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Dutch Mignonne

Apple
Illustration from Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)

Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)

Dutch Mignonne

Origin / History

Dutch Mignonne is from Holland by the account of most authors. Bunyard alone gives its origin as "probably German" and calls Grosser Casseler Reinette "the original name." Elliott renders the name "Darling, or Favorite."

Beach says it has been known in Holland for more than a century and was introduced from that country into England about 1771. Bunyard has it brought into England about 1780. Hedrick, following the 1771 date, says it "was probably grown long before that date" and went from England to America about 1800. Beach reports Leroy's view that Grosse Reinette de Cassel and Reinette Dorée are distinct from Dutch Mignonne, although some have listed them as identical.

The early authors speak well of it. Elliott says it "has proved valuable wherever grown." Warder calls it "a fine large apple," Downing "a popular Apple," and Bunyard "a most useful, fertile fruit." Veitch writes "which we can highly recommend."

Beach says it was brought into New York State many years ago and imported at various times under the names Dutch Mignonne and Reinette de Caux. In his account it has not won favorable recognition among commercial orchardists and has nowhere been planted to any considerable extent. Hedrick calls it a "once valued general-purpose apple" and "this old-time worthy," which "has served its day and is passing from cultivation, disappearing chiefly because the apples are unattractive and not quite good enough in quality."

Lowther's station table records it as reported by 5 stations in the Northern Division, 2 in the Central Division, and 1 in the Southern Division. The table's asterisk marks it as reported in all three divisions.

Tree

Vigorous to moderately vigorous. Most authors call it vigorous, and Elliott describes strong, upright shoots. Downing and Beach's tree description call it moderately vigorous, though Beach's summary calls it vigorous. At the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C., a tree planted in spring 1894 was a moderate grower and one planted in spring 1895 a vigorous grower.

Habit upright to upright-spreading. Beach describes it as rather wide-spreading, inclined to droop, and pretty dense, with short, stout, curved branches. Young wood dark brown and downy (Downing). Twigs medium in length, nearly straight, moderately stout to rather slender; internodes medium or above. Bark clear reddish-brown, mostly overlaid or mottled with rather heavy scarf-skin, pubescent near the tips. Lenticels moderately numerous, small to medium, round or somewhat oblong, sometimes raised. Buds moderately prominent, medium in size, plump, acute, free, somewhat pubescent. Leaves medium in size, broad (Beach). Bunyard gives the leaf as rather pale, slightly up-folded, and boldly curved serrate.

Productive, bearing abundantly. Bunyard calls it very fertile. Beach finds it very productive on alternate years. Veitch reports its shoots "thickly set with fruit spurs" and says it "bears abundantly, especially on the paradise stock." Elliott calls it very fine in South Ohio.

Fruit

Size: Medium to very large. The larger group of sources gives medium or above medium. Beach calls it above medium and "pretty uniform in size." Others give large or "quite large" (Thomas), and Warder large or very large. Bunyard measures it 3½ by 3.

Form: Roundish oblate to roundish, flattened, slightly or sometimes conic, regular or fairly regular. Warder adds truncated. Beach adds often somewhat elliptical and broadly ribbed.

Stem: Medium to long, slender. Beach calls it often characteristically long and slender and obliquely inserted. Elliott calls it curved, and Thomas nearly an inch long.

Cavity: Acute, medium in size (Warder) to large, moderately deep to deep, regular, often russeted. Elliott and Bunyard call it narrow; Beach calls it rather broad. Elliott notes a dash of russet about the cavity. Beach adds outspreading russet rays and faint lines and flecks of dull grayish scarf-skin, and calls it furrowed or sometimes compressed, occasionally lipped.

Calyx: Small to large, closed, partially open, or open. Elliott and Thomas give it as open, and Thomas calls it large. Warder calls the eye short, wide, open, with short segments. Downing calls it partially open, with erect segments. Budd and Hansen and Bunyard give it as closed; Budd and Hansen call it small, with short, erect, convergent segments. Beach gives small to medium, closed or open.

Calyx tube conical, rather large, long, sometimes approaching urn-shape (Beach). Stamens marginal.

Basin: Moderately narrow to wide, large, round, regular or even, abrupt, slightly corrugated. Beach calls it often somewhat furrowed and wrinkled. Elliott calls it deep. Beach calls it usually rather shallow. Bunyard calls it moderate.

