Part 17

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters broad, and about three inches high; roundish, inclining to ovate, being narrowed towards the eye. Skin, smooth and tender, of a beautiful grassy green in the shade, and dull brownish-red marked with a few broken stripes of a darker color, on the side exposed to the sun. Eye, small and closed, with long segments, set in a narrow, round, deep, and even basin. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, inserted in a narrow and deep cavity. Flesh, greenish-white, tender, crisp, and very juicy, with a brisk and somewhat vinous flavor.

An excellent culinary apple of first-rate quality; in use from November to April.

The tree is a very strong and vigorous grower, attaining the largest size, and is an abundant bearer.

This is sometimes called Cowarne Queening, but that is a very different variety, and is a cider apple.

250. NOTTINGHAM PIPPIN.--H.

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters broad, and two inches and a half high; ovate. Skin, smooth, pale yellow at first, but changing by keeping to lemon yellow, without any trace of red, but with slight markings of russet. Eye, closed, with long green segments, set in a wide and rather deeply plaited basin. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, inserted in a deep, funnel-shaped, and russety cavity. Flesh, white, fine and marrowy, juicy, sugary, and vinous.

A second-rate dessert apple; in use from November till February.

The tree is a strong and vigorous grower, and an excellent bearer.

251. ORD’S APPLE.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Trans. vol. ii. p. 285. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 507. Lind. Guide, 77.

SYNONYME.--Simpson’s Pippin, _acc. Hort. Trans._

FIGURE.--Hort. Trans. vol. ii. t. 19.

[Illustration]

Fruit, medium sized; conical or oblong, very irregular in its outline, caused by prominent and unequal ribs on the sides, which extend to and terminate in ridges round the eye. Skin, smooth and shining, deep grassy green, strewed with imbedded grey specks, and dotted with brown russety dots on the shaded side; but washed with thin brownish-red, which is marked with spots or patches of darker and livelier red, and strewed with star-like freckles of russet on the side exposed to the sun. Eye, small and closed, placed in a rather deep and angular basin, which is lined with linear marks of rough russet. Stalk, about half-an-inch long, somewhat obliquely inserted by the side of a fleshy swelling, which is more or less prominent. Flesh, greenish-white, tender, crisp, and brittle, abounding in a profusion of rich, brisk, sugary, and vinous juice, with a finely perfumed and refreshing flavor.

An excellent apple, of first-rate quality, and well deserving of more general cultivation; It is in use from January to May, and keeps well.

Some thirty years ago, Ord’s apple was brought into public notice as a variety which was worthy of universal cultivation; and was considered of such importance as to form the subject of a paper in the Horticultural Society’s Transactions, by A. Salisbury Esq. At that time it was received into all the collections in the London nurseries, and was very generally grown; but in the course of years it was again lost sight of, and I believe there are now very few places where it is to be met with. I shall be glad, however, if this notice should direct the attention of some lover of a good apple, to rescue this excellent variety from the oblivion into which it is likely to fall, and to restore it to the position it once occupied as one of our finest dessert apples.

This excellent variety originated at Purser’s Cross, near Fulham, Middlesex. It was raised in the garden of John Ord, Esq. by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Anne Simpson, from seed of a Newtown Pippin imported in 1777. There is another variety called _Simpson’s Seedling_, raised from the seed of Ord’s apple, to which it is very similar; but being much inferior in quality, its cultivation has been in a great measure discontinued.

252. OSLIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 511. Fors. Treat. 119. Lind. Guide, 5. Down. Fr. Amer, 75. Gard. Chron. 1845, 784. Rog. Fr. Cult. 33.

SYNONYMES.--White Oslin, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed, 2. Scotch Oslin. Orglon, _Gibs. Fr. Gard._ 353. Orgeline or Orjeline, _Fors. Treat._ ed. 5, 119. Arbroath Pippin, _acc. Fors. Treat._ ed. 7. Original Pippin, _Nicol Villa Gard._ 28. Mother Apple, _acc. Caled. Hort. Mem._ i. 237. Golden Apple, _Ibid._ 238. Bur-Knot, _Ibid._ Summer Oslin, _Ron. Pyr. Mal._ 11.

FIGURES.--Pom. Mag. t. 5. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. vi. f. 2.

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a half wide, and two inches high; roundish-oblate, evenly and regularly formed. Skin, thick and membranous, of a fine pale yellow color, and thickly strewed with brown dots; very frequently cracked, forming large and deep sinuosities on the fruit. Eye, scarcely at all depressed. Stalk, short and thick, inserted in a very shallow cavity. Flesh, yellowish, firm, crisp and juicy, rich and sugary, with a highly aromatic flavor, which is peculiar to this apple only.

