Vasilis Largest
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Vasilis Largest
Origin/History
Originated in Russia. Designated as No. 971. A large showy market apple, valued commercially for its appearance and culinary utility.
Tree
The Central Experimental Farm catalogue (Agassiz BC, 1900, planted Spring 1895) describes the tree as a strong grower and an early bearer. Thomas (1903) notes that the trees are said to endure drought without lessening the size of the fruit. No further tree details (bark, twigs, lenticels, buds, leaves, specific vigor or bearing patterns) are described in the sources.
Fruit
Size
Very large (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914; Thomas 1903). The Central Experimental Farm catalogue (1900) gives a smaller assessment: "above medium size."
Form
Roundish oblong, truncated, sometimes roundish oblate, often unequal; irregular (Hansen 1902; Thomas 1903; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Central Experimental Farm catalogue (1900) describes it as round, tapering slightly toward the eye.
Stem
Very short.
Cavity
Deep, acute (Thomas 1903). Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914) describe the calyx as "deep, acute, regular" — likely referring to the cavity in their schema, as they separately note the calyx as "closed or half open."
Calyx
Closed or half open (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Basin
Wide, rather deep (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914) / deep (Thomas 1903), abrupt.
Skin
Surface unctuous, yellow, mostly covered with dark mixed red and crimson stripes and splashes — a very showy fruit (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903): yellow, mostly covered with dark red and crimson. Dots large, white, numerous (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Central Experimental Farm catalogue (1900) gives a markedly different skin description: greenish yellow, streaked with light red.
Flesh/Flavor
Coarse grained, stained red next the skin and tinged faint red; juicy; acid (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914); sub-acid (Thomas 1903). Quality rated "fair" by Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914); Thomas (1903) calls it "excellent for culinary use." The Central Experimental Farm catalogue (1900) describes the flesh as white, coarse, crisp, juicy and pleasant, quality good — notably differing in color (white vs. red-stained).
Core/Seeds
Core irregular, closed; cells slit by irregular fissures; tube very long, conical; stamens marginal; seeds very plump (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Season
September (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Last of August (Central Experimental Farm, 1900).
Uses
Culinary. A profitable market apple, very showy (Thomas 1903).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
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)
— 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)Vasili's Largest. See Basil the Great.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Basil the Great", pp. 362–362]
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.
— 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.