Adam's Apples

Once upon a time, at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station , the apple known only as NY 651 earned a name: Empress. Her close companion, NY 652, did not. Ovoid Empress (L) and her consort, NY 652. Empress began life as NY 651. Here's how they compare.

Luscious and strange, this apple had me at first bite. Everything about Empress is a little uncommon. Take a look at the photo and mentally remove the stem. A bit topsy turvy, don't you think? Many apples have ribs that terminate in little bumps or chins, but usually at the base, not at the crown. Many taper towards the bottom; this one is plum-shaped. Not every Empress is tapered at the top, but the ones I saw had rib bumps more prominent at the stem than the bottom.