Adams Pearmain

Origin / History

Origin unknown (Downing). The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) says "the history of this apple seems lost." The Mr. Adams presumed to have raised it published no account of it. E.A. Bunyard (1920) calls it probably English, brought to notice about 1826, and named after the donor of the grafts to the Royal Horticultural Society. The George Bunyard & Co. catalog (1914) gives 1826 as the date it was brought to notice. Elliott (1865), following Lindley, enters it as a foreign apple.

A large and handsome variety, "worthy of great attention" (Herefordshire Pomona); "handsome and excellent" (Veitch, 1911). E.A. Bunyard calls it "one of the best late dessert sorts." The George Bunyard catalog calls it "one of the best old English varieties."

Tree

Grows freely: a free, healthy grower, the growth slender and neat, producing long slender shoots. By these shoots and its "cucullated ovate leaves" the tree is easily distinguished (Herefordshire Pomona). E.A. Bunyard gives the leaf as medium, narrow oval, slightly up-cupped, boldly serrate, gray-green, and nearly smooth below.

A good bearer (Downing), fertile (E.A. Bunyard). The Herefordshire Pomona calls it an excellent bearer even in a young state, particularly on the paradise or doucin stock, and says it succeeds well as an espalier. Veitch says the tree forms a medium-sized pyramid, and the George Bunyard catalog calls it suitable for pyramids. E.A. Bunyard says it thrives in nearly all soils.

Fruit

Size: Below medium to large; most authors call it medium. Downing gives medium or below. The Herefordshire Pomona alone calls it large, from 2½ to 3 inches high and about the same in breadth at the widest part. E.A. Bunyard gives 2½ by 2½ inches.

Form: Conical, Pearmain-shaped, very even and regularly formed. Downing gives roundish conical, inclining to oblong.

Stem: Slender (Elliott). Half an inch to an inch long, obliquely inserted, generally with a fleshy protuberance on one side of it (Herefordshire Pomona). E.A. Bunyard calls the stem very short.

Cavity: Shallow. E.A. Bunyard calls it even and russet.

Calyx: Eye open. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it small, with acute, erect segments. E.A. Bunyard gives the tips as reflexed.

Basin: Shallow, narrow, round, and plaited.

Skin: Pale yellow or pale greenish yellow, covered with delicate russet on the shaded side. Elliott gives the russet as gray, and E.A. Bunyard gives it as patches. On the side next the sun the skin is deep yellow or golden, tinged with red and delicately streaked or striped with livelier red, with a red cheek or flush. Downing gives the pale yellow as shaded, mottled, and splashed with red. A handsome fruit.

Dots: Many, light (Downing).

Flesh and flavor: Yellow or yellowish, crisp, firm, juicy, and sugary. Flavor rich, brisk, subacid (Downing), and aromatic, from "slightly aromatic" (Downing) to "very aromatic" (E.A. Bunyard). The Herefordshire Pomona gives "an agreeable and pleasantly perfumed flavour"; the George Bunyard catalog gives "superb flavour." Quality "first-rate" (Herefordshire Pomona), "very good" (Downing), and "excellent" (Veitch).

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December to February or March. The Herefordshire Pomona and Downing give December to February. Both Bunyards extend the season to March. Elliott, after Lindley, gives early winter.

Uses

Dessert. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "a dessert apple, of first-rate quality."

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Figured in the Herefordshire Pomona, Plate XIV.