A dessert apple of the highest excellence; ripe in the end of August, and continues during September, but does not last long. Nicol says “this is an excellent apple, as to flavor it is outdone by none but the Nonpareil, over which it has this advantage, that it will ripen in a worse climate and a worse aspect.”

The tree is a free grower, of an upright habit, and an excellent bearer; but is subject to canker as it grows old. The branches are generally covered with a number of knobs or burrs; and when planted in the ground these burrs throw out numerous fibres which take root and produce a perfect tree.

This is a very old Scotch apple, supposed to have originated at Arbroath; or to have been introduced from France by the monks of the Abbey which formerly existed at that place. The latter opinion is, in all probability, the correct one, although the name, or any of the synonymes quoted above are not now to be met with in any modern French lists. But in the “Jardinier François” which was published in 1651, I find an apple mentioned under the name of Orgeran, which is so similar in pronounciation to Orgeline, I think it not unlikely it may be the same name with a change of orthography, especially as our ancestors were not over particular, in preserving unaltered the names of foreign introductions.

253. OSTERLEY PIPPIN.--H.

SYNONYME AND FIGURE.--Osterley Apple, _Ron. Pyr. Mal._ 59, pl. xxx. f. 1.

Fruit, rather below medium size, two inches and a half wide, and two inches and a quarter high; orbicular, flattened at the base and apex. Skin, yellowish-green, strewed with thin russet and russety dots on the shaded side; but washed with thin red, and strewed with russety specks on the side next the sun. Eye, large and open, with short stunted segments, set in a wide and shallow basin. Stalk, half-an-inch long, inserted in a wide, and rather shallow cavity, which is lined with thin russet. Flesh, greenish-yellow, firm, crisp, rich, juicy and sugary, with a brisk and aromatic flavor, somewhat resembling, and little inferior to the Ribston Pippin.

A handsome and very excellent dessert apple; it is in use from October to February, and is not subject to be attacked with the grub, as the Ribston Pippin is.

This variety was raised from the seed of the Ribston Pippin, at Osterley Park, the seat of the Earl of Jersey, near Isleworth, Middlesex, where the original tree is still in existence.

254. OXNEAD PEARMAIN.--Lind.

IDENTIFICATION.--Lind. Guide, 78.

SYNONYME.--Earl of Yarmouth’s Pearmain, _Lind. Pl. Or._ 1796.

Fruit, small and conical. Skin, entirely grass green, always covered with a thin russet; sometimes when highly ripened it is tinged with a very pale brown on the sunny side. Eye, very small, surrounded with a few obscure plaits. Stalk, very slender, three quarters of an inch long. Flesh, pale green, very firm and crisp, not juicy, but very rich and highly flavored.

A dessert apple; in use from November to April.

I have never seen this apple. It was first noticed by Mr. George Lindley whose description of it I have given above. He says “it is supposed to have originated at Oxnead, near Norwich, the seat of the Earl of Yarmouth. It has been known many years in Norfolk, no doubt prior to the extinction of that Peerage in 1733, and I have never seen it out of the county. The tree is a very small grower; its branches are small and wiry and of a grass green color; it is very hardy and an excellent bearer.”

255. PADLEY’S PIPPIN.--Fors.

IDENTIFICATION.--Fors. Treat. 119. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 516. Lind. Guide, 21. Gard. Chron. 1847, 36. Rog. Fr. Cult. 83.

SYNONYMES.--Compôte, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 3. Padley’s Royal George Pippin, _Ron. Pyr. Mal._ 32.

FIGURES.--Pom. Mag. t. 151. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xvi. f. 5.

Fruit, small, two inches wide, and an inch and a half high; roundish-oblate. Skin, pale greenish-yellow rather thickly covered with thin grey russet, and faintly tinged with orange next the sun. Eye, small and closed, set in a shallow and rather angular basin. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, slender, and inserted in a rather shallow cavity. Flesh, yellow, juicy, sugary, brisk and richly aromatic.

A dessert apple of first-rate quality; in use during December and January.

The tree is of small dimensions, but healthy, and a prolific bearer. It is well adapted for dwarf training, when grown on the paradise or doucin stock.

This variety was raised by Mr. Padley, gardener to his Majesty George III., at Hampton Court. According to Rogers, Mr. Padley was a native of Yorkshire, and after coming to London and filling a situation of respectability, he was appointed foreman in the kitchen garden at Kew. “On the death of the celebrated ‘Capability Brown’ Mr. G. Haverfield was removed from Kew to Hampton Court, and took Mr. Padley with him as foreman. On the death of Haverfield, Padley’s interest with his sovereign out-weighed all the interests of other candidates, though urged by the most influential persons about Court. ‘No, no, no,’ said his Majesty, ‘it is Padley’s birthright.’”

