Stroat
AppleStroat
Origin / History
Stroat was formerly much esteemed among the descendants of the Dutch settlers on the North River (Downing; Beach). The name "Stroat" (also recorded as "Straat") is given by Elliott as the Dutch name for "Street," where the original tree is said to have grown. Thomas attributes the variety to New York. Downing notes that the variety was not profitable. Beach reports that as of 1905 he had not seen the fruit, nor had it been mentioned by any of his correspondents; his references trace the variety through pomological literature from Buel (N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826) and the London Horticultural Society Catalogue (1831), through Kenrick (1832), Downing (1845), the Horticulturist (1848), Thomas (1849), Emmons (Nat. Hist. N. Y., 1851), Elliott (1854), and Hooper (1857).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size
Above medium (Elliott; Downing; Beach). Thomas gives the size as medium.
Form
Roundish conical (Elliott); roundish, and tapering a little to the eye (Downing); roundish inclined to conic (Beach); roundish, ovate (Thomas).
Stem
Short (Elliott).
Cavity
Shallow (Elliott).
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Small (Elliott).
Skin
Yellowish green (Elliott; Downing; Beach; Thomas).
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh tender (Elliott); yellow, very tender (Downing; Beach). Flavor brisk subacid (Elliott; Downing; Beach), described as rich by Beach and Thomas. Quality rated good by Downing, good to very good by Beach, and "rich; very good" by Thomas.
Core / Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September to November (Elliott); September to December (Downing); September to November or December (Beach); autumn (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source. Downing notes the variety as not profitable.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Stroat. Strait. The Dutch name for Street, where the original tree is said to have grown. Fruit, above medium, roundish conical ; yellowish green : stem, short ; cavity, shallow ; basin, small ; flesh, tender, brisk sub-acid. September to November.
— 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.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Stroat. Medium, roundish, ovate, yellowish-green; rich; very good. Autumn. N. Y.
— 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.