Part 14

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

Fruit, small; round, and a little flattened. Skin, smooth and shining, pale yellowish-green in the shade; but clear yellow, with sometimes a faint tinge of red or orange next the sun. Eye, small and closed, surrounded with a few small plaits, and set in a very shallow basin. Stalk, an inch long, slender, and inserted in a shallow cavity, which is lined with delicate russet. Flesh, white, crisp, brisk, and juicy, with a vinous and slightly perfumed flavor, but becoming meally and tasteless, if kept only a few days after being gathered.

This is the earliest apple of the year, the first of Pomona’s autumnal offerings; it is in greatest perfection when gathered off the tree, or immediately afterwards, as it very soon becomes dry and meally.

The tree does not attain a large size, but is hardy and healthy. It is not a great bearer, which may, in a great measure, account for it not being so generally cultivated, as its earliness would recommend it to be. If worked on the paradise stock it may be grown in pots, when the fruit will not only be produced earlier, but in greater abundance than on the crab, or free stock.

This is one of our oldest apples, and although generally known and popular, seems to have escaped the notice of Miller, who does not even mention it in any of the editions of his dictionary. As I have doubts of this being the Geneting of Parkinson--his figure being evidently intended for the Margaret, which in some districts is called Joanneting--the first mention we have of this variety is by Rea, in 1665, who describes it as “a small, yellow, red-sided apple, upon a wall, ripe in the end of June.”

The orthography which I have adopted in the nomenclature of this apple may, to some, at first sight, seem strange; but I am nevertheless persuaded it is the correct one. The different forms in which it has been written will be found in the synonymes given above, none of which afford any assistance as to the derivation or signification of the name. Abercrombie was the first who wrote it June-eating, as if in allusion to the period of its maturity, which is, however, not till the end of July. Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, writes it Gineting, and says it is a corruption of Janeton (_Fr._) signifying Jane or Janet, having been so called from a person of that name. Ray[K] says, “Pomum Ginettinum, quod unde dictum sit me latet.” Indeed there does not seem ever to have been a correct definition given of it.

In the middle ages, it was customary to make the festivals of the church, or saint’s days, periods on which occurrences were to take place, or from which events were dated. Even in the present day, we hear the country people talking of some crop to be sown, or some other to be planted at Michaelmas, St. Martin’s, or Saint Andrew’s-tide. It was also the practice, during the reign of Popery in this country, as is still the case in all Roman Catholic countries, for parents to dedicate their children to some particular saint, as Jean Baptiste, on the recurrence of whose festival, all who are so named keep it as a holiday. So it was also in regard to fruits, which were named after the day about which they came to maturity. Thus, we have the Margaret Apple, so called from being ripe about St. Margaret’s day--the 20th of July. The Magdalene, or Maudlin, from St. Magdalene’s day--the 22nd of July. And in Curtius[L] we find the _Joannina_, so called, “Quod circa divi Joannis Baptistæ nativitatem esui sint.” These are also noticed by J. B. Porta; he says, “Est genus alterum quod quia circa festum Divi Joannis maturiscit, vulgus _Melo de San Giovanni_ dicitur.” And according to Tragus,[M] “Quæ apud nos prima maturantur, Sanct Johans Öpffel, Latine, Præcocia mala dicuntur.”

We see, therefore, that they were called Joannina, because they ripened about St. John’s Day. We have also among the old French pears Amiré Joannet--the Admired, or Wonderful Little John, which Merlet informs us was so called, because it ripened about St. John’s Day. If then we add to Joannet the termination _ing_, so general among our names of apples, we have _Joanneting_. There can be no doubt that this is the correct derivation, and signification of the name of this apple, and although the orthography may for a time appear singular, it will in the course of usage become as familiar as the other forms in which it as been written.

[K] Hist. Plant. ii. 1447.

[L] Hortorum, p. 522.

[M] Hist. p. 1043.

192. KEEPING RED-STREAK.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 627.

Fruit, medium sized; roundish, flattened, angular on the sides. Skin, green at first, changing to greenish-yellow, and striped with red on the shaded side; but entirely covered with dark red on the side next the sun, marked with russet, and numerous grey dots. Eye, open, set in a shallow and undulating basin. Stalk, very short, imbedded in a narrow and shallow cavity. Flesh, greenish-yellow, firm, brisk, and pleasantly flavored.

A culinary apple; in use from December to April.

