Cox's Pomona
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Cox's Pomona
Origin/History
Raised by Mr. Cox of Colnbrook Lawn about 1825. A variety from England, valued as a culinary apple.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: The sources differ on size. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as above medium, sometimes large; Downing gives it simply as medium.
Form: The sources differ somewhat on form. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as ovate, somewhat flattened and angular; Downing describes it as oblate, somewhat conic.
Stem: About an inch long, deeply inserted (Herefordshire Pomona).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx/Eye: Slightly open (Herefordshire Pomona).
Basin: Deep and angular (Herefordshire Pomona).
Skin: The sources differ in degree of coloring. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the skin as yellow and very much streaked with bright crimson. Downing describes it as greenish yellow with a shade of crimson in the sun, implying less extensive crimson coverage.
Flesh/Flavor: Both sources agree the flesh is white. The Herefordshire Pomona describes it as tender, delicate, and pleasantly acid; Downing describes it as crisp, juicy, and brisk subacid. The sources thus differ on texture (tender and delicate vs. crisp) and intensity of acidity (pleasantly acid vs. brisk subacid).
Core/Seeds: Core small (Downing).
Season
October.
Uses
A culinary apple. The Herefordshire Pomona rates it first-rate and very handsome as a culinary fruit. Downing rates it Good.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 4 catalogs (1900–1917) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- COX'S POMONA.
This beautiful apple was raised by Mr. Cox, of Colnbrook Lawn, about 1825.
Description.—Fruit, above medium size, sometimes large ; ovate and somewhat flattened and angular. Skin, yellow and very much streaked with bright crimson. Eye, slightly open, set in a deep and angular basin. Stalk, an inch long, and deeply inserted. Flesh, white, tender, delicate and pleasantly acid.
A first-rate and very handsome culinary apple. Season, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cox's Pomona. A variety from England, valuable as a culinary apple. Fruit medium, oblate, somewhat conic, greenish yellow, shade of crimson in the sun. Flesh white, crisp, juicy, brisk subacid. Good. Core small. October.