Vasilis Largest
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Vasilis Largest
Origin / History
Originated in Russia (Hansen 1902; Thomas 1903; Budd & Hansen 1914). Also documented under the catalog designation No. 971 (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). At the Central Experimental Farm (Agassiz, BC), trees were planted in Spring 1895 and tested under the bulletin program reported in 1900. Thomas (1903) describes it as "a profitable market one" and notes "The trees are said to endure drought without lessening the size of the fruit." Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914) characterize it as "a large showy market apple."
Tree
A strong grower and an early bearer (Central Experimental Farm 1900). Thomas (1903) adds that the trees are said to endure drought without lessening the size of the fruit. No further details of bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, or leaves described in source.
Fruit
Size
Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914): "very large." Thomas (1903): "Large." Central Experimental Farm (1900): "above medium size." (Sources disagree on size class — the pomological references describe the fruit as very large or large, while the Agassiz catalog records the fruit at that test site as above medium.)
Form
Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914): roundish oblong, truncated, sometimes roundish oblate, often unequal. Thomas (1903): large, roundish, oblong, unequally truncated, irregular. Central Experimental Farm (1900): round, tapering slightly towards the eye.
Stem
Very short (Hansen 1902; Thomas 1903; Budd & Hansen 1914). No information about cavity (= "cavity") given by Hansen/Budd & Hansen as a separate feature; Thomas (1903) places "cavity deep, acute" — see Cavity below.
Cavity
Thomas (1903): cavity deep, acute. (Hansen 1902 and Budd & Hansen 1914 give a "calyx deep, acute, regular" descriptor in the position normally occupied by the cavity; the wording in those sources appears to use "calyx" where "cavity" would be conventional. Both attributions are preserved here.)
Calyx
Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914): "calyx deep, acute, regular"; and separately, "calyx closed or half open."
Basin
Wide, rather deep, abrupt (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903): basin wide, deep, abrupt.
Skin / Surface
Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914): surface unctuous, yellow, mostly covered with dark mixed red and crimson stripes and splashes; a very showy fruit; dots large, white, numerous. Thomas (1903): yellow, mostly covered with dark red and crimson; "Very showy apple." Central Experimental Farm (1900): skin greenish yellow, streaked with light red.
Flesh / Flavor
Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914): flesh coarse-grained, stained red next the skin and tinged faint red; juicy, acid; fair. Thomas (1903): flesh coarse grained, red next skin, juicy, sub-acid, excellent for culinary use. Central Experimental Farm (1900): flesh white, coarse, crisp, juicy and pleasant, quality good. (Sources disagree on flesh color — Hansen/Budd & Hansen and Thomas describe the flesh as stained or tinged red next the skin; the Agassiz catalog records the flesh as white. Quality ratings also vary: "fair" (Hansen; Budd & Hansen), "excellent for culinary use" (Thomas), "good" (Agassiz). Acidity: "acid" (Hansen; Budd & Hansen), "sub-acid" (Thomas).)
Core / Seeds
Core irregular, closed; cells slit by irregular fissures; tube very long, conical; stamens marginal; seeds very plump (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Not described by Thomas (1903) or Central Experimental Farm (1900).
Season
September (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Central Experimental Farm (1900): "Season last of August."
Uses
Culinary (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903): excellent for culinary use; a profitable market apple. Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914) describe it as "a large showy market apple."
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas (1903) references the variety as Fig. 379 in his text.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as Basil the Great
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as Vasili's Largest
View original book sources (4)
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1895. Tree a strong grower, and an early bearer. Fruit above medium size, round, tapering slightly towards the eye. Skin greenish yellow, streaked with light red. Flesh white, coarse, crisp, juicy and pleasant, quality good. Season last of August.
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Vasilis Largest (Basil the Great, No. 971)—Origin, Russia; a large showy market apple—Fruit very large, roundish oblong, truncated, sometimes roundish oblate, often unequal; surface unctuous, yellow, mostly covered with dark mixed red and crimson stripes and splashes, a very showy fruit; dots large, white, numerous; calyx deep, acute, regular; stem very short; basin wide, rather deep, abrupt; calyx closed or half open. Core irregular, closed; cells slit by irregular fissures; tube very long, conical; stamens marginal; seeds very plump; flesh coarse grained, stained red next the skin and tinged faint red; juicy, acid; fair. Use culinary. September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Basil the Great. (Vasilis Largest.) Large, roundish, oblong, unequally truncated, irregular; yellow, mostly covered with dark red and crimson; cavity deep, acute; stem very short; basin wide, deep, abrupt; flesh coarse grained, red next skin, juicy, sub-acid, excellent for culinary use. Very showy apple and is a profitable market one. The trees are said to endure drought without lessening the size of the fruit. Russian. Fig. 379.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Vasilis Largest (Basil the Great, No. 971). — Origin, Russia. A large showy market apple.
Fruit very large, roundish oblong, truncated, sometimes roundish oblate, often unequal; surface unctuous, yellow, mostly covered with dark mixed red and crimson stripes and splashes, a very showy fruit; dots large, white, numerous; calyx deep, acute, regular; stem very short; basin wide, rather deep, abrupt; calyx closed or half open. Core irregular, closed; cells slit by irregular fissures; tube very long, conical; stamens marginal; seeds very plump; flesh coarse-grained, stained red next the skin and tinged faint red, juicy, acid, fair; use culinary. September.