Cranberry Pippin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
This strikingly beautiful apple originated on a farm near Hudson, Columbia County, New York.
In some sections it has proved a desirable apple, but in others it has not been successful. It is well known in some localities in the Hudson valley, in Northern and Western New York and in Ontario, where it is favorably regarded as a fall or early winter apple because of its good size, bright and attractive color and its uniform size and shape (Beach). It is a good storage apple, stands shipping well and brings good prices (Beach). It appears to be quite resistant to the attacks of scab (Beach).
Tree
Tree large, very vigorous; branches stout, spreading. Form upright becoming somewhat spreading. Twigs long, moderately stout, light grayish-brown, quite pubescent; internodes short. Bark dull reddish-brown with some olive-green and thickly mottled with scarf-skin. Lenticels scattering, medium to small, usually roundish. Buds medium or sometimes small, rather broad, deeply set, obtuse or sometimes acute, pubescent, appressed. Leaves dark green, broad, medium to large; foliage rather dense.
The tree is very productive, though Beach notes that in some cases it is reported as undesirable because unproductive. It is said to be a shy bearer when young, but becomes productive with age. Thomas describes it simply as productive.
Fruit
Size: Large (Warder, Beach). Downing describes it as medium. Elliott says above medium. Thomas says medium.
Form: Roundish oblate, symmetrical and regular. Warder describes it as large, flat, regular. Thomas says oblate.
Stem: Short (Beach). Medium (Warder).
Cavity: Broad, wavy (Beach, Warder). Warder specifies wide, wavy.
Calyx: Closed or somewhat open (Beach). Warder describes the eye as small, short, closed.
Basin: Moderately deep, russeted (Beach). Warder describes it as wide, regular or wavy.
Skin: Very smooth, shining, clear light yellow, handsomely blushed, striped and splashed with scarlet. Downing describes it as very smooth, light yellow, with a bright scarlet cheek. Warder describes the surface as very smooth, bright, clear yellow, with a shining scarlet cheek. Elliott says clear yellow with a red cheek. General appearance beautiful and attractive.
Dots: Many, large, often red areolar with russet center (Beach). Warder describes them as minute.
Flesh/Flavor: White, or with a slight yellowish tinge (Beach), moderately juicy, mild subacid. Downing describes the flesh as white, moderately juicy, brisk subacid. Warder describes it as white, breaking, juicy, with mild sub-acid flavor. Elliott says white, juicy, sub-acid. It is only second-rate in point of flavor (Downing). Thomas rates it as poor. Warder rates it very good for cooking, not for dessert. Downing rates it Good.
Core/Seeds: Core small, oval, just meeting the eye; axis short; seeds numerous, long (Warder).
Season
October to February (Beach). Warder gives November to February in New York. Downing gives November to February. Elliott says November, December. Thomas says autumn.
In the vicinity of its origin its season closes from a month to six weeks earlier than either Hubbardston or Tompkins King. In Northern New York and Ontario its season is late fall and early winter and often extends to midwinter (Beach).
Uses
Suitable for market, cooking and evaporating, but not for dessert (Beach). Warder rates it very good for cooking, not for dessert. Downing calls it an excellent cooking and market apple.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Cranberry Pippin.
This is a beautiful apple which originated near Hudson, New York. Tree vigorous, very productive. Fruit large, flat, regular; Surface very smooth, bright, clear yellow, with a shining scarlet cheek; Dots minute. Basin wide, regular or wavy; Eye small, short, closed. Cavity wide, wavy; Stem medium. Core small, oval, just meeting the eye; Axis short; Seeds numerous, long; Flesh white, breaking, juicy; Flavor mild, sub-acid; Quality very good for cooking, not for dessert; Season November to February in New York.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cranberry Pippin.
This strikingly beautiful Apple was found growing on a farm near Hudson, N. Y. It is only second-rate in point of flavor— but it is an excellent cooking and market apple.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, regular. Skin very smooth, light yellow, with a bright scarlet cheek. Flesh white, moderately juicy, brisk subacid. Good. November to February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)CRANBERRY PIPPIN.
References. 1. Downing, 1845:106. 2. Thomas, 1849:179. 3. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:88. 1851. 4. Elliott, 1854:169. 5. Warder, 1867:402. 6. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:290. 7. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:237. 8. Amer. Gard., 16:425. 1895. 9. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 2:9. 1895. fig. 10. Ib., 3:6. 1896. fig. 11. Macoun, Can. Dept. Agr. Bul., 37:43. 1901. 12. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:116. 1904.
Synonyms. None.
In some sections this has proved a desirable apple, but in others it has not been successful. It is well known in some localities in the Hudson valley, in Northern and Western New York and in Ontario, where it is favorably regarded as a fall or early winter apple because of its good size, bright and attractive color and its uniform size and shape. It is a good storage apple, stands shipping well and brings good prices. It is suitable for market, cooking and evaporating, but not for dessert. It appears to be quite resistant to the attacks of scab. The trees are hardy and often very productive, but in some cases it is reported as undesirable because unproductive. It is said to be a shy bearer when young, but becomes productive with age.
Historical. Originated near Hudson, Columbia county (1).
Tree.
Tree large, very vigorous; branches stout, spreading. Form upright becoming somewhat spreading. Twigs long, moderately stout, light grayish-brown, quite pubescent; internodes short. Bark dull reddish-brown with some olive-green and thickly mottled with scarf-skin. Lenticels scattering medium to small, usually roundish. Buds medium or sometimes small, rather broad, deeply set, obtuse or sometimes acute, pubescent, appressed. Leaves dark green, broad, medium to large; foliage rather dense.
Fruit.
Fruit large. Form roundish oblate, symmetrical. Stem short. Cavity broad, wavy. Calyx closed or somewhat open. Basin moderately deep, russeted. Skin smooth, shining, clear light yellow, handsomely blushed, striped and splashed with scarlet. Dots many, large, often red areolar with russet center. General appearance beautiful and attractive. Flesh white or with slight yellowish tinge, moderately juicy, mild subacid. Season October to February. In the vicinity of its origin its season closes from a month to six weeks earlier than either Hubbardston or Tompkins King. In Northern New York and Ontario its season is late fall and early winter and often extends to midwinter.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Cranberry Pippin.
American. Above medium, roundish, clear yellow, red cheek; flesh, white, juicy, sub-acid. November, December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Cranberry Pippin. Medium, oblate, with a handsome scarlet cheek; sub-acid, poor—cooking. Productive. Autumn. N. Y.