Drap d'Or

Origin / History

Warder calls Drap d'Or "an old French variety, respecting which there is some uncertainty among cultivators." Downing identifies it as the Vrai Drap d'Or of "the old Duhamel, pl. xii. Fig. 4." He holds it distinct from the Drap d'Or of Lindley, of Noisette, and of most French authors, which is quite a small apple. Thomas renders the name as "Cloth of Gold." Coxe imported it from London and described it in 1817 as the "Drap d'Or of France," calling it "highly worthy of cultivation." Elliott reports that it is said by some to be identical with "Cooper," but "we do not yet so recognize it." Warder says that for the table "its place is supplanted by the Primate, Dyer and others." In Lowther's station tables it was reported by 2 stations in the Northern Division, 5 in the Central Division, and 2 in the Southern Division; the asterisk on each division count indicates the variety is reported in more than one division.

Tree

Large, vigorous, and finely shaped, round, regular, and spreading (Coxe); Thomas also calls it regular and spreading. Downing calls it straggling and only moderately vigorous. Elliott calls it a strong grower, wide, with broad foliage. Leaves doubly serrate (Thomas). Coxe calls it "a great bearer," Elliott a moderate bearer, and Downing unproductive.

Fruit

Size: Large; very large and fair according to Coxe.

Form: Roundish, flattened or roundish oblate; round and rather flat (Coxe). Warder calls it globular but variable, from conical-truncate to oblate. Thomas calls it sometimes slightly oblong-conical, more frequently rather oblate.

Stem: Short (Elliott, Thomas). Warder calls it long, inclined, yellow or red, and angular.

Cavity: Wide (Elliott, Warder); open (Elliott); wavy and brown (Warder).

Calyx: Small. Elliott calls it half closed; Warder calls the eye closed.

Basin: Shallow, wide, plaited.

Skin: Smooth, yellow. Coxe and Thomas call it bright yellow, Elliott dull yellow or gold color, Downing yellow or dead gold color, and Warder pale waxen yellow. Rarely blushed (Warder). Delicate blotches (Coxe).

Dots: Small, distinct specks; numerous according to Thomas. Coxe and Thomas call them black. Downing calls them brown, and Elliott brown or russet.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh white (Coxe), yellowish white (Elliott), or pale yellow (Warder). Coxe calls it large-grained and Elliott not fine-grained; Warder calls it fine-grained. Crisp or breaking, tender (Elliott), juicy. Flavor mild subacid, pleasant, agreeable, well flavored; aromatic (Warder). Quality from "Good" (Downing) to "very good" (Lowther); Warder rates it "good to best."

Core and seeds: Elliott gives a core with open, hollow capsules; Warder gives a core large, regular, closed, and clasping. Seeds short, ovate, and dark reddish brown according to Elliott; numerous, angular, and long according to Warder.

Season

Summer to mid-autumn, August to October. Most authors place it within August to October, or early to mid-autumn; Lowther's station table gives summer. Coxe says it ripens in September and "keeps well for some time."

Uses

Market, kitchen, and table (Warder). Lowther gives family use as primary.

Subtypes / Variants

Downing records two or three apples under the name. One is similar in size to Drap d'Or, but its tree is of stronger growth and drops its fruit before maturity. That fruit is rather coarse and spongy, with flesh quite inferior. Another, the Drap d'Or of Knoop, is small, bright yellow, firm, and crisp.

Other

Not described in source.