What apple is this?

[mattoleriver]

Back about 50 years ago when I was a small child there was an old house in my neighborhood that had a small apple orchard. The house was probably built between 1870-1890 and I would guess that the orchard would be the same age.
Given the time passed and the fact that I was very young I can't be certain of some of the "facts" of my description. The apple that I am wondering about was a smallish, crisp textured apple with red and green coloring about like a Braeburn. The most distinguishing features were large areas of rough brownish skin, much like a bosc pear, and a distinctive pear flavor. Any guesses?
Also, I have noticed a wide range of flavors within a single type (breed?) of apple. Is this due to differences in individual trees or is it an effect of how the apple was stored etc. prior to coming to market? Last night I ate two Braeburns that couldn't have been more different in flavor. Both were essentially the same size, same color, same shape, same crispness but one was the sweet-tart apple that I wanted and the other had a weird winey flavor. I stopped buying Granny Smiths because of this same inconsistency in flavor. What's up with that?
Thanks
George

[BEES4U]

Probably a Winsap, crisp and good taste!
Ernie

[MapMan]

It might be Cox's Orange Pippin (http://www.orangepippin.com/apples/coxs-orange-pippin.aspx) or something similar. You might be able to find a search result based on your description of the skin (you described russet-skinned, red with streaks), tasting like pear and the introduction time most likely in the 1825 -1850's.

Cox Orange Pippins can vary in coloring, but as it matures is closer to red than orange, and sometimes gets patches of russeting. After it is picked, it improves in flavor.

Mostly what you see as taste differences are a result of storage factors, but soil types, and even picking time and weather can affect flavor.

MM

[Hambone]

I see a Jefferies Apple has a pear like flavor.

http://www.allaboutapples.com/varieties/var_j1.htm#jefferies

[phil c]

We used to have a couple of very old unidentified apple trees on the farm. Could never find out a variety we just called them American Fencerow Beauties! Good tastin just a little wormy, never hurt us and the deer really liked them!

[michaelaao]

I'm not exactly sure on this but I was told that apple trees grown from seed are never the same as the tree they come from. To be the same they have to be grafted. Michael

[swamprat]

when I was a kid we had an apple trees on the farm.a storm took all but one down.my grandmother called them pound sweets.they wear large green tart apples.the tree is gone now.I have surched for this verity of tree for years aney one heard of them.

[Karl]

Your apple sounds like an antique variety known as a Tallman Sweet. Very sweet apple, green, very rough finish to the skin. I have one here but never liked it. Actually sort of ugly finish to the skin. Karl

[Walliebee]

Any guesses?

I will say it's like looking for a neetle in a hay stack. The reason being, back in the day before interstate shipping/ international shipping, every family, town, or area had its own 'favorite' apple(s). They were chosen by flavor, hardiness, and productivity for the exact area they were grown in. The main point I'm making is that there were 1000's of unique apple cultivars (from seed a.k.a. fencerow apples) that were grown before the modern age of industry, shipping, and recent CO2 storage tecniques. Over 98% of these heirloom apples are now lost due to modern advances in the industry, and the desires of the modern consumer. When was the last time you saw 'cooking apples' for sale at the store. Your best approach will be to research the local history and see if you can find anything.



Also, I have noticed a wide range of flavors within a single type (breed?) of apple.
Is this due to differences in individual trees or is it an effect of how the apple was stored etc. prior to coming to market?

Yes and, yes, even though the tree that an individual apple is grown on may be the same genetically to all the others in the orchard (grafted), flavors will vary due to the number of apples on the tree, the amount of sunlight each friut was exposed to, soil, water, temperature, etc.

There are lots of post-harvest factors that will influence the flavor of apples as well. Lenght of storage, temperature, CO2 level, brix level at harvest, etc.




Last night I ate two Braeburns that couldn't have been more different in flavor...one was the sweet-tart apple that I wanted, and the other had a weird winey flavor. What's up with that?
Any number of factors, or a combination of factors will couse that. As hard as the industry is trying to make fruit production a perfect science, their are too many variables still in play to make a perfect product.

[BoBn]

when I was a kid we had an apple trees on the farm.a storm took all but one down.my grandmother called them pound sweets.they wear large green tart apples.the tree is gone now.I have surched for this verity of tree for years aney one heard of them.

I have an old Pound Sweet tree. The apples are good, but it does tend to bear biannually. It is fairly easy to find like here:
http://www.millernurseries.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=93

Walliebee's post is very informative. Apples are a living product and will be affected by their storage conditions. Produce like apples, melons, strawberries and carrots will absorb odors of their storage surroundings. Supermarket apples absorb all sorts of strange flavors and tend to taste like cardboard.

[slickbrightspear]

matto
check out the roxbury russet

[swamprat]

thanks bobn I have been looking for proof of the name for 30 years. though it may have just been what my grandmother called it

[mattoleriver]

Thanks for all the good suggestions. I don't think that I've found the exact apple, yet, but now I have nice areas to check.
The closest one in appearance that I have found is this one unfortunately there is no helpful description and a web search hasn't been much help.
http://park.org/Radio/Fair/Apples/ap_kent.htm

George

[Hambone]

Kent
(Also known as: Malling Kent)
Parentage / Origin: Cox's Orange Pippin x Jonathon; East Malling, England, 1960s.
Harvest / Season: Harvest: mid-October, Season: November-Feb
Description: Greenish-yellow fruit that is flushed and striped red. Crisp, white flesh that is juicy with a sweet-sharp and aromatic flavor.
Tree Characteristics: Tree bears young and is a good cropper. Prone to coarse russet.

http://www.allaboutapples.com/varieties/var_k1.htm#kent


http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/kentapples