193. KEEPING RUSSET.--H.

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and five eighths wide, and two inches and a quarter high; roundish. Skin, entirely covered with thin, pale yellowish-brown russet, like the Golden Russet, and occasionally with a bright, varnished, fiery-red cheek on the side next the sun, which is sometimes more distinct than at others. Eye, open, set in a round and plaited basin. Stalk, very short, imbedded in a rather shallow cavity. Flesh, yellow, firm, juicy, and sugary, with a particularly rich, mellow flavor, equal to, and even surpassing that of the Ribston Pippin.

A delicious dessert apple, of first-rate quality: in use from October to January, and, under favorable circumstances, will even keep till March.

This is an apple which is very little known, and does not seem at all to be in general cultivation. I obtained it from the private garden of the late Mr. James Lee, at Hammersmith. It certainly deserves greater publicity.

194. KENTISH FILL-BASKET.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 377. Down. Fr. Amer. 114.

SYNONYMES.--Lady de Grey’s, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1. 532. Kentish Pippin, _of same_.

FIGURE.--Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. ix. f. 1.

Fruit, very large, four inches wide, and three inches and a quarter high; roundish, irregular, and slightly ribbed. Skin, smooth, yellowish-green in the shade, and pale yellow with a redish-brown blush, which is streaked with deeper red, on the side next the sun. Eye, large, set in a wide and irregular basin. Flesh, tender and juicy, with a brisk and pleasant flavor.

This is an excellent culinary apple, of first-rate quality, in use from November to January.

The tree is a strong and vigorous grower, attaining a large size, and is an abundant bearer.

This is not the Kentish Fill-basket of Miller and Forsyth, nor yet of Rogers; the variety described under this name by these writers being evidently the Kentish Codlin.

195. KENTISH PIPPIN.--Ray.

IDENTIFICATION.--Raii. Hist. ii. 1448. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 378. Lind. Guide, 73. Rog. Fr. Cult. 92.

SYNONYMES.--Red Kentish Pippin, _Diel Kernobst._ viii. 121. Rother Kentischer Pepping, _Ibid._ Vaun’s Pippin, _acc. Riv. Cat._

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and three quarters broad, and two inches and a half high; conical and slightly angular. Skin, pale yellow, with brownish-red next the sun, studded with specks, which are greenish on the shaded side, but yellowish next the sun. Eye, small, and partially open, set in a wide, shallow, and plaited basin. Stalk, very short and fleshy, almost imbedded in a deep and wide cavity, which is smooth or rarely marked with russet. Flesh, yellowish-white, delicate, very juicy, with a sweet, and briskly acid flavor.

A culinary apple of first-rate quality; in use from October to January.

The tree attains a pretty good size, is hardy, vigorous, and a good bearer.

This is a very old and favorite apple, first mentioned by Ray, and enumerated in the list of Leonard Meager, as one of the varieties then cultivated in the London nurseries, in 1670. Mortimer made a sad lamentation on the fancied degeneration of the Kentish Pippin, which I have quoted in treating of the Golden Pippin.

196. KERRY PIPPIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Trans. vol. iii. p. 454. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 380. Lind. Guide, 19. Down. Fr. Amer. 88. Rog. Fr. Cult. 79.

SYNONYME.--Edmonton’s Aromatic Pippin, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._

FIGURES.--Hook. Pom. Lond. t. 20. Pom. Mag. t. 107. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. iv. f. 3.

Fruit, below medium size; oval, sometimes roundish-oval. Skin, smooth and shining, greenish-yellow at first, but changing as it ripens to a fine clear pale yellow color, tinged and streaked with red, on the side next the sun; but sometimes when fully exposed, one half of the surface is covered with bright shining crimson, streaked with deeper crimson; it is marked on the shaded side with some traces of delicate russet. Eye, small and closed, with broad, erect, and acuminate segments, set in a shallow basin, which is generally surrounded with five prominent plaits. Stalk, slender, three quarters of an inch long, obliquely inserted in a small cavity, by the side of a fleshy protuberance. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, crisp, and very juicy, with a rich, sugary, brisk, and aromatic flavor.

An early dessert apple of the highest excellence; It is in use during September and October.

The tree is a free grower, hardy, and a good bearer, attaining about the middle size. It is well adapted for grafting on the paradise stock, and being grown either as a dwarf, or espalier.

This variety was introduced chiefly through the instrumentality of Mr. Robertson, the nurseryman of Kilkenny, in Ireland.

197. KESWICK CODLIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 158. Lind. Guide. 31. Down. Fr. Amer. 87. Rog. Fr. Cult. 65.

