Sweet Romanite
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin & History
Origin unknown. The variety was introduced to the Ohio Pomological Society by W. B. Lipsey, of Morrow County, Ohio, and was not identified with any previously described variety (Elliott, 1865). The flesh being fine-grained and firm—somewhat like the Gilpin or Romanite—probably induced the name (Elliott). In Illinois, Cyrus R. Overman, President of the State Society, introduced the variety and much esteemed it (Warder, 1867). Grown in Illinois under the name "Sweet Nonsuch," and introduced there under the erroneous name of "Orange Sweet" (Elliott). Thomas (1903) notes it as "valuable at the West."
Tree
Strong, upright grower, hardy. Downing (1900) describes a moderate bearer; Elliott (1865) specifies a moderate but regular bearer.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish oblate to roundish flattened, very regular. Warder (1867) notes the form as round, sometimes flattened or truncate.
Stem: Downing, Elliott, and Thomas describe the stem as short; Downing adds slender. Warder disagrees, describing the stem as medium to long, green.
Cavity: Warder (1867) describes the cavity as deep, acute, wavy, brown. Elliott (1865) describes it as open, regular, with little russet.
Calyx: Sources conflict. Warder (1867) describes the eye as small, closed. Downing (1900) describes the calyx as closed, with segments erect, slightly recurved. Elliott (1865) describes the calyx as large, segments in divisions, short, half erect. Thomas (1903) describes the calyx as large, open.
Basin: Elliott (1865) and Thomas (1903) describe the basin as shallow, furrowed; Elliott adds broad. Downing (1900) describes it as corrugated. Warder (1867) describes it as medium, or deep and abrupt, folded, plaited.
Skin: Greenish-yellow ground, striped and shaded or overspread with bright red. Warder (1867) describes the surface as smooth, blushed, mixed bright red and dull red, with stripes indistinct; dots scattered, irregular, brown or fawn on the deeper colors. Downing (1900) describes light dots. Elliott (1865) notes the fruit is covered with a fine bloom.
Flesh & Flavor: Sweet across all sources. Warder (1867) describes the flesh as yellow, fine-grained, breaking, juicy, with flavor very sweet. Downing (1900) describes yellowish white, compact, tender, juicy, rich, sweet. Elliott (1865) and Thomas (1903) describe greenish yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, sweet. Elliott rates it superior to Ramsdell's or Danvers' Sweeting. Quality good to very good (Warder, Downing).
Core & Seeds: Warder (1867) describes the core as roundish, closed, clasping; seeds numerous, plump, angular. Downing (1900) describes the core as small. Elliott (1865) describes the core as medium or rather small, compact, with centre slightly hollow; seeds ovate, oblong pyriform.
Season
November to April. Downing and Elliott give November to March; Warder extends it to December through April. Thomas simply notes it keeps through winter.
Uses
Baking, cider, table, and stock (Warder, 1867).
Subtypes & Variants
Elliott (1865) distinguishes two inferior varieties sometimes confused with the true Sweet Romanite:
Another "Sweet Romanite" grown in the Western States: Oblong in form; stem long and slender; core light yellow, striped with red; flesh more yellow and dry—described as an inferior or unworthy variety.
A "Sweet Nonsuch" also grown: Flat in form, with slender stem; cavity deep; skin light red on pale yellow; flesh white, sweet, dry, and tough—described as inferior.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
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 (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Sweet Romanite.
Origin unknown. Grown in Illinois; introduced at the State Society by the lamented Cyrus R. Overman, President—much esteemed by him.
Fruit medium, round, sometimes flattened or truncate, regular; Surface smooth, greenish-yellow, blushed, mixed bright red and dull red, stripes indistinct; Dots scattered, irregular, brown or fawn on the deeper colors.
Basin medium, or deep and abrupt, folded, plaited; Eye small, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, wavy, brown; Stem medium to long, green.
Core roundish, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump, angular; Flesh yellow, fine-grained, breaking, juicy; Flavor very sweet; Quality good to very good; Use, baking, cider, table and stock; Season, December to April.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sweet Romanite.
Red Winter Sweet ? Sweet Nonsuch.
Origin unknown. Tree a strong, upright grower, hardy, moderate bearer.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with red, light dots. Stalk short, slender. Calyx closed. Segments erect, slightly recurved. Basin corrugated. Flesh yellowish white, compact, tender, juicy, rich, sweet. Good to very good. Core small. November to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sweet Romanite. Sweet Nonsuch, | Orange Sweet, erroneously.
This is a variety introduced to the Ohio Pomological Society by W. B. Lipsey, of Morrow County, Ohio. We have not been able to identify it with any variety heretofore described. The flesh being fine-grained and firm—somewhat like the Gilpin or Romanite—probably induced the name. It is grown in Illinois, under the name of "Sweet Nonsuch," and introduced there under the erroneous name of "Orange Sweet." Tree, hardy, moderate but regular bearer.
Size, medium ; form, roundish flattened, very regular : color, greenish yellow ground, mostly striped and overspread with bright red, and covered with a fine bloom : stem, short ; cavity, open, regular, with little russet ; calyx, large, segments in divisions, short, half erect ; basin, broad, shallow, furrowed : flesh, greenish yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, sweet—superior to Ramsdell's or Danvers' Sweeting ; core, medium, or rather small, compact—centre, slightly hollow ; seeds, ovate, oblong pyriform. November to March.
There is another Sweet Romanite grown in the Western States, which is oblong ; stem, long and slender ; core, light yellow, striped with red ; flesh, more yellow and dry—an inferior or unworthy variety.
There is also a Sweet Nonsuch grown, which is flat, with slender stem ; cavity, deep, light red on pale yellow ; flesh, white, sweet, dry, and tough : inferior.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Sweet Romanite. (Sweet Nonsuch, of Illinois.) Size medium, roundish oblate, regular; striped and shaded with bright red on greenish yellow; stalk short; calyx large, open; basin shallow, furrowed; flesh greenish yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, sweet. Keeps through winter. Fig. 405. Valuable at the West.