Wells' Sweeting
Apple
Wells' Sweeting
Origin/History
Elliott (1865) gives the origin as Newburgh, New York. Warder (1867) states the origin and history are unknown.
Tree
Elliott describes a strong tree with upright growth. No further tree characteristics described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium in size. Warder describes the shape as round or oblong, regular. Elliott describes it as roundish. Both sources agree on medium size.
Skin: Warder describes the surface as smooth, white, with some blush. Elliott describes the color as dull light green with a brownish red cheek.
Dots: Scattered, prominent (Warder).
Stem: Warder describes the stem as medium. Elliott describes it as slender.
Cavity: Medium, regular, green (Warder).
Calyx: Elliott describes the calyx as small. Warder describes the eye as large and closed. [The two sources conflict on the size of the calyx/eye.]
Basin: Warder describes the basin as wide, regular, and leather-cracked. Elliott describes it as shallow. [The two sources conflict — Warder gives wide, Elliott gives shallow.]
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh is white, juicy, and sweet in both sources. Warder adds that the flesh is firm. Elliott describes it as tender. [The two sources conflict on flesh texture — Warder gives firm, Elliott gives tender.] Elliott rates the flavor "very good."
Core and Seeds: Core pyriform, closed. Seeds numerous, angular, plump (Warder).
Season
Warder gives October to December. Elliott gives November to January.
Uses
Baking and stock (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Warder includes a figure of this variety (Fig. 266). Elliott spells the variety name "Well's Sweeting" (possessive singular).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Wells' Sweeting.
Origin and history unknown.
Fruit medium, round or oblong, regular; Surface smooth, white, some blush; Dots scattered, prominent.
Basin wide, regular, leather-cracked; Eye large, closed.
Fig. 266.—WELLS' SWEETING.
Cavity medium, regular, green; Stem medium.
Core pyriform, closed; Seeds numerous, angular, plump; Flesh white, firm, juicy; Flavor sweet; Use, baking and stock; Season, October and December.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Well's Sweeting.
From Newburgh, N. Y. Tree, strong, upright growth. Fruit, medium, roundish, dull light green, brownish red cheek ; stem, slender ; calyx, small ; basin, shallow ; flesh, white, tender, juicy, sweet ; " very good." November to January.