Derry Nonsuch
AppleDerry Nonsuch
Origin/History
Origin unknown; from Keene, N.H., where the variety is held in estimation. No further history is recorded in the sources.
Tree
Thrifty and productive. A late keeper.
Fruit
Size
Downing and Elliott describe the fruit as above medium. Thomas describes it as rather large.
Form
Oblong or conic. Elliott adds angular to the description; Thomas likewise describes the form as oblong, conic, and angular.
Stem
Short, set in a moderate cavity.
Cavity
Moderate.
Calyx
Large, closed.
Basin
Shallow, uneven.
Skin
Yellow, sprinkled, shaded, and splashed with crimson. Thomas describes the fruit as striped, consistent with the crimson splashing noted by Downing and Elliott.
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh yellowish, juicy, tender, slightly aromatic, agreeably subacid. Quality rated good (Downing).
Core / Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
January to April (Downing, Elliott). Thomas places the variety in winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Derry Nonsuch.
Dinsmore. Londonderry.
Origin unknown, from Keene, N. H., and held in estimation there. Tree thrifty and productive, a late keeper.
Fruit above medium, oblong or conic, yellow, sprinkled, shaded, and splashed with crimson. Stalk short, in a moderate cavity. Calyx large, closed. Basin shallow, uneven. Flesh yellowish, juicy, tender, slightly aromatic, agreeably subacid. Good. January to April.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Dinsmore. Londonderry. Origin, unknown ; from Keene, N. H., and held in estimation there. Tree, thrifty and productive ; a late keeper. Fruit, above medium, oblong or conic angular ; skin, yellow, sprinkled, shaded, and splashed with crimson ; stem, short, in a moderate cavity ; calyx, large, closed ; basin, shallow, uneven ; flesh, yellowish, juicy, tender, slightly aromatic, agreeably sub-acid. January to April. (Downing.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Derry Nonsuch. Rather large, oblong, conic, angular, striped; sub-acid, agreeable. Winter. N. H.