256. PARRY’S PEARMAIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 554. Ron. Pyr. Mal. 41.

FIGURE.--Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xxi. f. 3.

[Illustration]

Fruit, small; oval, and regular in its shape. Skin, almost entirely covered with dark dull red, and striped with brighter red, except a portion on the shaded side, which is green; the whole surface is thickly strewed with small russety dots, which give it a speckled appearance. Eye, small and open, set in a shallow basin. Stalk, sometimes short and fleshy as represented in the accompanying figure; and at other times, about half-an-inch long, and woody, but still retaining the swollen boss at its union with the fruit. Flesh, firm in texture, crisp, very juicy and pleasantly acid, with a sweet, brisk, and poignant flavor.

A nice sharp-flavored dessert apple; but considered only of second-rate quality; it is in use from December to March.

257. PATCH’S RUSSET--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 747. Lind. Guide, 92.

Fruit, below medium size, two inches and a half wide, and two inches and a quarter high; oval, and slightly angular on its sides. Skin, greenish-yellow, entirely covered with thin grey russet. Eye, small, with long acuminate segments, set in a narrow and irregular basin. Stalk, an inch long, very slender, inserted in a round, even, and deep cavity. Flesh, yellowish-white, crisp, brisk and aromatic.

A good dessert apple of second-rate quality; in use during November and December.

258. PASSE POMME D’AUTOMNE.--Duh.

IDENTIFICATION.--Duh. Arb. Fr. i. 278. Dahuron. Traité. 115. Chart. Cat. 50. Rog. Fr. Cult. 39.

SYNONYMES.--Passe Pomme Rouge d’Automne, _Diel. Kernobst._ ii. 50. Générale, _acc. Duhamel_. Pomme d’Outre passe, _Ibid._ Passe Pomme Cotellée, _Merlet. Abregé_. Herbststrich Apfel, _Mayer. Pom. Franc._ Tab. iii. f. 3. Rother Herbststrichapfel, _Diel Kernobst._ ii. 50.

FIGURES.--Mayer. Pom. Franc. t. iii. f. 3. Sickler Obstgärt. xv. t. 7.

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a half wide, and two inches and a quarter high; round and slightly flattened, with prominent ribs on the sides, which extend into the basin of the eye. Skin, pale straw-colored, almost white, with a few stripes of red on the shaded side; but entirely covered with beautiful crimson, which is striped with darker crimson, and strewed with small grey dots where exposed to the sun. Eye, large and closed, set in a rather shallow and ribbed basin. Stalk, fleshy, set in a wide and deep cavity. Flesh, very white, tinged with red, more so than the Passe Pomme Rouge, tender, juicy, rich, sugary and vinous.

An excellent autumn culinary apple; ripe in September.

The tree is vigorous and healthy, but does not attain a large size. It is a very abundant bearer, and well suited for dwarf training when grown on the paradise or doucin stock.

Dahuron says of this apple “on la nomme en Hollande _Pomme de Jerusalem_;” but according to Knoop, the Dutch pomologist, it is the Pigeon, which is known under that name.

259. PASSE POMME ROUGE.--Duh.

IDENTIFICATION.--Duh. Arb. Fruit, i. 277. Dahuron Traité. 114. Bret. Ecole, ii. 470. Bon. Jard. Chart. Cat. 49. Rog. Fr. Cult. 32.

SYNONYMES.--Rother August-Apfel, _Henne Anweis_, 150. Rothe Sommerpasspomm, _Christ Handworter_, 68. Rothe Kurzdauerende Apfel, _Ibid._

FIGURE.--Nois. Jard. Fruit, ed. 2, pl. 92.

Fruit, small; roundish-oblate, even and regularly formed. Skin, thick, red all over, pale on the shaded side, but of a deep and bright color next the sun; and so sensitive of shade, if any portion of it is covered with a leaf or twig, a corresponding yellow mark will be found on the fruit. Eye, small, set in a narrow, even, and rather deep basin. Stalk, half-an-inch long, slender, set in a wide, deep, and even cavity. Flesh, white, tinged with red under the skin on the side exposed to the sun, crisp, juicy, and richly flavored when first gathered, but soon becomes dry and woolly.

An excellent early apple, suitable either for culinary purposes or dessert use; it is ripe in the beginning of August, but may be used in pies before then. Bretonnerie says it may be used “en compôte” in the beginning of July, and is preferable to the Calville Rouge d’Eté.

