Stayman Winesap
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Stayman Winesap
Origin/History
This variety was originated from seed of Winesap in 1866 by Dr. J. Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas, and bore its first fruit in 1875 (Beach, citing Taylor). The earliest published descriptions were given by Downing (1881) and Stayman himself (1883). Further than these, the variety does not appear to have attracted any special attention until after 1890, when its good qualities were discovered almost simultaneously by Mr. R. J. Black of Bremen, Ohio, and Mr. J. W. Kerr of Denton, Maryland, both of whom fruited it on top grafts at about that time. It was first catalogued by Kerr in 1894–1895, and has since been quite extensively planted in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, and somewhat in other states (Beach, citing Taylor).
Van Deman calls this the best variety of the Winesap class for general cultivation. Taylor remarks that the only particular in which it does not equal its parent is in its color, which is somewhat less brilliant than that of the Winesap, and adds that it appears to be adapted to a wider range of soil and climate and well worthy of testing throughout the middle latitudes, both for home use and for market. As tested at the New York Station (Beach), the tree comes into bearing young and is a reliable annual cropper, alternating heavy with light crops; but the fruit does not develop properly there in size and color, and the variety is evidently not well suited for regions as far north as that latitude.
Tree
Vigor: Downing (reporting Stayman's own description) characterizes the tree as very vigorous. Beach describes it as moderately vigorous. These two assessments conflict; the difference may reflect conditions or age of evaluation.
Form: Spreading and somewhat open (Beach, Lowther); described by Stayman (via Downing) as open, irregular, and spreading, much in appearance like the Winesap.
Wood and bark: Wood very dark (Downing). Bark dark brown or reddish-brown with some olive-green, heavily coated with scarf-skin, pubescent near the tips (Beach, Lowther). Foliage described by Stayman as dark and heavy (Downing).
Twigs: Below medium to rather long, irregularly crooked, moderately stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium to long (Beach).
Lenticels: Inconspicuous, scattering, small to large, roundish, raised (Beach).
Buds: Prominent, above medium to large, broad, plump, obtuse to acute, pubescent (Beach).
Bearing habit: An early and very abundant bearer (Downing). At the New York Station, a reliable annual cropper, alternating heavy with light crops (Beach). Fruit hangs well on the tree (Downing).
Fruit
Size and uniformity: Medium to large, uniform in size and shape.
Form: Downing describes the form as oblate conical and regular. Beach describes it as roundish conic to globular, flattened at the base and rounding toward the basin, with sides sometimes slightly unequal. These descriptions differ on the degree of oblate character; Downing's "oblate conical" and Beach's "roundish conic to globular, flattened at the base" represent partially conflicting assessments.
Weight: Heavy (Downing).
Stem
Medium to short (Beach, Lowther); medium in length and slender (Downing).
Cavity
Large, acuminate to acute, deep to very deep, medium in width to wide, often gently furrowed, sometimes compressed, usually partly russeted and sometimes with outspreading broken russet rays (Beach). Downing describes it as wide, deep, much russeted, extending, and regular.
Calyx
Beach: Small to medium, closed or sometimes partly open; lobes long, acute to acuminate. Downing: Large, open or half open, erect. These descriptions conflict substantially on both size and aperture; both are preserved as they derive from independent observations.
Calyx tube cone-shape to elongated funnel-form, sometimes extending nearly or quite to the core; stamens median (Beach).
Basin
Rather narrow, abrupt, deep, furrowed (Downing). Beach describes it as small, sometimes oblique, varying from shallow, narrow, and obtuse to medium in width and depth and abrupt, furrowed, and somewhat wrinkled.
Skin
Smooth, rather thick, tough (Beach, Lowther). Color greenish yellow, mostly covered and indistinctly splashed, mixed and striped with dark dull red (Downing); green becoming yellowish, often nearly completely covered with rather dull mixed red and rather indistinctly striped with dull carmine (Beach). In less highly colored specimens the striped effect is more noticeable (Beach). In the Pacific Northwest in the arid sections, the color is red, sometimes approaching a deep color (Lowther).
Dots medium, numerous, distinct gray (Downing). Light gray and russet, often rather large and conspicuous (Beach).
