Sylvester
Apple
Origin & History
Originated at Lyons, New York. Warder (1867) attributes introduction to "Dr. Ware Sylvester," while Downing (1900) names the originator as "Dr. E. W. Sylvester," likely the same individual. According to Beach (1905), the variety was but little grown even in the locality of its origin, and is not desirable for commercial planting because the fruit shows bruises very readily.
Tree
Tree vigorous (Warder, Downing, Elliott) to moderately vigorous (Beach), large (Beach), hardy and long-lived (Beach). Sources disagree on growth habit: Elliott (1865) describes the growth as upright, while Downing describes the tree as forming a beautiful open, round, spreading head; Beach describes the tree as roundish. A profuse bearer (Downing) and productive (Elliott); Beach specifies a reliable cropper yielding good crops biennially. Young shoots dark reddish brown, slightly grayish or downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Small to medium (Warder), below medium (Downing), medium (Elliott).
Form: Round and regular (Warder), roundish oblate and regular (Downing), roundish (Elliott).
Stem: Medium (Warder). Downing describes the stalk as small and short.
Cavity: Deep, acute, and wavy (Warder). Regular (Downing).
Calyx: Small and closed (Warder, Downing).
Basin: Very shallow and plaited (Warder). Rather shallow (Downing).
Skin: Smooth, white, blushed and striped bright carmine, with scattered, minute dots (Warder). Waxen white, beautifully shaded on the sunny side with bright crimson, thinly sprinkled with minute light and brown dots (Downing). Beach summarizes as waxen-white with crimson blush. Elliott describes the color as yellowish white with a red cheek in sun, occasionally with a network of russet — the yellowish cast and russet netting are unique to Elliott's description.
Flesh & Flavor: White (Warder, Elliott) to very white (Downing), tender, fine-grained (Warder, Elliott), crisp (Downing, Elliott), juicy (Warder, Downing), subacid. Quality very good (Warder, Downing). Downing describes the flavor as brisk subacid; Elliott characterizes the flavor as "negative but pleasant." Beach echoes "brisk subacid."
Core & Seeds: Core indistinct, slightly open. Seeds numerous, plump, angular, long (Warder). Not described in other sources.
Season
September (Warder). September and October (Downing, Beach). October (Elliott).
Uses
Table and cooking (Warder). Excellent for cooking and drying (Downing). Very good for culinary uses (Beach).
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Sylvester.
Introduced by Dr. Ware Sylvester, of Lyons, New York.
Fruit small to medium, round, regular; Surface smooth, white, blushed and striped bright carmine; Dots scattered, minute.
Basin very shallow, plaited; Eye small, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, wavy; Stem medium.
Core indistinct, slightly open; Seeds numerous, plump, angular, long; Flesh white, tender, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sub-acid; Quality very good; Use, table and cooking; Season, September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sylvester.
Originated on the farm of Dr. E. W. Sylvester, Lyons, N. Y. Tree vigorous, forming a beautiful open, round, spreading head, a profuse bearer. Young shoots dark reddish brown, slightly grayish or downy. Fruit below medium, roundish oblate, regular, waxen white, beautifully shaded on the sunny side with bright crimson, thinly sprinkled with minute light and brown dots. Stalk small, short. Cavity regular. Calyx closed. Basin rather shallow. Flesh very white, tender, crisp, juicy, brisk subacid. Very good. September, October. Excellent for cooking and drying.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SYLVESTER.
REFERENCES. 1. Horticulturist, 17:150. 1862. 2. Warder, 1867:617. fig. 3. Downing, 1869:379. 4. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1871:154. 5. Fitz, 1872:170.
SYNONYMS. None.
A waxen-white fruit with crimson blush and brisk subacid flesh; very good for culinary uses. Season September and October. The tree is large, roundish, moderately vigorous, hardy, long-lived and a reliable cropper yielding good crops biennially. It is not desirable for commercial planting because the fruit shows bruises very readily.
Historical. Originated at Lyons, N. Y. (3). It is but little grown even in the locality of its origin.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sylvester.
Originated at Lyons, N. Y. Growth, upright, vigorous, productive. Fruit, medium size, roundish ; color, yellowish white, red cheek in sun, occasionally net work of russet ; flesh, white, crisp, tender, fine-grained, sub-acid, negative but pleasant flavor. October.