Hurlbut

This apple with the funny name originated on the farm of General Leonard Hurlbut in Winchester, Connecticut before 1834. From southern New England it made its way north to Maine, and there is still a scattering of old trees in the central part of the state. John has visited one in Searsmont and another in Union. A small commercial orchard in Mt. Vernon has three Hurlbut trees, although the owner calls them "Halbert".

The fruit of the Hurlbut looks like a miniature Wolf River in shape with coloring similar to a Northern Spy. The small, roundish apple is slightly oblate. It has a green ground color that is overlain with a dull red that is splashed and striped with carmine. The area around the stem is heavily russeted. The skin is smooth. Hurlbut is primarily a dessert fruit. It ripens mid-fall and keeps for several weeks.  Makes a mild, pink applesauce.