Tetofsky
Apple
Origin and History
Tetofsky is a Russian apple, one of the pioneer Russian varieties introduced to the United States. It was imported by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from the London, England, Horticultural Society about 1835 (Beach). Manning described it as early as 1841 as a new fruit of value. It has been widely disseminated, particularly in regions where its superior hardiness renders it peculiarly valuable. It has never been commonly grown in New York state and is now seldom planted there (Beach). Elliott (1865) notes it matures some ten days or two weeks earlier than Red Astrachan, describing it as about equal in quality to that variety. Beach observes it is but little earlier than Yellow Transparent, which is superior to it in size and dessert qualities, and that there is a limited demand for the fruit in some local and special markets. Downing describes it as proving profitable for market growing. It succeeds at the North (Downing).
Tree
Tree very hardy. Descriptions of vigor vary: Warder describes the tree as vigorous; Thomas as a moderate grower; Beach as medium size to dwarfish, moderately vigorous; and Elliott as of very stout and upright growth. Form very erect (Beach, Warder, Elliott), though Downing describes it as an upright spreading grower forming an open head, while Beach describes it as very erect and rather dense. Deep rooted, with moderately stout branches filled with small spurs (Beach). Comes early into bearing (Downing, Beach). Bearing habit varies by account: Downing and Elliott describe it as a regular annual bearer; Beach states it yields full crops biennially or sometimes annually. Elliott notes it is a gross feeder, requiring good soil, and needs little pruning.
Twigs short, straight, moderately stout; internodes short (Beach). Young shoots yellowish reddish brown (Downing). Bark dull brown with tinge of red, lightly coated with gray scarf-skin, slightly pubescent (Beach). Lenticels scattering, small, oblong, not raised (Beach). Buds small, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent (Beach).
Leaves large, broad, light green, described as peculiar by Elliott. Warder describes the leaves as broad, pale or light green. Downing describes them as very large.
Fruit
Size: Medium to rather small, but usually below medium (Beach). Warder describes it as small to medium. Downing, Elliott, and Thomas all describe it as medium.
Form: Oblate or roundish, a little inclined to conic, pretty regular (Beach). Warder describes it as round, flattened, somewhat conic, angular. Downing gives oblate conic, sometimes nearly round. Elliott describes it as roundish, slightly conical. Thomas gives roundish, or oblate conic. The skin is smooth (all sources agree).
Stem: Sources disagree: Beach describes the stem as medium in length, rather slender. Warder describes it as short, yellow. Elliott describes it as short, stout.
Cavity: Obtuse, medium to rather deep, moderately broad, usually symmetrical, gently furrowed (Beach). Warder describes it as wide, wavy, or deep, acute. Elliott describes it as deep, furrowed.
Calyx: Rather large, closed; lobes long, moderately broad (Beach). Warder also describes the eye as large, closed. Elliott describes the calyx as rather large, with long segments.
Basin: Sources disagree: Beach describes the basin as shallow, medium in width, furrowed and wrinkled. Warder describes it as shallow, folded. Elliott describes it as abrupt, deep, irregular, furrowed.
Skin: Moderately thick, somewhat tough, smooth, waxy, greenish-yellow, more or less striped and splashed with rather attractive bright red, overspread with very faint bloom. Many specimens have little or no red. Dots inconspicuous, pale or greenish, submerged (Beach). Warder describes the color as yellow, striped and splashed with carmine, with white bloom. Downing describes a yellow ground handsomely striped with red, covered with a whitish bloom, under which is a shining skin. Elliott describes a light yellow ground, striped and splashed with red, with a beautiful white bloom. Thomas describes it as handsomely striped with red and covered with a whitish bloom.
Calyx Tube: Long, wide, funnel-shape with broad cylinder varying to nearly urn-shape. Stamens median to nearly marginal (Beach).
Flesh and Flavor: White, firm, a little coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, sprightly, slightly aromatic, subacid, fair to good (Beach). Downing describes the flesh as white and juicy, sprightly acid, fragrant, and agreeable, rating it Good. Warder describes it as yellowish-white, breaking, fine grained, juicy, with acid flavor and good quality — note this conflicts with Beach's description of "a little coarse." Elliott describes it as white, tender, sprightly, juicy, slightly acid or sharp sub-acid, "with a peculiar aromatic taste." Thomas describes it as white, sprightly, sub-acid, pleasant.
Core and Seeds: Core large, axile or somewhat abaxile; cells open; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, concave. Seeds medium size, short, moderately plump, somewhat obtuse (Beach). Warder describes the core as large, closed, clasping, with seeds numerous, plump, brown. Elliott, in contrast, describes the core as small and fleshy, with seeds plump, light brown.
Season
Late July to early September (Beach). Warder gives June and July, noting it ripens before Early Harvest. Downing gives August. Elliott gives last of July. Thomas gives July and August.
Uses
Suitable for culinary use and market. Warder lists market and kitchen use. Elliott describes it as very valuable for cooking or marketing. Thomas calls it valuable for market. Beach notes a limited demand for the fruit in some local and special markets, and that it is desirable for planting in regions where superior hardiness is particularly desired.
Subtypes and Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (Lowther, 1914) lists Tetofsky only as a coded table entry:
Description absent; variety present in variety-characteristic table.
Tetofsky. M fle yr G k S 9* 5* 1*
Book Sources
Described in 6 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
This is Warder's spelling. It is doubtless correct.
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 27 catalogs (1850–1921) from Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- William H. Moon Co. , Morrisville, Bucks County , Pennsylvania — 1890
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Reading Nursery , Jacob W. Manning, Proprietor, Reading , Massachusetts — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- Wm. J. Corse (successor to Robert Sinclair / Sinclair Nurseries) , Baltimore , Maryland — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
View original book sources (6)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Tetofski.
