Black Norman
Apple
Black Norman
Origin / History
Black Norman has no documented history. According to the Herefordshire Pomona (1885), it is "again without any history, or any discoverable connection with the orchards of Normandy," despite its name.
Tree
The tree is hardy and a good bearer. It is described as a favourite variety in the orchards of Herefordshire.
Fruit
Size
[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — the Veitch (1911) entry describes the fruit as "medium size" with "clear pale yellow" skin, which conflicts sharply with the Herefordshire Pomona's description of a predominantly mahogany-red fruit. The two sources may not describe the same variety, or Veitch may describe a distinct pale sport. Both accounts are preserved below; treat the Herefordshire Pomona as the primary authority.]
Medium size (Veitch, 1911).
Form
Roundish and flattened, obscurely ribbed, especially round the eye.
Stem
Long and slender.
Cavity
Deep, wide, and funnel-shaped; slightly russety.
Calyx
Closed, with long, leafy, convergent segments.
Basin
Rather deep and irregular.
Tube / Stamens
Tube conical; stamens median.
Skin
The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) describes the skin as smooth and shining, unctuous to the touch after the fruit has been gathered; dull mahogany red on the side next the sun, gradually becoming paler towards the shaded side, which is green and slightly mottled with red.
Veitch (1911) describes the fruit as "clear pale yellow" — a significant conflict with the above. See note at head of Fruit section.
Flesh / Flavor
Per Herefordshire Pomona (1885): flesh greenish, very tender, juicy, and brisk, with a faint sweetness.
Per Veitch (1911): flesh firm and sweet.
Core / Seeds
Cells of the core quite closed; cell walls ovate.
Season
September and October (Veitch, 1911). Not given in Herefordshire Pomona.
Uses
Primarily a cider apple. The juice, though without any especial flavour in itself, is rich and sweet, and is believed to give body to the cider made from it (Herefordshire Pomona, 1885). Veitch (1911) describes it as a good dessert apple.
Other
Chemical analysis of fresh juice by Mr. G. H. With, F.R.A.S. (Herefordshire Pomona, 1885):
- Density of fresh juice: 1·036
- Density after 24 hours: 1·037
- Per 100 parts by weight of juice:
- Sugar: 11·905
- Tannin, mucilage, salts, &c.: 1·125
- Water: 86·970
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- BLACK NORMAN.
This very distinct variety is again without any history, or any discoverable connection with the orchards of Normandy.
Description.—Fruit, roundish and flattened, obscurely ribbed, especially round the eye. Skin smooth and shining, unctuous to the touch after the fruit has been gathered ; dull mahogany red on the side next the sun, and gradually becoming paler towards the shaded side, which is green and slightly mottled with red. Eye, closed, with long, leafy, convergent segments, set in a rather deep, irregular basin ; tube, conical ; stamens, median ; stalk, long and slender, inserted in a deep, wide, funnel-shaped cavity, which is slightly russety; flesh, greenish, very tender, juicy, and brisk, with a faint sweetness ; cells of the core, quite closed ; cell walls, ovate.
The tree is hardy, and a good bearer. It is a favourite variety in the orchards. The juice, though without any especial flavour in itself, is rich and sweet, and is believed to give body to the cider made from it.
Chemical analysis by Mr. G. H. With, F.R.A.S :—
Density of fresh juice ... ... ... ... 1·036 Ditto after 24 hours ... ... ... ... 1·037 In 100 parts by weight of juice there is : Sugar ... ... ... ... ... 11·905 Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c., ... ... ... 1·125 Water ... ... ... ... ... 86·970
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size, clear pale yellow, flesh firm and sweet, a good dessert apple. Sep. & Oct.