Baxter's Pearmain

Apple

Baxter's Pearmain

Origin / History

A Norfolk variety, from Norfolk, England. Introduced to notice by Mr. G. Lindley in 1821 (Bunyard).

Tree

Hardy, vigorous, productive; "a good bearer" (Veitch). Growth moderate, very fertile (Bunyard). Leaf long, dark green, much upfolded, sharply serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size: Medium, 2½ by 2¾ (Bunyard, who gives no unit); Veitch also medium. Downing, citing Hogg, alone gives large.

Form: Roundish, elongated conical (Downing, citing Hogg); roundish conical, slightly flattened (Bunyard).

Stem: Short, rather slender (Bunyard).

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Eye open (Bunyard).

Basin: Moderately deep and wide, slightly plaited, even (Bunyard).

Skin: Pale green with shades and streaks of red in the sun (Downing, citing Hogg); pale green tinged with red (Veitch); pale yellow with red-brown flush and stripes (Bunyard).

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellowish, firm (Downing, citing Hogg) to tender (Bunyard). Flavor brisk, sprightly subacid (Downing); crisp and pleasantly acid (Veitch); pleasantly acid (Bunyard), who adds "rather too acid for some palates."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

November to March (Downing, citing Hogg; Veitch); December to February (Bunyard).

Uses

Valuable for all purposes (Downing, citing Hogg). Dessert or culinary (Bunyard).

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 3 catalogs (1901–1913) from England, Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913

View original book sources (3)

Baxter's Pearmain. From Norfolk, England. Tree hardy, vigorous, productive. Fruit large, roundish, elongated conical, pale green, with shades and streaks of red in the sun. Flesh yellowish, firm, brisk, sprightly subacid. Valuable for all purposes. November to March. (Hogg.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

BAXTER'S PEARMAIN. Dessert or culinary, December to February, medium, 2½ by 2¾, roundish conical, slightly flattened. Colour, pale yellow with red-brown flush and stripes. Flesh, yellowish, tender, pleasantly acid. Eye, open in a moderately deep and wide basin, which is slightly plaited. Stem, short, rather slender in an even basin. Growth, moderate; very fertile. Leaf, long, dark green, much upfolded, sharply serrate. Origin, a Norfolk variety, introduced to notice by Mr. G. Lindley, in 1821. It is rather too acid for some palates.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

medium size, flavour crisp and pleasantly acid, pale green tinged with red, it is hardy, vigorous, and a good bearer ... Nov. to Mar.

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)