This little foreigner was brought from Russia, and seems as well adapted to our climate and tastes as are its companions from the same region.
Tree vigorous, hardy, productive, upright, leaves broad, pale or light green.
Fruit small to medium, round, flattened, somewhat conic, angular; Surface smooth, yellow, striped, splashed carmine, white bloom.
Basin shallow, folded; Eye large, closed.
Cavity wide, wavy, or deep, acute; Stem short, yellow.
Core large, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump, brown; Flesh yellowish-white, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor acid; Quality good; Use, market, kitchen; Season, June, July — before Early Harvest.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Tetofsky.
The Tetofsky is a Russian Summer Apple, which proves profitable for market growing. The tree is an upright spreading grower, forming an open head, comes early into bearing, and produces annually. Very hardy. Young shoots yellowish reddish brown, leaves very large.
Fruit of medium size, oblate conic, sometimes nearly round, smooth, with a yellow ground handsomely striped with red, and, like most apples of that country, covered with a whitish bloom, under which is a shining skin. The flesh is white and juicy, sprightly acid, fragrant, and agreeable. Good. August. Succeeds at the North.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)TETOFSKY.
REFERENCES. 1. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831:No. 1291. 2. Manning, Mag. Hort., 7:50. 1841. 3. Downing, 1845:78. 4. Thomas, 1849:141. 5. Elliott, 1854:111. fig. 6. Hooper, 1857:93. 7. Horticulturist, 14:425. 1859. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 9. Horticulturist, 21:294. 1866. fig. 10. Warder, 1867:657. 11. Todd, 1871:120. fig. 12. Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1872:458. fig. 13. Horticulturist, 29:317. 1874. 14. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1876:18. 15. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1876:251. 16. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1879:22. 17. Barry, 1883:335. 18. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-87:27. 19. Hoskins, Rural N. Y., 45:593. 1886. 20. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:298. 21. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:251. 22. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:588. 1892. 23. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1896:76. 24. Can. Hort., 19:358. 1896. 25. Waugh, Vt. Sta. Bul., 61:32. 1897. 26. Troop, Ind. Sta. An. Rpt., 12:81. 1899. 27. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:310. 1901. 28. Craig, Cyc. of Hort., 1901:1404. 29. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:104, 132. 1902. fig. 30. Munson, Me. Sta. Rpt., 1902:85. 31. Dickens and Greene, Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:56. 1902. 32. Budd-Hansen, 1903:188. fig.
SYNONYMS. TETOFFSKY (2). TETOFSKI (10, 12, 27, 29). TETOFSKY (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32). Tetofsky (29).
A Russian apple below medium size, yellow, striped with crimson, sprightly acid, suitable for culinary use in July, ripe in August. The tree is very hardy, very upright, deep rooted, comes into bearing young and yields full crops biennially or sometimes annually. Desirable for planting in regions where superior hardiness is particularly desired. It is but little earlier than Yellow Transparent which is superior to it in size and dessert qualities. There is a limited demand for the fruit in some local and special markets.
Historical. Tetofsky is one of the pioneers of the Russian varieties in this country having been imported by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from the London, England, Horticultural Society about 1835 (28). Manning (2) described it as early as 1841 as a new fruit of value. It has been widely disseminated particularly in regions where its superior hardiness renders it peculiarly valuable. It has never been commonly grown in New York state and is now seldom planted here.
TREE.
Tree medium size to dwarfish, moderately vigorous, deep rooted with moderately stout branches filled with small spurs. Form very erect, rather dense. Twigs short, straight, moderately stout; internodes short. Bark dull brown with tinge of red, lightly coated with gray scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels scattering, small, oblong, not raised. Buds small, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium to rather small but usually below medium; uniform in size and fairly uniform in shape. Form oblate or roundish, a little inclined to conic, pretty regular. Stem medium in length, rather slender. Cavity obtuse, medium to rather deep, moderately broad, usually symmetrical, gently furrowed. Calyx rather large, closed; lobes long, moderately broad. Basin shallow, medium in width, furrowed and wrinkled. Skin moderately thick, somewhat tough, smooth, waxy, greenish-yellow, more or less striped and splashed with rather attractive bright red, overspread with very faint bloom. Many specimens have little or no red. Dots inconspicuous, pale or greenish, submerged. Calyx tube long, wide, funnel-shape with broad cylinder varying to nearly urn-shape. Stamens median to nearly marginal. Core large, axile or somewhat abaxile; cells open; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, concave. Seeds medium size, short, moderately plump, somewhat obtuse. Flesh white, firm, a little coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, sprightly, slightly aromatic, subacid, fair to good. Season late July to early September.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Tetofsky. M fle yr G k S 9* 5* 1*
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Tetofsky.
A Russian variety. Trees, very stout and upright growth ; leaves large, broad, light green, peculiar ; regular annual bearer ; in quality about with Red Astrachan, but maturing some ten days or two weeks earlier ; very valuable for cooking or marketing ; a gross feeder, requiring good soil ; needs little pruning. Our figure does not well represent it, being far too small for an average.
Fruit, medium ; form, roundish, slightly conical ; color, light yellow ground, striped and splashed with red, and a beautiful white bloom ; stem, short, stout ; cavity, deep, furrowed ; calyx, rather large, long segments ; basin, abrupt, deep, irregular, furrowed ; flesh, white, tender, sprightly, juicy, slightly acid or sharp sub-acid, with a peculiar aromatic taste ; core, small, fleshy ; seeds, plump, light brown. Last of July.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Tetofski.* Medium, roundish, or oblate conic, handsomely striped with red and covered with a whitish bloom; flesh white, sprightly, sub-acid, pleasant. Tree a moderate grower, very hardy and productive. Valuable for market. July and August. Russian.