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."

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

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.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Stayman 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 russeted, 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."

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (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.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

STAYMAN. Fig. 52. Stayman Winesap. Stayman is a seedling of Winesap, which it much resembles in tree and fruit, but surpasses in several essentials; thus, the fruits are larger and better-flavored; the trees are more productive and adapted to a much wider range of soil and climate. The apples fall short in brilliancy of color, a defect which lessens their popularity for the fancy-fruit trade. The culture of Stayman Winesap is limited to regions having a long season, for in northern latitudes the apples fail to attain perfection in size, color, or flavor. In the East, south of New York and Michigan, it is one of the most popular and valuable of all apples. The variety was grown from seed of Winesap planted in 1866 by Dr. J. Stayman, Leavenworth, Kansas. Tree vigorous, spreading, open. Fruit medium to large, round-conic or globular, flattened at the base and rounding toward the basin, sides sometimes unequal; stem short; cavity large, acuminate, deep, often gently furrowed, sometimes compressed, russeted, sometimes with outspreading, broken, russet rays; calyx small, closed; lobes long, acute; basin small, sometimes oblique, shallow, narrow and obtuse to deep and abrupt, furrowed, wrinkled; skin smooth, thick, tough, yellow, often covered with dull red and indistinctly striped with carmine; dots light gray and russet, large; calyx-tube cone-shape, sometimes extending to the core; stamens median; core small, abaxile; cells symmetrical, closed or open; core-lines clasping the cylinder; carpels thin, tender, concave, elliptical, emarginate; seeds usually long, obtuse, plump, often abortive; flesh yellow, firm, fine-grained, tender, crisp, breaking, juicy, aromatic, sprightly, pleasant subacid; good to very good; December to May.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

18. Stayman ripens very late in New York and, in some seasons, fails to ripen. Immature fruits have greenish flesh. Most of the plantings are in the lower Hudson Valley (Fig. 2). Stayman is triploid, has large fruits with good red color, and, at its best, is rather good in quality. Skin cracks and checking sometimes cause problems. There are several red sports of Stayman. Although some growers are pleased with Stayman, it is not recommended for general planting in New York.

— Roger D. Way, Apple Varieties Grown in New York State (1979)

A seedling of Winesap, originating at Leavenworth, Kansas, with the late Dr. J. Stayman. Dark, rich red, indistinctly striped, but stripe is more pronounced in specimens less highly colored. Flesh firm, fine grained, crisp, juicy, and very tender; rich sub-acid—quality best. Tree a stronger grower than Winesap—a drouth resister and will thrive on thin soils where the old Winesap will starve; a more regular bearer, hangs longer, keeps as well, and in quality is far superior. Writing us 13 years ago Dr. Stayman, in speaking of its excellence, said: "There will come a time when all will want it." He was right—no apple is being more widely planted, with the possible exception of Delicious and King David. We urge planters to grow it. NCS

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)