Western Spy

Origin & History

Originated in Jefferson County, Ohio. Downing specifies it came from the farm of John Mansfield; Warder notes it was exhibited by Joel Wood. Elliott gives the broader locality of "Southern Ohio." Thomas notes it had "proved as yet only at the West," suggesting limited distribution beyond its region of origin at the time of his writing.

Tree

Slender and spreading in habit, very productive. Warder describes growth as "medium" and the tree as healthy; Downing similarly calls it a "moderate grower." Elliott, however, describes the tree as "vigorous," in contrast to the other sources' characterization of moderate growth.

Fruit

Size: Large. Downing qualifies as "rather large."

Form: Roundish oblate or roundish flattened. Warder describes the surface as "uneven," while Thomas describes the fruit as "round-ovate, very regular and even" — a direct contradiction in both shape and regularity.

Stem: Short. Downing adds "stout."

Cavity: Sources disagree on the cavity: Warder describes it as "medium, wavy"; Downing as "large"; Elliott as "narrow"; and Thomas as "small."

Calyx/Eye: Warder describes the eye as "large, closed." Downing describes the calyx as "open" — a direct conflict. Elliott describes the calyx as "large" without specifying whether open or closed.

Basin: Abrupt (Warder and Downing agree). Warder adds "uneven." Elliott describes it as "deep."

Skin: Yellow ground color — described variously as "yellow" (Warder, Downing), "pale yellow" (Elliott), and "lemon yellow" (Thomas). Overlaid with red: Warder says "blushed"; Downing says "often much shaded with crimson"; Elliott says "with red, becoming brilliant on sunny side"; Thomas describes "a beautiful red cheek." Surface smooth (Warder). Dots numerous, minute, with white bases (Warder); Elliott notes "small white specks."

Flesh & Flavor: Yellowish (Warder, Downing, Elliott) to yellowish white (Thomas). Tender and juicy (Downing, Elliott). Warder describes the texture as "breaking." Flavor is subacid, described with varying intensity: "acid" (Warder), "brisk subacid" (Downing), "sharp sub-acid" (Elliott), and simply "sub-acid, of a fine flavor" (Thomas).

Quality: Sources disagree. Warder rates it "pretty good." Downing rates it "Good." Elliott rates it "very good." Thomas calls it "hardly first-rate."

Core & Seeds: Core wide, closed, not meeting the eye. Seeds numerous, large, plump (Warder). Not described by other sources.

Season

Warder gives December to January. Elliott gives December to March. Downing gives the widest range: October to June.

Uses

Kitchen and table (Warder). Downing calls it "excellent for cooking."

Subtypes & Variants

Not described in source.