The tree is rather a delicate grower, never attaining a large size, but healthy and hardy, and an excellent bearer. It succeeds well as a dwarf on the paradise or doucin stock.

260. PAWSAN.--Knight.

IDENTIFICATION.--Pom. Heref. t. 15. Lind. Guide, 109.

Fruit, above the middle size, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches and a quarter high; pretty round, without angles, but sometimes it is oval. Crown, but little hollow. Eye, small, with short reflexed segments of the calyx. Skin, dull muddy olive-green, a good deal reticulated with fine network. Stalk, three quarters of an inch long, slender, causing the fruit to be pendant.

Specific gravity of the juice, 1076.

Many trees of the Pawsan are found in the south-east, or Ryland district of Herefordshire, which have apparently stood more than a century. Its pulp is exceedingly rich and yellow, and in some seasons it affords cider of the finest quality. Its name cannot be traced to any probable source.

261. PEARSON’S PLATE.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 565. Down. Fr. Amer. 126.

[Illustration]

Fruit, small; roundish, inclining to oblate, regularly and handsomely formed. Skin, smooth, greenish-yellow in the shade; but washed with red, and streaked with deeper red on the side next the sun. Eye, open, with short segments, set in a shallow and plaited basin. Stalk, half-an-inch long, inserted in a round and rather shallow cavity. Flesh, greenish-yellow, firm, crisp, and juicy, with a rich, and brisk sugary flavor, somewhat resembling the Nonpareil.

A most delicious little dessert apple of the first quality; it is in use from December to March.

In some specimens of the fruit there is no red color, but altogether green, and covered with thin brown russet.

262. PENNINGTON’S SEEDLING.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 571. Lind. Guide, 93. Down. Fr. Amer. 127.

Fruit, medium sized, three inches wide, and two inches and three quarters deep; oblato-ovate. Skin, green at first, changing to yellowish-green, and covered with large russety spots on the shaded side; but with rough brown russet and a tinge of brown on the side next the sun. Eye, closed, with long and narrow segments, set in a round, shallow, and undulating basin. Stalk, an inch long, stout, and straight, inserted in a wide and shallow cavity. Flesh, yellowish, firm, crisp, juicy, sugary and brisk; with an excellent aromatic flavor.

A dessert apple of the highest excellence, either as a dessert or a culinary fruit; it is in use from November to March.

263. PETIT JEAN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 581. Lind. Guide, 79. Hort. Trans. vol. iv. p. 525.

Fruit, small; oval, and flattened at the ends. Skin, almost entirely covered with brilliant red; but where shaded, it is pale yellow marked with a few stripes of red. Eye, small, set in a narrow basin. Stalk, very short, and inserted in a deep cavity. Flesh, very white and tender, with a mild and agreeable flavor.

By some considered as a dessert apple; but of inferior quality. Mr. Thompson thinks it may, perhaps, do for cider; it is in use from November to March.

The tree is a very abundant bearer.

This is a Jersey apple, and has for a long period been cultivated in the orchards of that Island. It was transmitted to the gardens of the London Horticultural Society, by Major General Le Couteur, of Jersey, in the year 1822.

264. PETWORTH NONPAREIL.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 477. Salisb. Orch. 134.

SYNONYME AND FIGURE.--Green Nonpareil, _Ron. Pyr. Mal._ 67, pl. xxxiv. f. 4.

This variety very closely resembles the old Nonpareil; but is rather larger; and though it possesses the flavor of the old variety, it is not nearly so rich. The tree is hardy and an excellent bearer. It was raised at Petworth, in Sussex, at the seat of Lord Egremont.

265. PIGEON.--Knoop.

IDENTIFICATION.--Knoop. Pom. 62, tab. xi. Duh. Arb. Fruit, i. 306, t. xii. f. 3. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 582.

SYNONYMES.--Jerusalem, _Quint. Inst._ i. 201. _Lang. Pom._ 134. t. lxxvi. f. 4. Cœur de Pigeon, _acc Duhamel_. Pigeon Rouge, _Diel. Kernobst._ iii. 58. Gros Cœur de Pigeon, _Filass. Tab._ Passe-Pomme, _acc. Knoop_. Duif Apfel, _Knoop_. Rother Taubenapfel, _Mayer. Pom. Franc._ No. 28, tab. xviii. Rothe Taubenapfel, _Sickler. Obstgärt._ v. 323. t. 16. Arabian Apple, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 3.

FIGURES.--Jard. Fruit, ed. 2. pl. 98. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xxiii. f. 1.

