_Synonyms_: Deterding's Early, Astrachan Rogue, Robert Astrakan,
Vermillion d'Ete, and Abe Lincoln.
A fruit of extraordinary beauty, first imported into England, with the
White Astrachan, from Sweden, in 1816. It bears abundantly with us, and
its singular richness of color is heightened by an exquisite bloom on
the surface of the fruit, like that of the plum. It is one of the
handsomest dessert fruits, and its quality is good, but if not taken
from the trees as soon as ripe it is liable to become mealy. Tree a
vigorous grower, upright, spreading. An early and abundant bearer. Young
shoots clear, reddish brown. Fruit pretty large, rather above the middle
size, and very smooth and fair, roundish, a little narrowed toward the
eye. Skin almost entirely covered with deep crimson, with sometimes a
greenish yellow in the shade, and occasionally a little russet near the
stalk, and covered with a pale white bloom. Stalk rather short and
deeply inserted. Calyx partially closed, set in a slight basin, which is
sometimes a little irregular. Flesh quite white, crisp, moderately
juicy, with an agreeable, rich, acid flavor. Good to very good. Ripens
from last of July to middle of August.