Switzer
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Switzer
Origin/History
A Russian apple imported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1870. It was received in 1888 for testing at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station from T. H. Hoskins, Newport, Vermont. When well grown, it is a very handsome fruit, nearly white with beautiful blush.
Tree
Beach describes the tree as moderately vigorous; Thomas describes it as vigorous. Both agree the form is spreading. Branches short, moderately stout, curved and crooked. Form rather flat and open. Twigs short, curved, stout, with large terminal buds; internodes medium. Bark dark brown, streaked with heavy scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels scattering, small, round, not raised. Buds large, prominent, broad, plump, obtuse, free, heavily pubescent.
On productivity, sources conflict: Beach reports the tree comes into bearing rather early and is a fairly reliable cropper yielding pretty good crops biennially; Thomas describes it as very productive.
Fruit
Size: Below medium to above medium (Beach); medium (Thomas).
Form: Roundish or oblate, regular (Beach); roundish-oblate (Thomas).
Stem: Medium to rather long, rather slender.
Cavity: Acuminate, moderately shallow, narrow, lightly russeted with thin, greenish-russet.
Calyx: Small, closed; lobes medium in length, narrow, acute.
Basin: Shallow or almost none, narrow to wide, furrowed, often wrinkled.
Skin: Sources offer partially conflicting descriptions. Beach: clear white or becoming yellowish, washed with bright pink which often deepens to crimson. Thomas: pale yellow, striped and blushed with light crimson. Both agree the fruit is very handsome. Dots whitish, obscure (Beach).
Flesh/Flavor: White, firm, fine-grained, juicy (both sources). Mild subacid (Beach). Flavor and quality very good for dessert or culinary uses (Beach); Thomas rates it very good.
Calyx tube: Variable, elongated conical to cylindrical or funnel-form.
Stamens: Median to somewhat basal.
Core/Seeds: Core large, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines clasping. Carpels round, deeply emarginate. Seeds large, dark brown, medium in width, long.
Season
Late August to October (Beach).
Uses
Dessert and culinary (Beach). Valuable for market or culinary (Thomas).
Other
Beach notes that as compared with standard varieties of its season, the Switzer does not appear to merit the attention of New York fruit growers in particular.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1886–1892) from Alabama, Washington
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SWITZER.
REFERENCES. 1. Hoskins, Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880:50. 2. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1881:55. 3. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:91. 4. Gibb, Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:436. 5. Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1885:12. No. 304. 6. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-87:16. 7. Can. Hort., 12:344. 1889. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1889:14. 9. Budd, Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1890:18. No. 304. 10. Can. Hort., 13:216. 1890. 11. Van Deman, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1890:418. col. pl. 12. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:251. 13. Amer. Gard., 13:639. 1892. 14. Can. Hort., 16:359. 1893. 15. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 53:279. 1894. 16. Amer. Gard., 16:332, 412. 1895. fig. 17. Beach, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:255. 1895. 18. Can. Hort., 20:183, 412. 1897. 19. Amer. Gard., 19:652. 1898. 20. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1901:198. 21. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:103. 1902. 22. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:85. 1902. 23. Budd-Hansen, 1903:186. fig. 24. Thomas, 1903:303.
SYNONYMS. Suislepper (3, 4). Suislepper (5). Switzer (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24). Switzer (3, 4).
When well grown this is a very handsome fruit of medium size or below, nearly white with beautiful blush. It is very good in flavor and quality either for dessert or culinary uses. As fruited at this Station the tree comes into bearing rather early and is a fairly reliable cropper yielding pretty good crops biennially. As compared with standard varieties of its season it does not appear to merit the attention of New York fruit growers.
Historical. A Russian apple imported by the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 1870. It was received in 1888 for testing at this Station from T. H. Hoskins, Newport, Vt.
TREE.
Tree moderately vigorous with short, moderately stout, curved and crooked branches. Form spreading, rather flat, open. Twigs short, curved, stout with large terminal buds; internodes medium. Bark dark brown, streaked with heavy scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels scattering, small, round, not raised. Buds large, prominent, broad, plump, obtuse, free, heavily pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit below medium to above medium. Form roundish or oblate, regular. Stem medium to rather long, rather slender. Cavity acuminate, moderately shallow, narrow, lightly russeted with thin, greenish-russet. Calyx small, closed; lobes medium in length, narrow, acute. Basin shallow or almost none, narrow to wide, furrowed, often wrinkled. Skin clear white or becoming yellowish, washed with bright pink which often deepens to crimson. Dots whitish, obscure. Calyx tube variable, elongated conical to cylindrical or funnel-form. Stamens median to somewhat basal. Core large, axile; cells closed or partly open; core lines clasping. Carpels round, deeply emarginate. Seeds large, dark brown, medium in width, long. Flesh white, firm, fine, juicy, mild subacid, good. Season late August to October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Switzer.* Tree vigorous, spreading, very productive; fruit medium, roundish-oblate; skin pale yellow, striped and blushed with light crimson; very handsome flesh, white, fine grained, juicy, very good. Russian. Valuable for market or culinary.