FLANDERS PIPPIN

Apple

Flanders Pippin

Origin/History

The two sources conflict on origin. Downing (citing Hogg) gives Berkshire, England as the place of origin. Bunyard considers the origin unrecorded and regards the variety as probably continental, noting it is often confused with Mère de Ménage, from which it is quite distinct.

Tree

Growth moderate; fertile. Leaf rather large, roundish, pea green, nearly flat, sharply serrate. (Bunyard.)

Fruit

Size and Form: The sources differ on size. Downing describes the fruit as medium; Bunyard as moderately large, measuring 3¾ inches wide by 2¾ inches deep. Form flat conical and uneven (Bunyard), oblate and ribbed (Downing) — both consistent with the heavily ribbed, flattened profile.

Stem: Medium length, set in a rather deep russet cavity. (Bunyard.)

Cavity: Rather deep, russet. (Bunyard.)

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Much ribbed; eye closed within it. (Bunyard.)

Skin: Greenish-yellow ground, with a brick-red flush and broad crimson stripes (Bunyard); dull red in the sun (Downing).

Flesh/Flavor: The sources conflict on flesh color and texture. Downing describes the flesh as white and tender; Bunyard as firm and greenish-yellow. Both describe it as juicy. Flavor brisk subacid (Downing); acid with a balsamic flavour (Bunyard).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

October–November (Downing); November to January (Bunyard).

Uses

Culinary (cooking). Both sources agree.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 2 catalogs (1900) from England

George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as Flanders' Pippin
Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as Flanders' Pippin

View original book sources (2)

Flanders Pippin. From Berkshire, England. Fruit medium, oblate, ribbed, greenish yellow, dull red in the sun. Flesh white, tender, juicy, brisk subacid. Cooking. October, November. (Hogg.)

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

FLANDERS PIPPIN. Culinary, November to January, moderately large, 3¾ by 2¾, flat conical, uneven. Colour, greenish-yellow with brick-red flush and broad crimson stripes. Flesh, firm, greenish-yellow, juicy and acid with balsamic flavour. Eye, closed in a much ribbed basin. Stem, medium, in a rather deep russet cavity. Growth, moderate; fertile. Leaf, rather large, roundish, pea green, nearly flat, sharply serrate. Origin, unrecorded. Probably continental. Often confused with Mère de Menage from which it is quite distinct.

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

Ménagère