Utter
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
Originated in Wisconsin, where it was known as early as 1855. It has been much grown in that state and in other parts of the Middle West but is little known in New York (Beach).
Tree
A rather upright regular grower, forming a full rounded head, healthy and productive (Beach). Hardy — grown to some extent in regions where standard varieties do not succeed (Beach). Described as a regular bearer (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Above medium to large.
Form: Usually roundish oblate varying to roundish, sometimes a little inclined to oblong, often somewhat broadly ribbed, pretty regular (Beach). Downing describes it as oblate.
Stem: Short to medium, moderately stout (Beach). Downing describes the stalk as short and slender.
Cavity: Acute to acuminate, deep, medium in width to wide, furrowed gently if at all, sometimes partly russeted (Beach).
Calyx: Small, closed or partly open; lobes small, short, obtuse (Beach). Downing describes the calyx as small, closed.
Basin: Rather shallow to moderately deep, medium in width, abrupt, slightly furrowed and wrinkled (Beach). Downing describes the basin as open, furrowed.
Skin: Moderately thick, tough, clear, rather pale yellow usually washed with orange-red and narrowly streaked with bright carmine. Some fruits show little or no red but on highly colored specimens the prevailing color is red (Beach). Downing describes the ground color as lemon yellow, mottled, shaded, and striped with light red, with small russet dots.
Dots: Not conspicuous, numerous, often submerged or whitish or occasionally with russet point (Beach). Downing notes small russet dots.
Calyx Tube: Elongated funnel-form (Beach).
Stamens: Median or below (Beach).
Core/Seeds: Core sessile, medium size, abaxile; cells symmetrical, open or closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly roundish or approaching elliptical, but slightly emarginate if at all, smooth or slightly tufted. Seeds moderately numerous, medium to rather large, somewhat narrow to rather wide, obtuse or approaching acute, moderately light reddish-brown (Beach).
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish tinged with yellow, somewhat coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, pleasantly flavored, good (Beach). Downing describes the flesh as white, tender, juicy, mild, pleasant subacid, rated Good.
Season
October to December or later (Beach). Downing gives November, December. Thomas describes it as early winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture entry is a variety-characteristic table row:
Utter. M rob rs G fk A 2*
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1894–1911) from Nebraska
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Utter.
A popular Apple in Wisconsin and some other Western sections. Tree a regular bearer, and hardy. Fruit medium to large, oblate, lemon yellow ground, mottled, shaded, and striped with light red, small russet dots. Stalk short and slender. Calyx small, closed. Basin open, furrowed. Flesh white, tender, juicy mild, pleasant subacid. Good. November, December.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)UTTER
REFERENCES. 1. Horticulturist, 10:528. 1855. 2. Ib., 23:10. 1868. fig. 3. Downing, 1869:389. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1873. 5. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 5:35. 1879. 6. Budd, Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1879:472. 7. Thomas, 1885:527. 8. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-87:97. 9. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:251. 10. Harris, U. S. Pom. Rpt., 1892:271. 11. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:311, 344. 1896. 12. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Rpt., 1901:98. 13. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:108. 1902. fig. 14. Budd-Hansen, 1903:193. fig.
SYNONYMS. English Janneting (6). Fameuse (6). Seever's Red Streak (6). UTTER'S (1). UTTER (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14). UTTER'S LARGE RED (9). UTTER'S RED (5, 12). Utter's Red (13, 14).
Fruit of good size, yellow and red, rather attractive in appearance. The tree is a rather upright regular grower, forming a full rounded head, healthy and productive (11). It is very hardy and on this account has been grown to some extent in regions where standard varieties do not succeed (13, 14).
Historical. Originated in Wisconsin where it was known as early as 1855 (1). It has been much grown in that state and in other parts of the Middle West (13, 14) but it is little known in New York.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium to large. Form usually roundish oblate varying to roundish, sometimes a little inclined to oblong, often somewhat broadly ribbed, pretty regular. Stem short to medium, moderately stout. Cavity acute to acuminate, deep, medium in width to wide, furrowed gently if at all, sometimes partly russeted. Calyx small, closed or partly open; lobes small, short, obtuse. Basin rather shallow to moderately deep, medium in width, abrupt, slightly furrowed and wrinkled. Skin moderately thick, tough, clear, rather pale yellow usually washed with orange-red and narrowly streaked with bright carmine. Some fruits show little or no red but on highly colored specimens the prevailing color is red. Dots not conspicuous, numerous, often submerged or whitish or occasionally with russet point. Calyx tube elongated funnel-form. Stamens median or below. Core sessile, medium size, abaxile; cells symmetrical, open or closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly roundish or approaching elliptical, but slightly emarginate if at all, smooth or slightly tufted. Seeds moderately numerous, medium to rather large, somewhat narrow to rather wide, obtuse or approaching acute, moderately light reddish-brown. Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, somewhat coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, pleasantly flavored, good. Season October to December or later.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Utter. M rob rs G fk A 2*
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Utter. Rather large, oblate, striped with red on a yellow skin; pleasant sub-acid, good in quality. Early winter. A hardy, popular, Wisconsin apple.