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

Fruit, large; conical and angular. Skin, pale yellow, with a blush on the side exposed to the sun. Eye, large, set in a deep and angular basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a deep cavity. Flesh, pale yellow, very juicy, and briskly flavored.

One of the earliest, and most valuable of our culinary apples. It may be used for tarts so early as the end of June; but its greatest perfection is during August and September.

The tree is healthy, vigorous, and an immense bearer, attaining to the middle size. It succeeds well in almost every soil and situation, and when grown on the paradise stock, is well suited for espalier training.

This excellent apple was first discovered, growing among a quantity of rubbish, behind a wall at Gleaston Castle, near Ulverstone, and was first brought into notice by one John Sander, a nurseryman at Keswick, who having propagated it, sent it out under the name of Keswick Codlin.

In the Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, Sir John Sinclair says, “the Keswick Codlin tree has never failed to bear a crop since it was planted in the Episcopal garden at Rose Castle, Carlisle, twenty years ago (1813). It is an apple of fine tartness and flavor, and may be used early in autumn. The tree is a very copious bearer, and the fruit is of good size, considerably larger than the Carlisle Codlin. It flourishes best in a strong soil.”

198. KILKENNY PEARMAIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 547.

Fruit, below medium size, two inches and a half wide, and the same in height; roundish, inclining to conical. Skin, yellow, sprinkled with russety dots, and sometimes covered with slight reticulations of russet; tinged with orange, and a few streaks of red, on the side exposed to the sun. Eye, small, and rather open, set in a narrow basin. Stalk, short, inserted in a shallow cavity, and surrounded with a large patch of russet. Flesh, yellowish, crisp, tender, juicy, and sweet; but of dry texture, and lacking acidity.

A dessert apple of no great merit; in use from October to Christmas.

199. KING OF THE PIPPINS.--H.

Fruit, medium sized; ovate or conical, regularly and handsomely shaped. Skin, greenish yellow, with a blush of red next the sun, and marked with a little rough brown russet. Eye, large, and partially open, with long and broad segments, which are connivent, but reflexed at the tips, set in a shallow and undulating basin. Stalk, a quarter of an inch long, just extending beyond the base. Flesh, white with a yellowish tinge, firm, crisp, very juicy and sugary, with a rich vinous flavor.

This is one of the richest flavored early dessert apples, and unequalled by any other variety of the same season; it is ripe in the end of August, and beginning of September.

This is the original, and true King of the Pippins, and a very different apple from that generally known by the same name. _See_ Golden Winter Pearmain. I suspect this is the _King Apple_ of Rea.

200. KINGSTON BLACK.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3.

Fruit, small, two inches and a quarter wide, and one and three quarters high; roundish. Skin, pale yellow, striped with red on the shaded side; and very dark red, striped with dark purple, or almost black stripes, on the side next the sun; thickly strewed all over with light-grey russety dots, and with a large patch of russet over the base. Eye, open, with broad reflexed segments, and set in a deep basin. Stalk, very short, inserted in a shallow cavity. Flesh, white, stained with red under the skin, on the side next the sun, tender, juicy, sweet, and pleasantly flavored.

This is a beautiful little apple, extensively grown in Somersetshire, where in the present day it is considered the most valuable cider apple. It keeps till Christmas.

201. KIRKE’S LORD NELSON.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 414.

FIGURE.--Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xiv.

Fruit, large, three inches and a quarter wide, and two inches and three quarters high; roundish, and narrowing a little towards the apex. Skin, smooth, pale yellow, streaked all over with red. Eye, open, with short reflexed segments, and set in a plaited basin. Stalk, short and slender. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, juicy and aromatic, but wants acidity.

An inferior variety, neither a good dessert apple, nor at all suitable for culinary purposes; It is in use from November to February.

202. KNOBBED RUSSET.--H.

SYNONYMES.--Knobby Russet, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 3, n. 741. _Hort. Trans._ vol. iv. p. 219. _Lind. Guide_, 90. Winter Apple, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1, 1167. Old Maid’s, _acc. Hort. Soc. Cat._

Fruit, medium sized; roundish-oval, and very uneven on its surface; being covered with numerous knobs, or large warts, some of which are the size of peas. Skin, greenish-yellow, and covered with thick scaly russet. Eye, set in a deep basin. Stalk, inserted in a deep cavity. Flesh, yellowish, crisp, sweet, and highly flavored; but not very juicy.

