Sweet Russet
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Editor's Note
Sweet Russet
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Sweet Russet was at one time disseminated by Parsons and Company, Flushing, N.Y. It is cited in Warder (1867), Downing (1869), and Bailey's An. Horticulturist (1892). Downing records it as having been grown in New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
Both volumes of Beach's Apples of New York carry entries under this name, but with significant differences in size and season (see Fruit and Season sections below), and Beach (Vol. 1) explicitly notes that "various varieties have been cultivated under the name Sweet Russet." The name has additionally been applied to the variety described in Beach as Pumpkin Russet.
Tree
Large, spreading and drooping in habit, a moderately vigorous grower, hardy, long-lived, and usually a reliable cropper, yielding good crops biennially (Beach Vol. 2).
Not described in source (Vol. 1).
Fruit
Size: The two Beach entries conflict on size. Beach Vol. 1 (citing Downing) describes the fruit as medium in size. Beach Vol. 2 describes it as small.
Form: Roundish or oblate (Beach Vol. 2). Not described in Vol. 1.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, mostly covered with patches and network of russet (Beach Vol. 1, citing Downing). Beach Vol. 2 similarly describes the skin as yellow, mostly covered with light russet, tinged with red in the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: Rich and sweet (Beach Vol. 1, citing Downing). Beach Vol. 2 describes the flesh as juicy and sweet, rating the fruit "very good."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The two sources conflict substantially on season. Beach Vol. 1 (citing Downing) gives the season as November to March — a late-keeping winter apple used for culinary purposes. Beach Vol. 2 gives the season as September and October — an early autumn apple. This discrepancy is consistent with Beach Vol. 1's observation that more than one variety has been grown under this name.
Uses
Good apple for culinary use (Beach Vol. 1, citing Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Beach Vol. 1 states explicitly that "various varieties have been cultivated under the name Sweet Russet," acknowledging that at least two distinct apples have circulated under this name. The name has also been applied to the variety Beach describes separately as Pumpkin Russet.
Other
By 1905, Beach (Vol. 1) states: "We do not know this variety and we have no report of its being grown anywhere in New York at the present time," indicating the variety (at least as described by Downing) had fallen out of cultivation in New York by the date of publication.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)SWEET RUSSET.
Reference. 1. Downing, 1869:377. Synonym. Summer Russet (1).
Various varieties have been cultivated under the name Sweet Russet. The one here noticed, Downing states (1) has been grown in New York, Massachusetts and elsewhere and is a good apple for culinary use, in season from November to March. The fruit is medium in size, yellow, mostly covered with patches and network of russet and the flesh is rich and sweet. We do not know this variety and we have no report of its being grown anywhere in New York at the present time.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SWEET RUSSET.
REFERENCES. 1. Warder, 1867:528. fig. 2. Downing, 1869:377. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:250.
SYNONYMS. Summer Russet (2). Sweet Russet (1, 2, 3).
A small roundish or oblate apple, yellow, mostly covered with light russet tinged with red in the sun, juicy, sweet, very good; season September and October. Tree large, spreading and drooping, a moderately vigorous grower, hardy, long-lived and usually a reliable cropper yielding good crops biennially. Origin unknown. It was at one time disseminated by Parsons and Company, Flushing, N. Y.
The name Sweet Russet has also been applied to the variety described as Pumpkin Russet on page 170.