Stroat
AppleStroat
Origin and History
Stroat was formerly much esteemed among the descendants of the Dutch settlers on the North River (Hudson Valley). It appears in pomological literature as early as 1826 (Buel) and was catalogued by the London Horticultural Society in 1831. By the time of Downing's 1900 revised edition, it was considered no longer profitable. Beach (1905) reports that neither he nor any of his correspondents had seen the fruit in recent years, suggesting it had effectively passed out of cultivation by the early twentieth century.
Tree
No tree characteristics are described in available sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Above medium size. Roundish, inclined to conic — Downing specifies it tapers a little to the eye (stem end).
Skin: Yellowish green.
Flesh: Yellow, very tender.
Flavor: Brisk subacid, with a rich quality. Downing rates it good; sources cited by Beach rate it good to very good.
No descriptions of stem, cavity, calyx, basin, dots, core, or seeds appear in available sources.
Season
September to November or December. Downing gives the endpoint as December; Beach's synthesis of multiple sources gives November or December.
Uses
Not specified beyond table quality. Downing notes the variety was not found profitable, implying limited commercial value by the late nineteenth century.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Stroat.
Straat.
An Apple formerly in high esteem among the descendants of the Dutch settlers on the North River. Not profitable.
Fruit above the middle size, roundish, and tapering a little to the eye, yellowish green. Flesh yellow, very tender, brisk subacid. Good. September to December.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)STROAT.
REFERENCES. 1. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 2. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831:No. 1256. 3. Kenrick, 1832:39. 4. Downing, 1845:97. 5. Horticulturist, 2:545. 1848. 6. Thomas, 1849:158. 7. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:38. 1851. 8. Elliott, 1854:158. 9. Hooper, 1857:87.
SYNONYMS. STRAAT (2, 3). Straat (4, 8, 9). STROAT (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
Stroat was formerly much esteemed among the descendants of the Dutch settlers on the North river (4). The fruit is described as above medium, roundish inclined to conic, yellowish-green; flesh yellow, very tender, rich, brisk subacid, good to very good; season September to November or December (4, 6, 8).
We have not seen this fruit nor has it been mentioned by any of our correspondents.