A singular looking dessert apple, of first-rate quality. It is in use from December to March.

This variety was introduced to the notice of the London Horticultural Society in 1819, by Mr. Haslar Capron, of Midhurst, in Sussex.

203. LADY’S DELIGHT.--H.

Fruit, medium sized, three inches wide, and two inches and a quarter high; oblate, and ribbed on the sides. Skin, smooth and shining, greenish-yellow, marked with a number of imbedded dark-green specks; washed with red on the side next the sun, and with a circle of red rays round the base. Eye, partially closed, with broad and flat segments; set in an angular and plaited basin. Stalk, short and slender, inserted in a round and rather deep cavity. Flesh, white, tender, crisp, very juicy, sweet, brisk, and pleasantly aromatic.

An excellent culinary or dessert apple, highly esteemed about Lancaster, where it is much grown; it is in use from October to Christmas.

The habit of the tree is drooping, like that of the Weeping Willow.

204. LADY’S FINGER.--Fors.

IDENTIFICATION.--Fors. Treat. 111.

Fruit, below medium size, two inches and a quarter wide, and two inches and three quarters high; pyramidal, rounded at the base, distinctly five sided, flattened at the apex, where it is terminated in five prominent knobs, with a smaller one between each. Skin, smooth, dull greenish-yellow, strewed with minute, grey russety dots; tinged on the side next the sun with a dull blush, which is interspersed with spots of deep lively red. Eye, small and partially closed, set in a small and regularly notched basin. Stalk, slender, short, and obliquely inserted under a fleshy protuberance. Flesh, yellow, tender, juicy, and pleasantly acid.

A culinary apple much grown about Lancaster; it is in use from November, to March or April.

This is a very different apple from the _White Paradise_, which is sometimes called “The Lady’s Finger.”

205. LAMB ABBEY PEARMAIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Trans. vol. v. p. 269. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 2, 549. Lind. Guide, 74. Diel Kernobst. vi. B. 84.

SYNONYME.--Laneb Abbey Pearmain, _McInt. Orch._ 24.

FIGURES.--Hort. Trans. vol. v. t. 10, f. 2. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xxi. f. 2.

Fruit, small; roundish or oblato-oblong, regularly and handsomely shaped. Skin, smooth greenish-yellow on the shaded side, but becoming clear yellow when at maturity; on the side next the sun it is dull orange, streaked and striped with red, which becomes more faint as it extends to the shaded side, and dotted all over with minute, punctured, russety dots. Eye, rather large, and open, with long, broad segments, reflexed at the tips, and set in a wide, deep and plaited basin. Stalk, from a quarter to half-an-inch long, slender, deeply inserted in a russety cavity. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, crisp, very juicy and sugary, with a brisk, and rich vinous flavor.

A dessert apple of first-rate quality, and very valuable, both as regards the richness of its flavor, and the long period to which it remains in perfection; it is in use from January, and keeps till April without shrivelling.

The tree is healthy, a free grower, and good bearer.

This variety was raised in the year 1804, by the wife of Neil Malcolm Esq. of Lamb Abbey, near Dartford in Kent, from the pip of an imported fruit of the Newtown Pippin.

206. LARGE YELLOW BOUGH.--Down.

IDENTIFICATION.--Down. Fr. Amer. 74.

SYNONYMES.--Large Early Yellow Bough, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 3. Sweet Bough, _acc. Kenrick_. Early Bough, _Ken. Amer. Or._ 26. Bough, _Coxe, View_, 101. Sweet Harvest, _acc. Down._

Fruit, above medium size; oblong oval, handsomely and regularly formed. Skin, smooth, pale greenish-yellow. Eye, set in a narrow and deep basin. Stalk, rather long. Flesh, white, very tender, crisp, and very juicy, with a rich, sweet, sprightly flavor.

A dessert apple of first-rate quality. Ripe in the beginning of August. The tree is a vigorous and luxuriant grower, and a good bearer.

207. LEMON PIPPIN.--Fors.

IDENTIFICATION.--Fors. Treat. 112. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 406. Lind. Guide, 75. Down. Fr. Amer. 115. Rog. Fr. Cult, 81.

SYNONYMES.--Kirke’s Lemon Pippin, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1, 551. Quince, _Rog. Fr. Cult._ 66. Englischer Winterquittenapfel, _Diel Kernobst._ ii. B. 21.

FIGURES.--Pom. Mag. t. 37. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. ix. f. 4.