Skin: Rough to rather rough. Yellow or pale yellow to dull orange or rich orange. It is shaded, mottled, striped, and splashed with red: light and dark rich red, bright red, or two shades of red (Agassiz station). Bunyard gives "bold red stripes and flush."

The extent of red runs from partly covered to mostly covered. Warder writes "covered with red, splashed with bright red," and Elliott writes "mostly covered with rich dull red." Thomas calls the striping obscure and the skin slightly russeted.

Beach gives a thin orange blush, deepening in highly colored specimens to orange-red, mottled and sparingly splashed or striped with carmine. The prevailing effect in his account is dull orange-yellow partly covered with thin dull red, "not particularly attractive," the color lacking "decided character." Thomas and Veitch call it handsome; Hedrick calls the apples "unattractive."

Dots: Moderately sprinkled (Downing) to numerous, prominent, light, brown, fawn-colored, whitish, or light russet. Beach calls them often areolar. Elliott describes the skin as dotted and mottled with large yellow russet specks.

Flesh and flavor: Whitish (Elliott), yellowish white (Warder), or yellowish to yellow. Firm, becoming tender. Elliott writes "firm at first, becoming tender when well matured." The flesh is juicy and tender. Warder calls it breaking. Warder, Downing, and Budd and Hansen call it coarse-grained or a little coarse, and Thomas calls the fruit "high-flavored, but coarse." Beach calls the flesh nearly fine, crisp, rather tender.

Flavor subacid, ranging to "acid to sub-acid" (Warder) and "a high, rich, rather acid flavor" (Thomas). It is rich in the accounts of Warder, Thomas, and Budd and Hansen ("rich mild subacid"). Elliott calls it aromatic and Beach sprightly. Downing gives slightly subacid and the Agassiz station mildly acid and "pleasant." Bunyard gives "moderate flavour."

Quality good to very good. Warder and Downing give "good to very good," Budd and Hansen "very good," and Lowther's table "good." Beach calls it "good for dessert, excellent for cooking." Hedrick judges it "not quite good enough in quality."

Core and seeds: Core small or medium to small, axile, closed, compact, regular. Warder calls it turbinate. Core lines clasping. Cells obovate (Budd and Hansen). Carpels broadly roundish, rather flat, slightly emarginate (Beach).

Seeds few, angular, imperfect or defective. Beach writes that often some are abortive, and gives them as rather long, irregular, flat, obtuse or somewhat acute.

Season

The recorded season runs from September into May. Most authors give an early-winter or winter season, November or December through January, February, or March. Veitch extends it to April. Beach calls the season somewhat variable, often extending till May, with a commercial limit usually of March, and calls it a good keeper. The Agassiz trees gave January and February, and December to January. Warder alone gives September and October.

Uses

Culinary, dessert, market, and drying. Beach calls it excellent for cooking and good for dessert. He recommends it for the home orchard but not as a commercial variety, because the color of the fruit lacks decided character, except for canning or evaporating. Bunyard says it is "considered by many to be worthy of dessert use late in the season." Warder lists kitchen, market, and drying uses, and Lowther's table gives market as its primary use. Hedrick calls it a general-purpose apple.

Subtypes / Variants

Downing states that his description is not the Dutch Mignonne described in the first edition of his book, and that he is uncertain of that variety's true name. That variety is a more vigorous grower, forming a very large spreading tree and bearing its fruit singly and very evenly distributed over the whole of the branches. Young wood very stout, dark reddish brown. Fruit large, often very large, roundish oblate. Skin dull orange, half covered or more with rich, dull red, dotted and mottled with large yellow russet specks. Calyx very large; segments divided and reflexed. Basin very broad, large, and deep, slightly corrugated. Flesh yellowish, a little coarse, breaking, tender, rich, aromatic. Very good. November to February.

Other

Downing carries a separate entry under the name Reinette de Caux, "of French origin." Tree vigorous, productive. Fruit large, roundish, slightly oblate, yellow, splashed and mottled with bright red in the sun, with many gray dots. Stalk slender. Calyx half closed. Flesh yellowish white, tender, juicy, "agreeable aromatic, subacid." January, February.

Book Sources

Described in 9 period pomological works

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

Not same as preceding.

