Zolotareff

Apple

Zolotareff

Origin/History

Zolotareff is one of the Russian apples introduced to North American cultivation in the late nineteenth century. It is reported to be quite as hardy as the Duchess of Oldenburg. Hansen (1902) notes that it is a large, handsomely colored apple of the Vasilis Largest type and much resembles that variety. The Agassiz trial planting was established in spring 1894.

Tree

Zolotareff is a good upright grower and an early and abundant bearer. The Agassiz trial records it as a vigorous grower.

Fruit

Size

Large (Downing; Hansen); very large (Agassiz).

Form

Downing describes the fruit as roundish, very slightly conical, and slightly angular. Agassiz describes it as roundish oblate.

Stem

Short, rather stout (Downing).

Cavity

Rather narrow, deep (Downing).

Calyx

Closed or half open (Downing).

Basin

Large, deep, corrugated (Downing).

Skin

Sources differ substantially on coloring. Downing describes the skin as pale greenish yellow, or light yellow at full maturity, shaded, splashed, and mottled with light and dark red over most of the surface, making for large, showy fruit. The Agassiz specimen, however, is described as greenish white with only a pale blush on the sunny side — a markedly less colorful appearance, which may reflect differing maturity, climate, or a distinct strain under trial.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh whitish, tender, juicy, subacid with a sprightly flavor, of good quality (both Downing and Agassiz agree on these points). Downing characterizes the texture as half fine; Agassiz describes it as a little coarse.

Core and Seeds

Core rather large (Downing).

Season

Downing places the season in the middle to the last of September. Agassiz records the season as October, ripening approximately one month later than that source's Duchess of Oldenburg.

Uses

Downing notes that Zolotareff "promises to be valuable for a cold climate," emphasizing its hardiness and its large, showy fruit as points of merit. The Agassiz trial implicitly endorses it as suitable for testing under Pacific Northwest conditions.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Downing observes that Zolotareff ripens about a month later than the Duchess of Oldenburg. Hansen places it in the Vasilis Largest type group, noting a strong resemblance to that variety.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1900)

Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900

View original book sources (3)

ZOLOTOREFF.

One of the new Russian apples lately introduced, which promises to be valuable for a cold climate; it is said to be quite as hardy as the Duchess of Oldenburg; a good upright grower, an early and abundant bearer of large, showy fruit, ripening about a month later than the Duchess.

Fruit large, roundish, very slightly conical, slightly angular; skin pale greenish yellow, or light yellow at full maturity, shaded, splashed and mottled with light and dark red over most of the surface; stalk short, rather stout; cavity rather narrow, deep; calyx closed or half open; basin large, deep, corrugated; flesh whitish, half fine, tender, juicy, sprightly subacid, and of good quality; core rather large. Season middle to the last of September.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Planted Spring 1894. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit very large, roundish oblate. Skin greenish white, with a pale blush on the sunny side. Flesh whitish, a little coarse, tender, juicy, sub-acid with a sprightly pleasant flavour, quality good. Season October.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

Zolotareff (No. 275)-Origin, Russia-A large handsomely colored apple of the Vasilis Largest type and much resembling that variety.

— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)

Gov. list No. 275 Sototoreffka Zolotareff's apple Zolotarevka Zolotoreff