The tree is precocious and productive, low vigor, tip bearing, with a tendency to biennial cropping; it will need careful pruning to maintain annual bearing. It is late flowering with a late-midseason harvest, and it is scab and fireblight susceptible. This apple is used exclusively for cider production; it is not suitable for fresh eating.

The apple is small, golf-ball sized, and conic, with dark burgundy flecks and stripes over yellow russet color and some russeting around the stem. The juice lends a distinctive, funk, often called "barnyard" to cider. It is a bittersweet that is useful for blending and will not produce a good single varietal cider. (From WSU: Tannin (percent tannic acid): 0.21; Acid (percent malic acid): 0.19; pH: 4.34; SG: 1.051; ^oBrix 12.5.)

Harry Master's Jersey was first raised from seed by a Mr. Harry Masters in Yarlington, Somerset around 1900.