Adams Pearmain
Apple
Adams Pearmain
Origin/History
The origin of Adams Pearmain is uncertain. The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) states that "the history of this apple seems lost" and notes that the Mr. Adams who may be presumed to have raised it does not seem to have published any account of it. Elliott (1865) describes it as "Foreign." Downing (1900) states the origin is unknown. Bunyard (1920) gives the most specific account: origin probably English, brought to notice about 1826, and named after the donor of the grafts to the Royal Horticultural Society.
Tree
The tree grows freely (Herefordshire Pomona), producing long slender shoots, by which, and its cucullated ovate leaves, it is easily distinguished. Downing describes it as a free, healthy grower and a good bearer. Bunyard characterizes growth as slender and fertile. It is an excellent bearer, even in a young state, particularly on the paradise or doucin stock; and it succeeds well as an espalier (Herefordshire Pomona). Bunyard (1920) notes it thrives in nearly all soils.
Leaves: Cucullated (hooded) ovate leaves (Herefordshire Pomona). Bunyard (1920) describes the leaf as medium, narrow oval, slightly up-cupped, boldly serrate, grey green, and nearly smooth below.
Fruit
Size: Sources vary. Elliott (1865) calls the fruit medium. Downing (1900) calls it medium or below. The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) describes it as large, varying from two inches and a half to three inches high, and about the same in breadth at the widest part. Bunyard (1920) gives medium, 2½ by 2½ inches. George Bunyard & Co. (1901) describes it as medium sized; George Bunyard & Co. (1914) likewise calls it of medium size.
Form: Pearmain-shaped, very even, and regularly formed (Herefordshire Pomona). Elliott calls it conical. Downing describes it as roundish conical, inclining to oblong. Bunyard (1920) says conical. George Bunyard & Co. (1914) describes it as round.
Stem/Stalk: Slender (Elliott). Varying from half an inch to an inch long, obliquely inserted in a shallow cavity, and generally with a fleshy protuberance on one side of it (Herefordshire Pomona). Bunyard (1920) gives stem very short in a shallow even russet cavity.
Cavity: Shallow (Herefordshire Pomona); shallow and even, with russet (Bunyard 1920).
Calyx/Eye: Small and open, with acute, erect segments (Herefordshire Pomona). Bunyard (1920) describes the eye as open with tips reflexed.
Basin: Narrow, round, and plaited (Herefordshire Pomona); shallow and plaited (Bunyard 1920).
Skin: Pale greenish yellow with gray russet (Elliott). Pale yellow, tinged with green, and covered with delicate russet on the shaded side; but deep yellow, tinged with red, and delicately streaked with livelier red, on the side next the sun (Herefordshire Pomona). Pale yellow, shaded, mottled and splashed with red, with many light dots (Downing). Deep yellow with red stripes and flush, with russet patches (Bunyard 1920). Greenish yellow with red striping (George Bunyard & Co. 1901). Yellow with red markings (George Bunyard & Co. 1914).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, crisp, aromatic (Elliott). Yellowish, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with an agreeable and pleasantly perfumed flavour (Herefordshire Pomona). Yellow, crisp, firm, juicy, rich, brisk, subacid, slightly aromatic; Downing rates the quality "Very good." Firm, yellow, very aromatic (Bunyard 1920). George Bunyard & Co. (1901) describes the flesh as crisp, juicy, with pleasant acid and somewhat vinous flavor. George Bunyard & Co. (1914) notes "fine flavour."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Sources differ on season, likely reflecting climate and use. Elliott calls it Early Winter. Downing gives December to February. The Herefordshire Pomona gives December to February. Bunyard (1920) gives December to March and describes it as one of the best late dessert sorts. George Bunyard & Co. (1901) gives October to November. George Bunyard & Co. (1914) gives period of use as October to December. The Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) entry notes "Oct. to Feb." and "Nov. to May" — keeping well.
Uses
A dessert apple of first-rate quality (Herefordshire Pomona); dessert (Bunyard 1920). George Bunyard & Co. (1901) calls it excellent for eating or cooking. George Bunyard & Co. (1914) describes it as a good useful sort. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it a large and handsome variety, and worthy of great attention.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) provides a fragmentary entry referring to "delicious skin, hardiness and excellent, skin pink colour, keeping will Oct. to Feb. Nov. to May." George Bunyard & Co. (1914) appends the code "(H, B.T., P.)" to its entry.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- The Herefordshire Pomona (1876–1885) — listed as Adams' Pearmain
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 7 catalogs (1897–1917) from England, Illinois
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917 — listed as Adam's Pearmain
View original book sources (7)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Adam's Pearmain.
Foreign. Fruit, medium, conical, pale greenish yellow, with gray russet; stem, slender; flesh, yellowish, crisp, aromatic. Early Winter. (Lindley.)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)Plate XIV.
- ADAMS' PEARMAIN.
[Syn : Norfolk Pippin ; Hanging Pearmain ; Lady's Finger.]
The history of this apple seems lost. The Mr. Adams, who may be presumed to have raised it, does not seem to have published any account of it.
Description.—Fruit, large, varying from two inches and a half to three inches high, and about the same in breadth at the widest part ; Pearmain-shaped, very even, and regularly formed. Skin, pale yellow, tinged with green, and covered with delicate russet on the shaded side ; but deep yellow, tinged with red, and delicately streaked with livelier red, on the side next the sun. Eye, small and open, with acute, erect segments, set in a narrow, round, and plaited basin. Stalk, varying from half an inch to an inch long, obliquely inserted in a shallow cavity, and generally with a fleshy protuberance on one side of it. Flesh, yellowish, crisp, juicy, and sugary, with an agreeable and pleasantly perfumed flavour.
A dessert apple, of first-rate quality ; in season from December to February. It is a large and handsome variety, and worthy of great attention. The tree grows freely, producing long slender shoots, by which, and its cucullated ovate leaves, it is easily distinguished. It is an excellent bearer, even in a young state, particularly on the paradise or doucin stock ; and it succeeds well as an espalier.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Adams Pearmain. Norfolk Pippin. Matchless. Origin unknown. Tree a free, healthy grower. Young shoots Good bearer. Fruit medium or below, roundish conical, inclining to oblong, pale yellow, shaded, mottled and splashed with red, with many light dots. Flesh yellow, crisp, firm, juicy, rich, brisk, subacid, slightly aromatic. Very good. December to February.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)ADAM'S PEARMAIN. Her. Pom., I., 14. F., Rousse de Norfolk; G., Adam's Parmane. (Hanging Pearmain, Norfolk Pippin.) Dessert, December to March, medium, 2½ by 2½, conical. colour, deep yellow, red stripes and flush, with russet patches. Flesh, firm, yellow, very aromatic. Eye open, tips reflexed in a shallow plaited basin. Stem very short in a shallow even russet cavity. Growth slender, fertile. Leaf, medium, narrow oval, slightly up-cupped, boldly serrate, grey green, nearly smooth below. Origin probably English, brought to notice about 1826, and it was named after the donor of the grafts to the Royal Horticultural Society. This is one of the best late dessert sorts; it thrives in nearly all soils.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Medium sized, greenish yellow with red striping, crisp, juicy, with pleasant acid and somewhat vinous flavor. Excellent for eating or cooking. Season Oct-Nov.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)delicious skin, hardiness and excellent, skin pink colour, keeping will Oct. to Feb. Nov. to May
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)Dessert; fine flavour. Of medium size, round, yellow with red markings. A good useful sort. Period of use, Oct. to Dec. (H, B.T., P.)