Sweet Janet
Apple
Sweet Janet
Origin/History
Sweet Janet originated in Indiana, raised by Reuben Ragan from seed of Rawle's Janet. (Warder) The variety is noted as very profitable and is attributed in Downing to "O. P. S."
Tree
Large, healthy, vigorous, and spreading. Shoots rather stout, brown; foliage rich green. Annually productive of fine, fair fruits, which are well distributed and hold well on the tree. The tree is claimed to bloom late in the season and thus escape frosts. (Warder for shoots and foliage; late-bloom frost-escape claim from Downing.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, round, somewhat conical, regular.
Stem: Quite short.
Cavity: Rather deep, very narrow, wavy. (Warder)
Calyx: Small, closed. (Downing describes calyx as small; Warder describes the eye as medium, closed.)
Basin: Regular or plaited. (Warder)
Skin: Surface smooth, covered with rich red or crimson, mixed and striped. Dots numerous, rather large, yellow, and indented. (Warder; Downing confirms the red/crimson striped character.)
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellow, breaking. Juiciness is disputed between sources: Warder describes the flesh as juicy; Downing describes it as not juicy. Flavor very sweet. Quality good to very good (Warder); good (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Core medium, turbinate, regular, slightly open, clasping. Seeds numerous, angular, pointed. (Warder)
Season
December and January.
Uses
Baking and market. (Warder) Noted as fine for baking. (Downing) Described as very profitable. (Warder)
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
A seedling of Ralls.
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Sweet Janet.
This is another of the fine fruits originated by Reuben Ragan, of Indiana, from seed of Rawle's Janet. Tree large, healthy, vigorous, spreading; Shoots rather stout, brown; foliage rich green. Annually productive of fine, fair fruits, which are well distributed and hold well.
Fruit large, round, somewhat conical, regular; Surface smooth, covered with rich red or crimson, mixed and striped; Dots numerous, rather large, yellow, indented.
Basin regular or plaited; Eye medium, closed.
Cavity rather deep, very narrow, wavy; Stem quite short.
Core medium, turbinate, regular, slightly open, clasping; Seeds numerous, angular, pointed; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy; Flavor very sweet; Quality good to very good; Use, baking, market; Season, December and January. Very profitable.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sweet Janet.
Origin, Indiana. Tree healthy, vigorous, spreading, annually productive.
Fruit large, round, somewhat conical, covered with rich red or crimson, mixed and striped. Stalk short. Calyx small, closed. Flesh yellow, breaking, not juicy, sweet. Good. December, January. Fine for baking, and the tree claimed to bloom late in season and thus escape frosts. (O. P. S.)