Flesh and Flavor
Downing: Flesh yellow, firm, tender, juicy, rich, mild subacid, aromatic; quality best.
Beach: Flesh tinged with yellow or slightly greenish, firm, moderately fine-grained, tender, moderately crisp, breaking, juicy to very juicy, aromatic, sprightly, pleasant subacid; good to very good.
The two sources agree on firmness, tenderness, juiciness, and aromatic character, but differ on flesh color (Downing: yellow; Beach: tinged with yellow or slightly greenish) and flavor intensity (Downing: rich, mild subacid; Beach: sprightly, pleasant subacid).
Core and Seeds
Core medium (Downing). Small to medium, abaxile to nearly axile; cells symmetrical, closed or open; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder (Beach). Carpels thin, tender, quite concave, broadly roundish to elliptical, emarginate (Beach). Seeds variable, medium or above, long, obtuse to acute, plump; often some are abortive (Beach).
Season
December to May (Beach, Lowther); January to May (Downing). Commercial limit April (Beach).
Uses
Best variety of the Winesap class for general cultivation (Van Deman, as cited by Beach and Lowther). Well worthy of testing throughout the middle latitudes for both home use and market (Taylor, as cited by Beach). In the Pacific Northwest, it does not rank with the old Winesap as a commercial apple and has proved rather disappointing in that respect (Lowther).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 35 catalogs (1896–1947) from California, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1896
- Arthur J. Collins & Sons , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1898
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1898
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Ornamental & Fruit Nursery Company , Wapato, County of Yakima , Washington — 1915
- Holsinger Bros. Nurseries (Holsinger Brothers Nursery) , Rosedale , Kansas — 1916
- Manalapan Nurseries , Englishtown , New Jersey — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1918
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Christopher Nurseries / John Stewart & Sons , Christopher , Washington — 1920
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon , Washington — 1921
- Fresno Nursery Co. , Fresno , California — 1924
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925
- Hudson's Wholesale Nurseries , Tangent , Oregon — 1926
- Stark Bro's Nurseries , Louisiana , Missouri — 1932
- Milton Nursery Co. , Milton-Freewater , Oregon — 1947
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Stayman's Winesap.
A seedling of the Winesap, originated with Dr. J. Stayman, Leavenworth, Kansas. We give his description: "Tree very vigorous, open, irregular, spreading; wood very dark; dark heavy foliage; an early and very abundant bearer; tree much in appearance like Winesap; fruit hangs well on the tree.
"Fruit medium to large, heavy, oblate conical, regular; greenish yellow, mostly covered and indistinctly splashed, mixed and striped with dark dull red; dots medium, numerous, distinct gray; stem of medium length, slender; cavity wide, deep, much russetted, extending, regular; calyx large, open, or half open, erect, large; basin rather narrow, abrupt, deep, furrowed; core medium; flesh yellow, firm, tender, juicy, rich, mild subacid, aromatic; quality best. Season January to May."
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)STAYMAN WINESAP.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1881:106 app. fig. 2. Stayman, Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:77. 3. Bailey, Mich. Sta. Bul., 31:54. 1887. 4. Rural N. Y., 55:1. 1896. 5. Amer. Gard., 17:33. 1896. 6. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 57:201. 1898. 7. Powell, Del. Sta. Bul., 38:20. 1898. fig. 8. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 58:800. 1899. 9. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:20. 10. Rural N. Y., 59:466, 510. 1900. fig. 11. Amer. Gard., 22:191. 1901. 12. Van Deman, Rural N. Y., 60:124, 210, 307, 532. 1901. 13. Taylor, U. S. Dept. Agr. Yr. Bk., 1902:470. col. pl. 14. Rural N. Y., 61:688. 1902. 15. Bruner, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:22. 1903. 16. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:57. 1903. 17. Budd-Hansen, 1903:180. fig. 18. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:145. 1904.
SYNONYMS. STAYMAN (4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12). Stayman (13, 16). STAYMAN'S WINESAP (1, 2, 3, 7, 11). Stayman's Winesap (13).