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a half wide, and two inches and three quarters high; conical and angular. Skin, membranous, shining, pale yellow with a greenish tinge, which it loses as it attains maturity; but covered with fine clear red on the side next the sun, and strewed all over with minute russety dots and imbedded white specks; the whole surface is covered with a bluish bloom, from which circumstance it receives the name of Pigeon, being considered similar to the plumage of a dove. Eye, open, with erect segments, prominently set in a narrow and plaited basin. Stalk, very short, inserted in a deep and russety cavity. Flesh, white, tender, soft and juicy, pleasantly flavored, but not at all rich.

A dessert apple of second-rate quality; but excellent for all culinary purposes; it is in use from November to January. It is necessary in storing this apple that care should be taken to prevent fermentation, by which its pleasant acidity is destroyed.

The tree, though vigorous in its young state, never attains a great size. Its shoots are long, slender and downy. It is an abundant and regular bearer.

This apple is called Pomme de Jerusalem, from, as some fancy, the core having four cells, which are disposed in the form of a cross, but this is not a permanent character, as they vary from three to five.

Diel erred in applying the synonymes of Knoop’s Pigeon bigarré to this variety, which is very distinct from the Pigeonnet.

266. PIGEONNET.--Duh.

IDENTIFICATION.--Duh. Arb. Fruit. i. 305. Calvel. Traité, iii. 32. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 583.

SYNONYMES.--Pigeon Bigarré, _Knoop. Pom._ 62. Passe-pomme Panachée, _Ibid._ 132. Pigeonnet Blanc, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed 1, 786. Pigeonnet Blanc d’Eté, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 3. Pigeonnet Gros de Rouen, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1, 787. Museau de Lièvre. _Bon. Jard._ American Peach, of some, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._ Taubenartige, Taubenfarbige Apfel, _Christ Handworter_, 110.

FIGURES.--Jard. Fruit. ed. 2, pl. 98. Poit. et. Turpin. t. 80.

Fruit, below medium size, two inches and a quarter wide, and the same in height; oblato-ovate. Skin, pale greenish-yellow on the shaded side; but entirely covered with red on the side next the sun, and striped and rayed with darker red, some of the stripes extending to the shaded side. Eye, small and open, with erect segments, set in a slightly depressed basin. Stalk, short and thick, inserted in a rather shallow cavity. Flesh, white and delicate, of an agreeable acidulated and perfumed flavor.

A dessert fruit of second-rate quality; in use during August and September.

267. PILE’S RUSSET.--Miller.

IDENTIFICATION.--Mill. Dict. Fors. Treat. 120. Lind. Guide, 93. Rog. Fr. Cult. 107. Diel. Kernobst. iii. B. 8.

SYNONYME.--Pyle’s Russet, _Brad. Fam. Dict._

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches and a quarter high; roundish-oblate and obscurely ribbed on the sides. Skin, dull green, thickly covered with pale brown russet, which is strewed with greyish-white dots, and pale green stelloid freckles on the shaded side; but dull olive mixed with orange, with a tinge of brown, and strewed with scales of silvery russet, intermixed with rough dots of dark russet, on the side next the sun. Eye, closed, with long broad segments, set in a deep and plaited basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a deep and oblique cavity, which is lined with scales of rough russet. Flesh, greenish, tender, crisp, breaking, very juicy and sugary, with a brisk and very poignant juice.

A very superior old English apple, particularly for culinary purposes; it is in use from October to March.

The tree is very healthy and vigorous, and attains the largest size. It is also an excellent bearer.

268. PINE APPLE RUSSET.--Lind.

IDENTIFICATION.--Lind. Plan. Or. Lind. Guide, 94.

SYNONYME--Hardingham’s Russet, _in Norfolk_.

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters wide, and two inches and a half high; roundish-ovate, with broad obtuse angles on its sides. Skin, pale greenish-yellow, almost covered with white specks on one part, and rough thick yellow russet on the other, which extends round the stalk. Eye, small, with short connivent segments, placed in a shallow, plaited basin. Stalk, an inch long, inserted half its length in an uneven cavity.

Flesh, very pale yellow, tender, crisp, very juicy, sugary, brisk and richly aromatic.

A very valuable dessert apple; in use during September and October. Mr. Lindley says the juice of this apple is more abundant than in any he had ever met with. The oldest tree remembered in Norwich was growing a century ago (1830) in a garden belonging to a Mr. Hardingham.

269. PITMASTON NONPAREIL.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Trans. vol. iii. p. 265. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 478. Fors. Treat. 117. Lind. Guide, 95. Rog. Fr. Cult. 67.

SYNONYMES.--St. John’s Nonpareil, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1, 669. Pitmaston Russet Nonpareil, _acc. Hort. Trans._

FIGURE.--Hort. Trans. vol. iii. t. 10. f. 4.