Syke-House Russet
Apple
Syke-House Russet
Origin / History
Originated at the village of Syke House, in Yorkshire, "about the commencement of the present century" (Herefordshire Pomona, 1885); Bunyard calls the origin English, dates it from 1780, and says it was named after a village in Yorkshire. Downing calls it "A Yorkshire Apple." Bunyard says it was possibly introduced by Messrs. Perfect, of Pontefract, who sent it to Lee, of Hammersmith. Diel, by "a curious error of translation," rendered the name "Sik-House" and called it "English Hospital Reinette," from the supposition that it had originated in the garden of an hospital, or that the flavor of its fruit was especially agreeable to invalids. Figured by Lindley, Pl. 81, and by Ronalds, Pl. xxxviii. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "one of the most excellent dessert apples for winter use." Bunyard: "A nice little fruit."
Tree
Tree grows freely, is very hardy, and an excellent bearer; attains a full middle size (Herefordshire Pomona). May be grown as a standard, or grafted on the paradise stock as an espalier or a pyramid. Spreading and productive (Downing). Bunyard alone gives growth as moderate; fertile. Leaf rather small, oval, rather coarsely crenate or serrate, upcupped, held up (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Below medium to medium (below medium, Herefordshire Pomona; medium, Downing); Bunyard alone calls it small. Two and a quarter inches broad by one and three-quarters high (Herefordshire Pomona); 2½ by 2½ inches (Bunyard).
Form: Roundish oblate, oblate, or round flattened; regular (Bunyard).
Stem: Half an inch long, inserted in a shallow cavity (Herefordshire Pomona); medium (Bunyard).
Cavity: Shallow; rather shallow (Bunyard).
Calyx: Eye small and open (Herefordshire Pomona); open (Bunyard).
Basin: Shallow; very shallow (Bunyard).
Skin: Yellowish green to yellow, entirely or mostly covered with brown russet, light brown in Downing's account, strewed with silvery scales. Sometimes a brownish tinge on the side exposed to the sun (Herefordshire Pomona).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Yellowish, firm, crisp and juicy; sprightly, subacid (Downing). Flavor "rich, sugary, and very high" (Herefordshire Pomona); rich (Bunyard).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
End of October to February. Most authors give November or late October through February; Bunyard gives "till February."
Uses
Dessert apple for winter use.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Downing's entry carries the notation "(Hon.)".
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) — listed as Syke House Russet
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- The Herefordshire Pomona (1876–1885) — listed as Syke House Russet
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911 — listed as Syke House Russet
View original book sources (3)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- SYKE HOUSE RUSSET.
[Syn : Englische Spitalsreinette ; Prageri]
This apple originated at the village of Syke House, in Yorkshire, about the commencement of the present century. Diel translates this name in his nomenclature by a curious error of translation "Sik-House," and calls it "English Hospital Reinette," from the supposition that it had originated in the garden of an hospital, or that the flavour of its fruit was especially agreeable to invalids. It is figured by Lindley, Pl. 81, and by Ronalds, Pl. xxxviii.
Description.—Fruit : below medium size, two inches and a quarter broad by one inch and three-quarters high ; roundish oblate. Skin : yellowish green, but entirely covered with brown russet, strewed with silvery scales ; sometimes it has a brownish tinge on the side which has been exposed to the sun. Eye : small and open, set in a shallow basin. Stalk : half an inch long, inserted in a shallow cavity. Flesh : yellowish, firm, crisp and juicy, with a rich, sugary, and very high flavour.
One of the most excellent dessert apples for winter use, and in season from the end of October to February.
The tree grows freely, is very hardy, and an excellent bearer. It attains a full middle size, and may be grown as a standard, or when grafted on the paradise stock as an espalier or a pyramid.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Syke-House Russet.
A Yorkshire Apple. Tree spreading, productive.
Fruit medium, oblate, yellowish, mostly covered with light brown russet. Flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, sprightly, juicy, subacid. November, February. (Hon.)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)SYKE HOUSE RUSSET. Ronalds, P. 38. F., Reinette de Syke House ; G., Englischer Spitals Reinette. (Culver Russet.) Dessert, till February, small, 2½ by 2½, round flattened, regular. Colour, yellow covered with russet. Flesh, firm, yellow, rich. Eye, open, in a very shallow basin. Stem, medium, in a rather shallow cavity. Growth, moderate ; fertile. Leaf, rather small, oval, rather coarsely crenate or serrate, upcupped, held up. Origin, English. Named after a village in Yorkshire, and dating from 1780. Possibly introduced by Messrs. Perfect, of Pontefract, who sent it to Lee, of Hammersmith. A nice little fruit.