White Astrachan
AppleWhite Astrachan
Origin / History
A Russian apple, known in the United States for many years, appearing in American pomological literature from at least the 1830s and 1840s. It was not entered on the catalogue of the American Pomological Society until 1889 and was dropped from that list in 1891. By the early twentieth century it was practically unknown in New York. (Beach)
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish (Downing); roundish to roundish oblate (Beach).
Stem: Not described in sources.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Very smooth, nearly white, with a few faint streaks of red on one side, and covered with a white bloom (Downing). Beach describes the ground color as waxen yellow or whitish, with faint streaks of red. The apple is semi-transparent in character (Downing).
Flesh / Flavor: Flesh quite white, partially transparent, tender, and of delicate flavor, but rather dry; rated Poor (Downing). Beach describes the flesh as white and acid, and considers it good for culinary use. The two sources thus conflict on eating quality: Downing rates it Poor as a dessert fruit and notes dryness; Beach finds it acceptable for culinary purposes and emphasizes acidity rather than dryness.
Core / Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
First of August (Downing). August and September (Beach).
Uses
Culinary (Beach). Downing rates the variety Poor, implying limited dessert value. The two sources agree the variety has little standing as a fresh-eating apple.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Beach notes the variety is "of little or no value for this region," referring to New York State, and records its brief and largely inconsequential presence on the American Pomological Society catalogue (listed 1889, dropped 1891).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 17 catalogs (1881–1920) from California, Oregon, Washington
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- W.R. Strong & Co. , Capital and Orange Hill Nurseries (Robert Williamson, prop.), Sacramento , California — 1886
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Russellville, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1903
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)White Astrachan. Pyrus Astracanica. Transparent de Moscovie. Glace de Zelande. Weisser Astrakan. Astracanischer Sommerapfel. A nearly white, semi-transparent Russian Apple. Fruit of medium size, roundish. Skin very smooth, nearly white, with a few faint streaks of red on one side, and covered with a white bloom. Flesh quite white, partially transparent, tender, and of delicate flavor, but rather dry. Poor. First of August.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)WHITE ASTRACHAN.
REFERENCES. 1. Pom. Mag., 2:No. 96. 1829. col. pl. 2. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831:No. 32. 3. Floy-Lindley, 1833:6. 4. Mag. Hort., 1:391, 392. 1835. 5. Manning, Ib., 7:52. 1841. 6. Downing, 1845:78. 7. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:17. 1851. 8. Elliott, 1854:179. 9. Warder, 1867:735. 10. Leroy, 1873:79. fig. 11. Thomas, 1875:516. 12. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1:9. 1876. 13. Ib., 5:23. 1879. 14. Hogg, 1884:238. 15. Wickson, 1889:243. 16. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1889:14. 17. Hansen, S. D. Sta. Bul., 76:113. 1903.
SYNONYMS. ASTRACAN BLANCHE (10). Astracan d'Ete (10). Astracanischer Sommer (10). ASTRACHAN WHITE (2). Blanche Glacee d'Ete (10). De Glace d'Ete (10). De Glace Halive (10). De Moscovie d'Ete (10). Gelee d'Ete (10). Glace de Zelande (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10). Glacee d'Ete (10). Nalivi Jabloky (10). Pomme Astrachan (3). Pomme d'Astrachan (2). Pyrus Astracanica (1, 2, 6, 7). Taffetai (10). Transparent Apple (14). Transparente de Astracan (10). Transparente d'Ete (10). Transparente de Zurich (10). Transparente de Muscovie d'Ete (10). Transparent Muscovie (7). Transparent de Muscovie (1, 2, 3, 6, 8). WHITE ASTRACAN (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 15). White Astracan (10). WHITE ASTRACHAN (6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17).
A Russian apple of little or no value for this region. Fruit medium size, roundish to roundish oblate, waxen yellow or whitish with faint streaks of red; flesh white, acid, good for culinary use; season August and September (6, 17).
Historical. It has been known in this country for many years (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). It was not entered on the catalogue of the American Pomological Society till 1889 (16) and was dropped from that list in 1891. It is practically unknown in New York.