Baddow Pippin

Origin/History

The origin of Baddow Pippin is involved in some obscurity. It was found growing in the garden of the Hall, Toleshunt D'Arcy, in Essex, where a tree upwards of a century old was still standing as of the 1885 Herefordshire Pomona account. The variety probably originated in Essex. Some years ago Mr. John Harris, of Baddow, near Chelmsford, first introduced it to public notice under the name Baddow Pippin; Mr. Rivers afterwards renamed it Spring Ribston. It was introduced to general notice about 1850.

Tree

The two detailed tree accounts conflict. The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) describes the tree as hardy, growing freely, and bearing well. Bunyard (1920) characterizes growth as weak and fertility as moderate, and notes that Baddow Pippin is not often found thriving out of East Anglia.

Leaf: medium, dark, upfolded, sharply serrate or curved serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size and Form

Medium sized. Bunyard gives dimensions of 2⅜ inches by 2¼ inches. The form is roundish or rather oblate (Herefordshire Pomona; Downing), described by Bunyard as square-rounded and irregular. The Herefordshire Pomona describes prominent ribs on the sides which terminate in four and sometimes five considerable ridges at the crown, very much in the character of the London Pippin. It is sometimes of an ovate shape, caused by the stalk being prominent instead of depressed, in which case the ribs on the sides and ridges round the eye are less apparent.

Stem

Very short — not more than a quarter of an inch long (Herefordshire Pomona); described simply as short by Downing and Bunyard. The two detailed accounts conflict on the cavity: the Herefordshire Pomona states the stalk is inserted in a shallow cavity, while Bunyard describes it as deeply inserted in a russet cavity.

Cavity

Shallow (Herefordshire Pomona). Russet-lined, and deeply receiving the stem (Bunyard). These accounts conflict.

Calyx

Rather large and open, with short segments (Herefordshire Pomona). Large, open (Downing). Slightly open (Bunyard) — the degree of openness conflicts between Herefordshire Pomona/Downing and Bunyard.

Basin

Angular (Herefordshire Pomona). Deep and wrinkled (Bunyard).

Skin

Deep lively green, changing as it ripens to yellowish green on the shaded side (Herefordshire Pomona); green to yellow overall (Bunyard); yellowish green (Downing). The side toward the sun is covered with dull red, which changes to orange where it blends with the yellow ground (Herefordshire Pomona); the flush is described as dull red by Downing and Bunyard as well. The whole surface is considerably marked with thin brown russet and russety dots (Herefordshire Pomona); Bunyard similarly describes the skin as covered with russet.

Flesh and Flavor

Greenish white (Herefordshire Pomona); whitish (Downing); greenish (Bunyard). Firm and crisp (all three sources). Juicy and sugary, with a particularly rich and vinous flavour partaking somewhat of the Ribston and Nonpareil, but particularly of the former (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing concurs: rich and vinous. Bunyard characterizes the flesh as highly aromatic and of the finest quality.

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Ready from November; possesses the desirable property of keeping well till April or May (Herefordshire Pomona). Bunyard gives November to April. Downing lists the season as April to May, reflecting the late end of its keeping period.

Uses

A first-rate dessert apple (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing rates it Good. Bunyard considers it of the finest quality. The Herefordshire Pomona notes it is not handsome in shape, nor attractive in appearance, but that its excellent flavour will ensure more extensive cultivation. Bunyard observes that it is not often found thriving out of East Anglia.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.