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 16 catalogs (1845–1936) from England, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington

View original book sources (11)

Dutch Mignonne.

The Dutch Mignonne — Darling, or Favorite — is from Holland, and a fruit which has proved valuable wherever grown. Tree, with strong, upright shoots, and producing abundantly ; very fine in South Ohio. Size, large ; form, roundish regular ; color, dull orange, mostly covered with rich dull red, dotted and mottled with large yellow russet specks, and a dash of russet about the cavity of stem ; stem, long, slender, curved ; cavity, narrow, deep ; calyx, open ; basin, deep, round, regular ; flesh, whitish, firm at first, becoming tender when well matured, sub-acid, aromatic flavor ; core, small, compact ; seeds, few, defective. November to January.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Dutch Mignonne.

REINETTE DORÉE — And Several Others in Europe.

A fine large apple from Holland. Tree vigorous, upright, productive.

Fruit large or very large, roundish, flattened, sometimes conical, truncated; Surface rough, yellow, covered with red, splashed with bright red; Dots numerous, prominent, fawn-colored.

Basin wide, abrupt, regular; Eye short, wide, open; Segments short.

Cavity medium, acute, regular; Stem medium to long.

Fig. 215. — DUTCH MIGNONNE.

Core small, turbinate, regular, clasping; Seeds few, angular imperfect; Flesh yellowish white, breaking, coarse-grained, juicy; Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich; Quality good to very good; Use, kitchen, market, drying; Season, September, October.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

Dutch Mignonne.

Reinette Dorée. Pomme de Laak. Grosser Casselar Reinette. Paternoster Apfel. Settin Pippin. Copmanthorpe Crab.

A popular Apple from Holland. Tree moderately vigorous, upright, spreading, young wood dark brown, downy, productive.

Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly conic. Skin rather rough, yellow, shaded, striped, and splashed with shades of light and dark rich red, and moderately sprinkled with light and brown dots. Stalk medium, slender. Cavity large, often russeted. Calyx partially open. Segments erect. Basin large, slightly corrugated. Flesh yellowish, a little coarse, tender, juicy, slightly subacid. Core small. Good to very good. December to March.

The foregoing is not the Dutch Mignonne which was described in the first edition of this book. That variety differs in being a more vigorous grower, forming a very large spreading tree, and bearing its fruit singly and very evenly distributed over the whole of the branches. We are uncertain of its true name. Young wood very stout, dark reddish brown.

Fruit large, often very large, roundish oblate. Skin dull orange, half covered or more with rich, dull red, dotted and mottled with large yellow russet specks. Calyx very large. Segments divided and reflexed. Basin very broad, large, and deep, slightly corrugated. Flesh yellowish, a little coarse, breaking, tender, rich, aromatic. Very good. November to February.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Reinette de Caux", pp. 356–356]

Reinette de Caux. Of French origin. Tree vigorous, productive. Fruit large, roundish, slightly oblate, yellow, splashed and mottled with bright red in the sun, many gray dots. Stalk slender. Calyx half closed. Flesh yellowish white, tender, juicy, agreeable aromatic, subacid. January, February. (Alb. Pom.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Dutch Mignonne. Quite large, roundish, regular; rich orange, dotted, mottled, and obscurely striped with bright red, slightly russeted; stalk nearly an inch long, slender; calyx large, open; basin large, round, even; flesh firm, becoming tender, with a high, rich, rather acid flavor. Fig. 410. Early winter. Native of Holland. A large, handsome, high-flavored, but coarse fruit.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

DUTCH MIGNONNE.

References. 1. Diel, 4:140. 1801. 2. Ronalds, 1831:51. 3. Cat. Hort. Soc. London, 1831:30. 4. Floy-Lindley, 1833:33. 5. Dittrich, 1839:429. 6. Lindley, Pom. Mag., 1839:84. col. fl. 7. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:72. 1851. 8. Bivort, An. de Pomol. Belge, 1853:83. 9. Elliott, 1858:74. 10. Lucas, Ed., Ill. Handb. der Obstk., 1:163. 1859. 11. Berghuis, 1868: col. pl. No. 11. 12. Regel, 1868:466. 13. Downing, 1872:151, 331. Ib., 1876:3. app. 14. Leroy, 1873:644. 2 figs. 15. Lauche, 1:257. 1882. 16. Hogg, 1884:66. 17. Cat. Cong. Pom. France, 1887:322. 18. Bailey, An. Hort. 1892:238, 248. 19. Bredsted, 1893:182. 20. Beach and Close, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 15:275. 1896. figs. 21. Eneroth-Smirnoff, 1901:195. 22. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:114. 1904.

