French Reinette
Apple
French Reinette
Origin / History
An old French apple, described by various authors. Coxe (1817), under the name "Reinette Franche", calls it "the most admired winter apple in France." Downing (1900) says it is valued mainly as a long keeper.
Tree
Tree of handsome form, tall, large, of vigorous growth, and an abundant bearer (Coxe; Downing cites Coxe for handsome, vigorous, and abundant bearer).
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Long, roundish oblong conical, flat at the ends, truncated, lessening toward the crown.
Stem: Short and thick, planted deep.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, with some russet, and red in the sun. When fully ripe apt to shrivel.
Dots: Usually a number of cloudy, black, and russet spots on the skin.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh firm, yellowish white (Downing), rich and sprightly subacid.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Winter apple. Often kept sound till the second year (Coxe).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Reinette Franche
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1845–1913) from Illinois, Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845 — listed as Reinette Franche
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Reinette Franche
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as Reinette Franche
View original book sources (2)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 42. REINETTE FRANCHE.
This is the most admired winter apple in France; the size is large, the shape long, flat at the ends, and lessening towards the crown: the skin is yellow, and when fully ripe, is apt to shrivel—it has usually a number of cloudy, black, and russet spots on the skin—the stalk is short and thick, planted deep—the flesh firm, rich and sprightly—it is often kept sound till the second year—the tree is of a handsome form, tall, large, of vigorous growth, and an abundant bearer.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)French Reinette.
Reinette Franche. Reinette Blanche. Weisse Reinette. Reinette Blanche, dite Prime. Franz Rennette. Franzosische Edelreinette. Reinette de Normandy.
An old French Apple described by various authors, valued mainly as a long keeper. Coxe says the tree is handsome, of vigorous growth and an abundant bearer.
Fruit large, roundish oblong conical, truncated, yellow, with some russet, and red in sun. Flesh firm, yellowish white, rich and sprightly subacid.