Zusoff
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Zusoff
Origin/History
Russian origin. Hansen assigned it number 585 in his systematic listing. For a time, Anisim was mixed with this variety, but the two are very distinct. Thomas lists it under the name "Zukoff's Winter" and illustrates it as Fig. 462.
Tree
Upright, good grower, tardy bearer (Russian Nomenclature Committee, as quoted by Hansen). Not further described in other sources.
Fruit
Size
Large and heavy. Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914) rate the size at 8 to 9.
Form
Hansen (1902) and Budd & Hansen (1914) describe the fruit as roundish oblate, regular or faintly angular; the Russian Nomenclature Committee description (quoted in Hansen 1902) gives round-oblate, rather angular. Thomas (1903), however, describes the form as large and irregular conical — a conflicting characterization not reconciled by the other sources.
Stem
Very short (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Committee description gives the stem as short and stout.
Cavity
Abrupt, very deep, regular, green and russet, the russet sometimes extending out in irregular rays (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Committee description gives the cavity as broad, medium deep. Thomas describes the cavity as medium.
Calyx
Closed; segments small, erect, convergent (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Committee description gives the calyx as small and closed.
Basin
Small, regular (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Committee description gives the basin as narrow and abrupt. Thomas gives the basin as small.
Skin
Surface smooth and glossy; ground color greenish yellow, almost or wholly covered with a peculiar dark brownish red; no stripes nor splashes; described as a showy fruit (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Committee description gives the color as greenish, nearly or quite overspread with dark red. Thomas gives the color as greenish, nearly covered with dark red.
Dots minute, numerous, whitish, and distinct (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914); the Russian Nomenclature Committee description notes many white dots.
Flesh/Flavor
Flesh white, with a greenish tinge and veinings; juicy, firm, fine-grained; flavor subacid; quality good (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas confirms flesh white, sub-acid, juicy, quality good.
Core/Seeds
Core regular, clasping (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). The Russian Nomenclature Committee description gives the core as closed and small. Tube conical. Stamens median. Seeds few and plump (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Season
Winter (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas specifies mid-winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902) — listed as Zuzoff
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as Zusoff (No. 585)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Zukoff's Winter
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1913) from Illinois
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Zuzoff (No. 585)—Origin, Russia. For a time Anisim was mixed with this variety, but the two are very distinct—Fruit large, heavy, roundish oblate, regular or faintly angular; surface smooth, glossy, greenish yellow, almost or wholly covered with a peculiar dark brownish red, no stripes nor splashes, a showy fruit; dots minute, numerous, whitish, distinct; cavity abrupt, very deep, regular, green and russet, the russet sometimes extending out in irregular rays; stem very short; basin small, regular; calyx closed, segments small, erect convergent. Core regular, clasping; tube conical; stamens median; seeds few, plump; flesh white, with greenish tinge and veinings, juicy, firm, fine grained, subacid, good. Winter.
"ZUZOFF.
DESCRIPTION: Zuzoff—Winter Zuzoff of Tuttle—Size, 8 to 9; form, round-oblate, rather angular; color, greenish, nearly or quite overspread with dark red with many white dots; cavity, broad, medium, deep; stem short, stout; basin, narrow, abrupt; calyx, small, closed; core, closed, small; flavor subacid; season winter; tree upright, good grower, tardy bearer." (Rus. Nom. Com.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Zukoff's Winter. Large, irregular conical, greenish, nearly covered with dark red; cavity medium, basin small; flesh white, sub-acid, juicy, quality good. Mid-winter. Fig. 462. Russian.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Zusoff", pp. 372–372]
Zukoff's Winter. Large, irregular conical, greenish, nearly covered with dark red; cavity medium, basin small; flesh white, sub-acid, juicy, quality good. Mid-winter. Fig. 462. Russian.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Zusoff (No. 585). — Origin, Russia. For a time Anisim was mixed with this variety, but the two are very distinct.
Fruit large, heavy, roundish oblate, regular or faintly angular; surface smooth, glossy, greenish yellow, almost or wholly covered with a peculiar dark brownish red, no stripes nor splashes, a showy fruit; dots minute, numerous, whitish, distinct; cavity abrupt, very deep, regular, green and russet, the russet sometimes extending out in irregular rays; stem very short; basin small, regular; calyx closed; segments small, erect convergent. Core regular, clasping; tube conical; stamens median; seeds few, plump; flesh white, with greenish tinge and veinings, juicy, firm, fine-grained, subacid, good. Winter.