Franklin's Golden Pippin

Origin / History

Sources give conflicting accounts of this variety's origin and identity.

Elliott (1865) identifies it simply as American.

Downing (1900) quotes Dr. Hogg: "This is an American Apple, and was introduced into England by John Sudlow." Downing also notes a separate apple received from Illinois under the name "Franklin Golden Pippin," which he considers quite distinct from the above. That second apple was introduced West from Pennsylvania under the name of Golden Pippin, but in its new locality had the prefix of "Franklin" attached, by whom Downing did not know. He observes that there are so many Golden Pippins that it is difficult to decide which shall be entitled to priority of name.

Bunyard (1920) treats it as an English variety and cites Ronalds, p. 18. He records a note found in his copy of Brookshaw's Pomona Britannica: "It was not Dr. Franklin, who introduced this apple but Mr. Franklyn, a florist, whose son and grandson, attended to Mr. Percival's tulips for many years. The grandson now lives at Highbury (1853)." Bunyard reports the variety was, by 1920, almost out of cultivation.

Tree

Upright, vigorous, an early annual bearer (Elliott). Grows freely and forms an upright head (Downing, of the first apple). Growth strong; fertile (Bunyard). Leaf roundish oval, slightly upfolded, sharply serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size: Medium (Elliott, Downing, Thomas). Bunyard describes it as small, 2½ by 2 inches.

Form: Roundish ovate conical (Elliott); roundish, slightly conic, very regular in shape, rather broadest at the base (Downing, first apple); roundish conical, slightly ribbed (Downing, second/Illinois apple); oval, regular (Thomas); round, flattened (Bunyard).

Stem: Slender, with a deep cavity (Elliott). Stalk short, slender, with deep cavity (Downing, second apple). Stem short, in a small round cavity (Bunyard).

Cavity: Deep (Elliott; Downing, second apple). Small and round (Bunyard).

Calyx / Eye: Small, closed (Elliott). Firmly closed (Downing, second apple). Eye open, in a wide shallow basin (Bunyard).

Basin: Narrow, slightly plaited (Elliott). Corrugated (Downing, second apple). Wide, shallow (Bunyard).

Skin: Pale light greenish yellow, interlined with fine whitish net-work, with few russet dots (Elliott). Deep yellow, freckled with numerous dark spots (Downing, first apple). Pale lemon yellow, moderately sprinkled with light and gray dots (Downing, second apple). Deep yellow (Thomas). Golden-yellow (Bunyard).

Flesh / Flavor: Crisp, juicy; "very good" (Elliott). Pale yellow, crisp, juicy, rich subacid; good to very good (Downing, first apple). Yellowish, tender, moderately juicy, mild subacid; very good (Downing, second apple). Rich, aromatic (Thomas). Crisp, yellow, slightly acid (Bunyard).

Core / Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

October (Elliott; Downing, first apple). November, December (Downing, second apple). Autumn (Thomas). Dessert, October to December (Bunyard).

Uses

Dessert (Bunyard). Not otherwise specified in the other sources.

Subtypes / Variants

Downing (1900) describes two distinct apples circulating under this name: the American apple introduced into England by John Sudlow (October ripening, deep yellow with dark spots, rich subacid), and a separate apple received from Illinois — introduced there from Pennsylvania as "Golden Pippin" and later prefixed with "Franklin" — which ripens November to December, is pale lemon yellow with light and gray dots, slightly ribbed, with a firmly closed calyx, corrugated basin, yellowish tender flesh, and mild subacid flavor. Downing considered these "quite distinct."

Other

Bunyard notes the variety was almost out of cultivation by 1920.