Fruit, medium sized; oval, with a large fleshy elongation covering the stalk, which gives it the form of a lemon. Skin, pale yellow tinged with green, changing to a lemon yellow as it attains maturity, strewed with russety freckles, and patches of thin delicate russet. Eye, small, and partially open, with short segments, and set in an irregular basin, which is frequently higher on one side than the other. Stalk, short, entirely covered with a fleshy elongation of the fruit. Flesh, firm, crisp, and briskly flavored.

A very good apple, either for culinary or dessert use; it is in season from October to April, and is perhaps the most characteristic apple we have, being sometimes so much like a lemon, as at first sight to be taken for that fruit. Forsyth says it is excellent for drying.

The tree does not attain a large size; but is healthy, hardy, and a good bearer.

It is uncertain at what period the Lemon Pippin was first brought into notice. Rogers calls it the “Quince Apple,” and, if it is what has always been known under that name, it must be of considerable antiquity, being mentioned by Rea, Worlidge, Ray, and almost all the early writers; but the first instance wherein we find it called Lemon Pippin, is in Ellis’s “Modern Husbandman” 1744, where he says it is “esteemed so good an apple for all uses, that many plant this tree preferable to all others.”

208. LEWIS’S INCOMPARABLE.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 356. Ron. Pyr. Mal. 59.

FIGURE.--Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xxx. f 2.

Fruit, large, three inches wide and two inches and three quarters high; conical, broad at the base and narrow at the apex, which is generally higher on one side than the other. Skin, deep lively red, streaked with crimson on the side next the sun; but yellow, faintly streaked with light red on the shaded side, and strewed with numerous minute russety dots. Eye, small and open, with broad, and slightly connivent segments, set in a rather narrow, and somewhat angular basin. Stalk, very short, inserted in a wide, and deep cavity, which is lined with thin grey russet. Flesh, yellowish, firm, crisp, and juicy, with a brisk and slightly perfumed flavor.

A useful apple either for culinary purposes or the dessert but only of second-rate quality; it is in use from December to February.

The tree attains the largest size, is strong, vigorous, and an abundant bearer.

209. LINCOLNSHIRE HOLLAND PIPPIN.--Hort.

IDENTIFICATION.--Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, 409.

SYNONYME.--Striped Holland Pippin. _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1. 1075. _Lind. Guide_, 23.

FIGURES.--Brook. Pom. Brit. pl. xc. f. 1. Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xiv. f. 4.

Fruit, above medium size, three inches and a half wide, and three inches and a quarter high; roundish, inclining to ovate, and somewhat angular on the sides. Skin, yellow on the shaded side; but orange, streaked with crimson, on the side next the sun, and studded all over with numerous imbedded green specks. Eye, small, set in a rather deep basin. Stalk short, inserted in a rather shallow cavity. Flesh, white and pleasantly sub-acid.

A very pretty, but very useless apple, fit only for kitchen use, and then only of second-rate quality; it is in season from November to February.

210. LOAN’S PEARMAIN.--Ray.

IDENTIFICATION.--Raii. Hist. ii. 1448. Lang. Pom. 134. t. lxxvi. f. 2. Switz. Fr. Gard. 138. Mill. Dict. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 550.

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

Fruit, medium sized, two inches and a half wide, and two inches and a quarter high; abrupt pearmain-shaped. Skin, greenish-yellow, with a few faint streaks of red, and strewed with numerous large russety dots on the shaded side; but deep orange mottled and streaked with crimson, and covered with patches of thin grey russet, on the side next the sun. Eye, open, with reflexed segments, set in a wide, even, and plaited basin. Stalk, half-an-inch long, inserted in a rather shallow cavity, with a fleshy protuberance on one side of it. Flesh, greenish-white, tender, crisp, and very juicy, with a sugary and pleasant flavor.

An excellent old dessert apple; in use from November to February.

This is a very old variety. It is first mentioned by Ray, but is not enumerated in Meager’s list.

211. LONDON PIPPIN.--Lind.

IDENTIFICATION.--Lind. in Hort. Trans. vol. iv. p. 67. Fors. Treat. ed. 7, 112. Hort. Soc. Cat. ed. 3, n. 410. Rog. Fr. Cult. 93.

SYNONYMES.--Five-Crowned Pippin, _Fors. Treat._ ed. 3. 99. Royal Somerset, _Hort. Soc. Cat._ ed. 1. 971. New London Pippin, _Ibid._ 562.

FIGURE.--Ron. Pyr. Mal. pl. xiv. f. 2.