Sweet Russett of Kentucky

Apple

Editor's Note

One of at least three distinct apples grown under the name Sweet Russet — Downing's Sweet Russet entry quotes Warder's description of this Kentucky variety alongside the other two. The Parsons & Co. September apple is described at Sweet Russet, and the Massachusetts/New York winter keeper at Sweet Russet (of Massachusetts and New York).

Sweet Russett of Kentucky

Origin / History

The fruit was received from J. S. Downer & Son, Elkton, Kentucky, and is described in John A. Warder's American Pomology: Apples (1867).

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Small.

Form: Conical, truncated, angular.

Stem: Short, slender.

Cavity: Very shallow, acute.

Calyx: Eye small, closed.

Basin: Shallow, regular.

Skin: Surface rough, dark russet.

Dots: Scattered, minute, white, prominent.

Flesh and flavor: Yellowish-white, fine-grained, not tender. Flavor sweet. Quality scarcely good.

Core and seeds: Core large, regular, nearly closed, meeting the eye. Seeds numerous, angular, pale.

Season

December to February.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

View original book sources (1)

Sweet Russett of Kentucky.

This fruit was received from J. S. Downer & Son, Elkton, Kentucky,

Fruit small, conical, truncated, angular; Surface rough, dark russet; Dots scattered, minute, white, prominent.

Basin shallow, regular; Eye small, closed.

Cavity very shallow, acute; Stem short, slender.

Core large, regular, nearly closed, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, angular, pale; Flesh yellowish-white, fine-grained, not tender; Flavor sweet; Quality scarcely good; Season, December to February.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)