Sweet Janet
Apple
Sweet Janet
Origin/History
Sweet Janet was originated by Reuben Ragan of Indiana, from seed of Rawle's Janet. (Warder, 1867)
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 season and thus escape frosts. (Downing, 1900, for the late-bloom note; tree habit consistent across both sources.)
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, indented. (Warder; Downing corroborates the color description.)
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellow, breaking, very sweet. Quality good to very good. The two sources conflict on juiciness: Warder describes the flesh as juicy; Downing describes it as not juicy.
Core and Seeds: Core medium, turbinate, regular, slightly open, clasping. Seeds numerous, angular, pointed. (Warder)
Season
December and January.
Uses
Baking and market. Described as very profitable. (Warder) Fine for baking. (Downing)
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Downing entry carries the attribution "(O. P. S.)," indicating the description derives from a pomological society report rather than Downing's own observation.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
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.)