Synonyms. Caux (22). Christ's Golden Reinette (16). Copmanhorpe Crab (13, 14, 16). Duitsch Mignonne (8). Dutch Mignome (7). Dutch Mignonne (14). Dutch Minion (2). Grosse Casseler Reinette (10, 12, 15). Grosser Casselar Reinette (13). Grosse oder Doppelte Casseler Reinette (1, 5). Paternoster Apple (4, 13, 14). Pomme de Laak (4, 13, 14). Reinette de Caux (3, 14, 17, 20). Reinette de Caux (16, 22). Reinette d'Or (11). Reinette Doree (2). Reinette Doree (4, 13). Stettin Pippin (13, 14, 16). Stor Casseler Reinet (19). Stor Kasselrenett (21).

Tree vigorous and very productive on alternate years. Fruit medium or above, not very attractive in color but excellent for cooking, good for dessert and a good keeper. It is recommended for the home orchard, but because the color of the fruit lacks decided character it is not a good commercial variety, except for canning or evaporating.

Historical. This apple has been known in Holland for more than a century. It was introduced from that country into England about 1771 (4, 14). Although it was brought into New York state many years ago and has been imported at various times both under the name Dutch Mignonne and that of Reinette de Caux it has not won favorable recognition among commercial orchardists and has nowhere been planted to any considerable extent. Leroy (14) states that Grosse Reinette de Cassel and Reinette Doree are distinct from this variety although they have been listed by some as identical.

Tree.

Tree moderately vigorous. Form rather wide-spreading, inclined to droop, pretty dense; branches short, stout, curved. Twigs medium in length, nearly straight, moderately stout to rather slender; internodes medium or above. Bark clear reddish-brown, mostly overlaid or mottled with rather heavy scarfskin, pubescent near tips. Lenticels moderately numerous, small to medium, round or somewhat oblong, sometimes raised. Buds moderately prominent, medium in size, plump, acute, free, somewhat pubescent. Leaves medium in size, broad.

Fruit.

Fruit above medium, pretty uniform in size. Form roundish oblate to roundish, sometimes inclined to conic, often somewhat elliptical and broadly ribbed. Stem often characteristically long and slender and obliquely inserted. Cavity acute, moderately deep to deep, rather broad, often with outspreading russet rays and faint lines and flecks of dull grayish scarf-skin, furrowed or sometimes compressed, occasionally lipped. Calyx small to medium, closed or open. Basin usually rather shallow, moderately narrow to rather wide, often somewhat furrowed and wrinkled.

Skin yellow with thin orange blush, in highly colored specimens deepening to orange-red, mottled and sparingly splashed or striped with carmine. Dots numerous, whitish or russet, often areolar. Prevailing effect dull orange-yellow partly covered with thin dull red; not particularly attractive.

Calyx tube rather large, long, conical or sometimes approaching urn-shape. Stamens marginal.

Core axile, medium to small, closed; core lines clasping. Carpels broadly roundish, rather flat, slightly emarginate. Seeds few, often some are abortive, rather long, irregular, flat, obtuse or somewhat acute.

Flesh tinged with yellow, firm, nearly fine, crisp, rather tender, juicy, subacid, sprightly, good for dessert, excellent for cooking.

Season somewhat variable; often extending till May. Commercial limit usually March (20, 22).

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

Dutch Mignonne. — Origin, Holland; tree vigorous, upright, spreading, productive.

Fruit large, roundish oblate, slightly conical; surface rough, yellow, shaded with light and dark rich red, with bright red stripes and splashes; dots many, prominent, light russet; cavity deep, acute, regular, large, often russeted; stem medium to long, slender; basin large, abrupt, wide, slightly corrugated; calyx small, closed; segments short, erect convergent. Core small, clasping; cells obovate, axile; tube conical; stamens marginal; seeds few, angular, imperfect; flesh yellowish, coarse-grained, tender, firm, juicy, rich mild subacid, very good. December to March.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

Dutch Mignonne is a medium-sized apple of roundish oblate form, with striped or splashed red skin. Quality is good; primary use is market. Season of ripening is winter. It was reported by 5 stations in the Northern Division, 2 stations in the Central Division, and 1 station in the Southern Division, with the asterisk indicating cross-division reporting in all three divisions.