Van Deman calls this the best variety of the Winesap class for general cultivation (12). Taylor remarks that the only particular in which it does not equal its parent is in its color which is somewhat less brilliant than that of Winesap and adds that it appears to be adapted to a wider range of soil and climate and well worthy of testing throughout the middle latitudes, both for home use and for market (13). As tested at this Station the tree is moderately vigorous, comes into bearing young and is a reliable annual cropper, alternating heavy with light crops; but the fruit, as shown by the accompanying illustration, does not develop properly here in size and color. It is evidently not well suited for regions as far north as this.
Historical. This variety was originated from seed of Winesap in 1866 at Leavenworth, Kan., by Dr. J. Stayman and bore its first fruit in 1875 (13). The earliest published descriptions of it were given by Downing (1) and Stayman (2). "Further than these descriptions the variety does not appear to have attracted any special attention until after 1890, when its good qualities were discovered almost simultaneously by Mr. R. J. Black, of Bremen, Ohio, and Mr. J. W. Kerr, of Denton, Md., both of whom fruited it on top grafts at about that time. It was first catalogued by the latter in 1894-1895, and has been quite extensively planted in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia since that date, and somewhat in other States" (13).
TREE. Tree moderately vigorous. Form spreading and somewhat open. Twigs below medium to rather long, irregularly crooked, moderately stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium to long. Bark dark brown or reddishbrown with some olive-green, heavily coated with scarf-skin, pubescent near tips. Lenticels inconspicuous, scattering, small to large, roundish, raised. Buds prominent, above medium to large, broad, plump, obtuse to acute, pubescent.
FRUIT. Fruit medium to large, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish conic to globular, flattened at the base and rounding toward the basin; sides sometimes slightly unequal. Stem medium to short. Cavity large, acuminate to acute, deep to very deep, medium in width to wide, often gently furrowed, sometimes compressed, usually partly russeted and sometimes with outspreading broken russet rays. Calyx small to medium, closed or sometimes partly open; lobes long, acute to acuminate. Basin small, sometimes oblique, varying from shallow, narrow and obtuse to medium in width and depth and abrupt, furrowed, somewhat wrinkled. Skin smooth, rather thick, tough, green becoming yellowish, often nearly completely covered with rather dull mixed red and rather indistinctly striped with dull carmine. In less highly colored specimens the striped effect is more noticeable. Dots light gray and russet, often rather large and conspicuous. Calyx tube cone-shape to elongated funnel-form, sometimes extending nearly or quite to the core. Stamens median. Core small to medium, abaxile to nearly axile; cells symmetrical, closed or open; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels thin, tender, quite concave broadly roundish to elliptical, emarginate. Seeds variable, medium or above, long, obtuse to acute, plump; often some are abortive. Flesh tinged with yellow or slightly greenish, firm, moderately fine-grained, tender, moderately crisp, breaking, juicy to very juicy, aromatic, sprightly, pleasant subacid, good to very good. Season December to May; commercial limit, April.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Stayman Winesap
Van Deman calls this the best variety of the Winesap class for general cultivation. Taylor remarks that the only particular in which it does not equal its parent is in its color, which is somewhat less brilliant than that of the Winesap, and adds that it appears to be adapted to a wider range of soils and climate.
Historical. This variety was originated from seed of Winesap in 1866 by Dr. J. Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas, and bore its first fruit in 1875.
Tree moderately vigorous. Form spreading and somewhat open. Twigs below medium to rather long, irregularly crooked, moderately stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium to long. Bark dark brown or reddish brown with some olive green, heavily coated with scarf skin, pubescent near the tips.
Fruit medium to large, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish, conic to globular, flattened at the base and rounding toward the basin; sides sometimes slightly unequal. Stem medium to short. Skin smooth, rather tough, thick, green becoming yellowish, often nearly covered with rather dull mixed red and rather indistinctly striped with dull carmine. In the Pacific Northwest in the arid sections, the color is red, sometimes approaching a deep color. Flesh tinged with yellow or slightly greenish, firm, moderately fine grained tender, moderately crisp, juicy, aromatic, sprightly, pleasant to subacid.
In this section it does not rank with the old Winesap as a commercial apple, and in this respect has proved rather disappointing. Season from December to May.