Cluster Pearmain
Apple
Cluster Pearmain
Origin/History
Introduced from Indiana. Warder (1867) credits the introducer as R. Ragan, of Indiana; Downing (1900) gives the name as P. Pagan, of Indiana — almost certainly the same individual, with one source carrying a transcription error. Downing's account is explicitly drawn from Warder ("(Warder.)"), and the two descriptions are substantively identical.
Described as a most acceptable substitute for the Rambo, recommended as an amateur's fruit.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Full medium size. Round, flattened, regular, and inclined.
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Wide, regular, brown.
Calyx: Eye small, closed.
Basin: Deep, abrupt, regular.
Skin: Yellowish green, mixed and striped light red. Dots large, numerous (Warder; Downing notes large but omits "numerous"), gray and yellow. White bloom.
Flesh: Yellowish white, breaking, tender (Warder; not mentioned by Downing), granular. Flavor sub-acid, aromatic.
Core: Medium, pyriform, nearly closed, clasping.
Seeds: Numerous, angular, dark.
Quality: Good to very good.
Season
September and October (Warder); described as an autumn fruit (Downing).
Uses
Table fruit. Recommended as a substitute for the Rambo.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Cluster Pearmain.
Introduced by R. Ragan, of Indiana.
Fruit full medium, round, flattened, regular, inclined; Surface yellowish green, mixed and striped light red; Dots large, numerous, gray and yellow; white bloom. Basin deep, abrupt, regular; Eye small, closed. Cavity wide, regular, brown; Stem short. Core medium, pyriform, nearly closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, angular, dark; Flesh yellowish white, breaking, tender, granular; Flavor sub-acid, aromatic; Quality good to very good; Use, table; Season, September, October. A most acceptable substitute for Rambo, as an amateur's fruit.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cluster Pearmain. Introduced by P. Pagan, of Indiana. Fruit full medium size, round, flattened, regular, inclined, yellowish green, mixed and striped light red, dots large, gray and yellow, white bloom. Flesh yellowish white, breaking, granular, subacid, aromatic. Good to very good. An autumn fruit, acceptable as a substitute for Rambo. (Warder.)