Sweet Longfield
AppleSweet Longfield
Origin/History
Sweet Longfield originated in Russia. It was originally named Kursk Reinette; the name was changed to Sweet Longfield by Prof. Budd, and this designation was subsequently adopted by the Russian Nomenclature Commission. In season it follows Smoky Arcade and Beautiful Arcade as an excellent late summer sweet apple.
Tree
J. Sexton (quoted in Hansen 1902) observed that Sweet Longfield is a hardy tree and a good bearer, worthy of cultivation. The tree is rather spreading and does not resemble Longfield in appearance; the foliage is heavier than that of Longfield.
Fruit
Size
Large. The Russian Nomenclature Commission (as quoted in Hansen 1902) rates size as 5.
Form
Regular, oblong conic, somewhat truncated. The Russian Nomenclature Commission's description adds that the form is somewhat oblique.
Stem
Medium length.
Cavity
Regular, acute, slightly russeted (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Commission's description characterizes the cavity as angular, broad, and deep, with russet — a notable conflict with the main Hansen and Budd & Hansen accounts.
Calyx
Closed; segments small.
Basin
Small, abrupt, slightly wrinkled (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914; Thomas 1903 gives "small and abrupt"). The Russian Nomenclature Commission's description gives the basin as narrow, shallow, and corrugated — again differing from the main Hansen and Budd & Hansen accounts.
Skin
Greenish yellow, often with a faint blush on the sunny side (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914; Thomas 1903). Dots minute, white, obscure, numerous, and slightly raised (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Commission's description (in Hansen 1902) gives the color as yellow with blush on the sun side and describes the dots as dark — conflicting with the "white, obscure" characterization in the main descriptions.
Flesh and Flavor
White, fine-grained, rich, and sweet; quality very good. Suited for both table use and baking.
Core and Seeds
Core regular, clasping, open; cells large; tube conical; stamens median. Seeds small and plump.
Season
Hansen 1902 and Budd & Hansen 1914 give August (late summer), consistent with the variety's described position following Smoky Arcade and Beautiful Arcade in the season sequence. The Russian Nomenclature Commission's description (in Hansen 1902) gives early autumn. Thomas 1903 gives late autumn — a significant conflict with the other sources.
Uses
Good for table use or baking.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Hansen says name changed from Kursk Reinette.
View original book sources (3)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Sweet Longfield (20 M)—Origin, Russia; an excellent late summer sweet apple, following Smoky Arcade and Beautiful Arcade in season. The original name, Kursk Reinette, was changed to Sweet Longfield by Prof. Budd and this was adopted by the Russian Nomenclature Commission—Fruit large, regular, oblong conic, somewhat truncated; surface greenish yellow, often with faint blush on sunny side; dots minute, white, obscure, numerous, slightly raised; cavity regular, acute, slightly russeted; stem medium; basin small, abrupt, slightly wrinkled; calyx closed, segments small. Core regular, clasping, open; cells large; tube conical; stamens median; seeds small, plump; flesh white, fine grained, rich, sweet, very good for table or baking. August.
"SWEET LONGFIELD.
Description: Sweet Longfield—Size, 5; form, oblong, somewhat oblique; color, yellow with blush on sun side, dark dots; cavity, angular, broad, deep, russeted; stem, medium; basin, narrow, shallow, corrugated; calyx, closed; flesh, fine grained; flavor, sweet; season, early autumn; origin, Russia.
J. Sexton: Sweet Longfield we find is a hardy tree and a good bearer. It is a good sweet apple, and worthy of cultivation. The tree is rather spreading, does not resemble Longfield, and the foliage heavier than that of Longfield. It is the name now given to it instead of Kursk Reinette (20 M)." (Rus. Nom. Com.)
Sweet Longfield. (20 M)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Sweet Longfield. Large, regular, oblong-conic; truncated greenish yellow, usually blushed on sunny side; cavity regular, acute; stem medium; basin small and abrupt; flesh white, fine-grained, rich, very sweet, quality good. Late autumn. Fig. 381. Russian.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Sweet Longfield (20 M.). — Origin, Russia; an excellent late summer sweet apple, following Smoky Arcad and Beautiful Arcade in season. The original name, Kursk Reinette, was changed to Sweet Longfield by Prof. Budd, and this was adopted by the Russian Nomenclature Commission.
Fruit large, regular, oblong conic, somewhat truncated; surface greenish yellow, often with faint blush on sunny side; dots minute, white, obscure, numerous, slightly raised; cavity regular, acute, slightly russeted; stem medium; basin small, abrupt, slightly wrinkled; calyx closed; segments small. Core regular, clasping, open; cells large; tube conical; stamens median; seeds small, plump; flesh white, fine-grained, rich, sweet, very good for table or baking. August.