes into bearing young and as tested at this Station gives promise of being an annual bearer. Starr appears to be worthy of testing where a fruit of this type is desired.
Historical. The original tree was found on the grounds of Judge J. M. White, Woodbury, N. J., which property afterward came into the possession of Mrs. Starr. The propagation of the variety was begun by Wm. Parry in 1865 under the name of Starr (6). So far as we can learn it has been but little planted in New York.
Tree.
Tree moderately vigorous with short, moderately stout, curved branches. Form upright spreading or roundish, rather dense. Twigs long, curved, stout with large terminal buds; internodes long. Bark brownish-red, tinged with olive-green, lightly streaked with scarf-skin; pubescent near tips. Lenticels quite numerous, medium size, round, not raised. Buds prominent, large, long, broad, plump, acute, free, pubescent.
Fruit.
Fruit very large to large, pretty uniform in size and shape. Form distinctly oblate to roundish oblate, regular or faintly ribbed. Stem short to medium, moderately thick, sometimes swollen. Cavity acute, varying from a little obtuse to somewhat acuminate, shallow to medium, broad, smooth or gently furrowed. Calyx medium size, closed, lobes long to medium, rather narrow, acuminate. Basin medium in depth, narrow, abrupt, somewhat furrowed. Skin rather thick, tough, nearly smooth, green becoming yellowish-green, sometimes with indications of a faint blush. Dots numerous, small and large, pale or russet. Calyx tube long, very wide to moderately wide, conical to cylindrical and large, extending to the core. Stamens nearly marginal. Core medium to rather large, abaxile to nearly axile; cells closed or slightly open; core lines clasping. Carpels obovate, sometimes tufted. Seeds dark brown, medium to large, rather wide, plump, acute to nearly acuminate. Flesh tinged with yellow, moderately fine, very tender, crisp, very juicy, sprightly subacid, aromatic, very good. Season August and September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Starr. Large, roundish oblate, regular, smooth; pale green, often with blush on sunny side; flesh yellowish, firm, sub-acid, good. Summer. New Jersey. Fig. 368.