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

DUTCH MIGNONNE. Ronalds, p. 26. F., Reinette de Caux; G., Grosser Casseler Reinette. (Copmansthorp Crab, Pomme de Laak, Stettin Pippin, Paternoster, etc.) Culinary or dessert, till March, medium, 3½ by 3, flattened, round, fairly regular. Colour, pale yellow, with bold red stripes and flush. Flesh, firm, yellow, moderate flavour. Eye, closed, in a moderate basin. Stem, rather long, in a narrow russet cavity. Growth, vigorous; very fertile. Leaf, rather pale, slightly up-folded, boldly curved serrate. Origin, probably German. Brought into England about 1780. A most useful, fertile fruit. Considered by many to be worthy of dessert use late in the season. Grosser Casseler Reinette is the original name.

Dymond's Sugar Loaf: see Sugar Loaf Pippin.

Early Crofton: see Irish Peach.

Early Julien: see Early Julyan.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

DUTCH MIGNONNE. This once valued general-purpose apple has served its day and is passing from cultivation, disappearing chiefly because the apples are unattractive and not quite good enough in quality. The trees are vigorous and in alternate years productive. The history of this old-time worthy goes back to 1771—it was probably grown long before that date—when it was imported from Holland to England; thence to America about 1800. Tree vigorous, wide-spreading, dense; branches short, stout, curved. Leaves broad. Fruit large, uniform in size, round-oblate, sometimes conic, often elliptical and broadly ribbed; stem often characteristically long and slender and obliquely inserted; cavity acute, deep, broad, often with outspreading russet rays and faint lines and flecks of dull gray scarf-skin, furrowed or sometimes compressed, occasionally lipped; calyx small, closed or open; basin shallow, wide, often furrowed and wrinkled; skin yellow with thin orange blush, in highly-colored specimens deepening to orange-red, mottled and sparingly splashed or striped with carmine; dots numerous, white or russet, often areolar; prevailing effect dull orange-yellow; calyx-tube large, long, conical; stamens marginal; core axile, small, closed; core-lines clasping; carpels broadly roundish, flat, emarginate; seeds few, often long, irregular, flat, obtuse or acute; flesh yellow, firm, fine, crisp, tender, juicy, subacid, sprightly, good for dessert; excellent for cooking; often extending to May.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

Planted Spring 1894. Tree a moderate grower. Fruit of medium size, slightly conical. Skin rough, yellow, striped with two shades of red. Flesh tender, juicy, mildly acid. Season January and February.

Planted Spring 1895. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit above medium size, roundish. Skin yellow, with splashes of red. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, pleasant. Season December to January.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

a medium-sized handsome variety which we can highly recommend, its shoots are thickly set with fruit spurs and it bears abundantly, especially on the paradise stock ... Dec. to April

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)
Caux Christ's Golden Reinette Copmanhorpe Crab Copmansthorp Crab Copmanthorpe Crab Darling Duitsch Mignonne Dutch Mignome Dutch Minion Favorite Grosse Casseler Reinette Grosse oder Doppelte Casseler Reinette Grosser Casselar Reinette Grosser Casseler Reinette Paternoster Paternoster Apfel Paternoster Apple Pomme de Laak Reinette Doree Reinette Dorée Reinette d'Or Reinette de Caux Settin Pippin Stettin Pippin Stor Casseler Reinet Stor Kasselrenett Dyer English Pippin English Reinette Fall Pippin Favorite Fenouillet Jaune Golden Pippin Golden Reinette Golding Haute Bonte King of the Pippins Konig's Reinette London Pippin Longfield Marigold Newtown Pippin Nonpareil Nonpareil Northampton Ohio Nonpareil Orange Pippin ORLEAN'S REINETTE Ortley Perle d'Angleterre Pippin Pleasant Valley Pippin Princesse Noble Reinette Reinette Dorb Reinette Grain d'Or Reinette Triomphante Winter Gray Reinette Yellow Newtown Pippin