Elgin Pippin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
ELGIN PIPPIN
Origin and History
Origin: Alabama. Downing questioned whether it is identical with the White Spanish Reinette, but it appears to be distinct from that variety. The variety belongs to the Fall Pippin class, though it does not closely resemble that variety. A different variety bearing the same name Elgin Pippin was described by Warder, which has not been seen by the present authors.
Tree
Tree vigorous and upright with long, moderately stout branches. Form very much spreading and somewhat drooping, rather dense. Twigs medium in size, curved, stout, with long internodes. Bark brown, tinged with olive-green, mottled with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels scattering, large, oblong, raised. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
Fruit
Size and Form: Fruit above medium to large, averaging nearly large. Form oblate to roundish conic, distinctly ribbed, irregular; sides often unequal, sometimes elliptical, not uniform.
Stem: Medium to very long, slender.
Cavity: Acute to acuminate, medium in depth to deep, rather broad to narrow, usually with outspreading russet rays, sometimes decidedly compressed, sometimes lipped.
Calyx: Medium to large, closed; lobes often leafy, long, acuminate.
Basin: Sometimes oblique, shallow to moderately deep, moderately wide to rather narrow, obtuse to rather abrupt, often prominently and irregularly ribbed.
Skin: Thin, moderately tender, greenish yellow becoming deep yellow, sometimes with a faint bronze blush in the sun. Dots scattering, russet, or submerged and whitish.
Calyx Tube: Rather large, moderately wide, conical or approaching funnelform. Stamens median to basal.
Core: Abaxile, medium to large; cells unsymmetrical, usually wide open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels irregular, often somewhat ovate, much concave, tufted.
Seeds: Often abortive, dark, rather large, long, flat, acute to acuminate.
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine, crisp, tender, juicy, subacid, good.
Season and Storage
September to December. Commercial limit: October.
Uses and Merit
The fruit is of good size and attractive appearance for a yellow apple. Although it has much merit it does not excel other varieties of its season and is not recommended for planting in New York. The tree is a strong grower and productive.
References
- Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:238.
- Clayton, Ala. Sta. Bul., 47:6. 1893.
- Thomas, 1897:634.
- Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:118. 1904.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)ELGIN PIPPIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:238. 2. Clayton, Ala. Sta. Bul., 47:6. 1893. 3. Thomas, 1897:634. 4. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:118. 1904. SYNONYMS. None.
Fruit of good size and attractive appearance for a yellow apple. It evidently belongs to the Fall Pippin class but it does not closely resemble that variety and is not superior to it. Although it has much merit it does not excel other varieties of its season and is not recommended for planting in New York. The tree is a strong grower and productive.
Historical. Origin Alabama (2, 3). Downing questions whether it is identical with the White Spanish Reinette but it appears to be distinct from that variety.¹ Warder describes another variety under the name Elgin Pippin which we have not seen.²
TREE.
Tree vigorous, upright; branches long, moderately stout. Form very much spreading and somewhat drooping, rather dense. Twigs medium in size, curved, stout; internodes long. Bark brown, tinged with olive-green, mottled with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels scattering, large, oblong, raised. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit above medium to large, averages nearly large. Form oblate to roundish conic, distinctly ribbed, irregular; sides often unequal, sometimes elliptical, not uniform. Stem medium to very long, slender. Cavity acute to acuminate, medium in depth to deep, rather broad to narrow, usually with outspreading russet rays, sometimes decidedly compressed, sometimes lipped. Calyx medium to large, closed; lobes often leafy, long, acuminate. Basin sometimes oblique, shallow to moderately deep, moderately wide to rather narrow, obtuse to rather abrupt, often prominently and irregularly ribbed.
Skin thin, moderately tender, greenish yellow becoming deep yellow, sometimes with a faint bronze blush in the sun. Dots scattering, russet, or submerged and whitish.
Calyx tube rather large, moderately wide, conical or approaching funnelform. Stamens median to basal.
Core abaxile, medium to large; cells unsymmetrical, usually wide open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels irregular, often somewhat ovate, much concave, tufted. Seeds often abortive, dark, rather large, long, flat, acute to acuminate.
Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, firm, moderately fine, crisp, tender, juicy, subacid, good.
Season September to December. Commercial limit, October.
¹ Downing, 1869:404. ² Warder, 1867:517.