Geneva Pippin
Apple
Geneva Pippin
Origin / History
Geneva Pippin originated in the garden of Mrs. Crittenden (Downing; Beach) — also spelled Crittendon (Downing 1900) — in Geneva, where it was discovered "many years ago" (Beach, 1905). It is described as a variety of Northern origin (Elliott). Warder (1867) received the fruit from T. T. Lyon of Plymouth, Michigan, who reported it as having been received from Western New York; the same fruit was a strong competitor for the Greeley prize before the Committee of the American Institute, and Warder believed it to be the same variety described by Downing as the Winter Pippin of Geneva. Beach (1905) notes that by the early 20th century the variety was no longer listed by nurserymen and had evidently become obsolete (citing that it was not listed by Bailey in An. Hort., 1892:239). The variety was referenced by Downing (1857 and 1872, the latter with figure) and by Thomas (1885).
Tree
Thrifty, with spreading branches; said to be productive (Warder). Young wood reddish brown, slightly downy (Downing). The general appearance of the tree is strikingly like that of the Fall Pippin (Downing; Elliott; Thomas; Beach).
Fruit
Size and Form
Large; oblate (Warder; Elliott; Thomas) or roundish oblate (Downing). Regular, or slightly unequal (Warder); slightly angular (Elliott; Thomas).
Stem / Stalk
Stalk short and small (Downing; Thomas describes it as small), inserted in a narrow cavity. Warder, however, describes the stem as long.
Cavity
Narrow (Downing; Elliott; Thomas). Warder describes the cavity as regular, green, and rather deep.
Calyx and Basin
Calyx open (Downing; Elliott; Thomas), with long segments. Warder, by contrast, describes the eye as medium and closed. Basin open (Downing; Elliott; Thomas); Warder describes it as wide, wavy, or plaited.
Skin
Surface smooth (Warder); fine yellow (Downing; Elliott; Thomas), pale yellow (Warder). Cheek: rarely a bronzed cheek (Downing), bright crimson cheek (Warder), or crimson cheek (Elliott; Thomas). Dots gray, sparsely scattered (Downing; Elliott; Thomas); Warder describes dots as numerous and minute.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh yellow (Downing; Elliott; Thomas) or yellowish-white (Warder); tender (Downing; Elliott; Thomas); fine grained (Warder); juicy (Warder; Downing; Elliott); vinous (Downing; Elliott; Thomas); sub-acid (Warder). Quality rated "very good or best" (Downing), "excellent" (Elliott; Thomas). Warder declined to bestow such high praise, noting that his limited acquaintance with the fruit did not justify the high praises given by Downing.
Core and Seeds
Core medium, regular, closed, clasping the eye; seeds numerous and plump (Warder).
Season
A late keeper, continuing in perfection until May (Downing; Elliott; Beach). In season from January to May (Downing; Warder; Elliott; Thomas notes it ripens through winter; Beach). Elliott adds that it will not keep South later than January.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867) — listed as Winter Pippin
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Winter Pippin of Geneva
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Winter Pippin of Geneva
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Winter Pippin.
WINTER PIPPIN OF GENEVA.
This very handsome fruit was received from T. T. Lyon, of Plymouth, Michigan, marked as having been received from Western New York. The same fruit was a very strong competitor for the Greeley prize before the Committee of the American Institute, and is believed to be the same as that described by Downing as the Winter Pippin of Geneva.
Tree thrifty, branches spreading; Said to be productive. Fruit large, oblate, regular, or slightly unequal; Surface smooth, pale yellow, with a bright crimson cheek; Dots numerous, minute. Basin wide, wavy, or plaited; Eye medium, closed. Cavity regular, green, rather deep; Stem long. Core medium, regular, closed, clasping the eye; Seeds numerous, plump; Flesh yellowish-white, fine grained, juicy, sub-acid; Season January until May. A limited acquaintance does not justify me in giving such high praises as those bestowed upon this fruit by Mr. Downing.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Geneva Pippin.
Winter Pippin of Geneva.
An Apple bearing the above local name was found growing in the garden of Mrs. Crittendon, Geneva, and is deserving of notice. The appearance of the tree and fruit is strikingly like that of the Fall Pippin, but is a late keeper, continuing in perfection until May. Young wood reddish brown, slightly downy.
Geneva Pippin.
Fruit large, roundish oblate, fine yellow, with rarely a bronzed cheek, sparsely covered with gray dots. Stalk short and small, inserted in a narrow cavity. Calyx open. Segments long. Basin open. Flesh yellow, tender, juicy, vinous. Very good or best. January to May.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)GENEVA PIPPIN.
References. 1. Downing, 1857:111. 2. Ib., 1872:189. fig. 3. Thomas, 1885:250.
Synonym. Winter Pippin of Geneva (1, 3). Winter Pippin of Geneva (2).
Resembles Fall Pippin in tree and fruit but a much better keeper, being in season from January to May. Found growing in the garden of Mrs. Crittenden, Geneva, many years ago (1). Evidently it is no longer listed by nurserymen¹ and so far as we can discover has become obsolete.
¹Not listed by Bailey in An. Hort., 1892:239.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Winter Pippin of Geneva. The appearance of the tree and fruit is strikingly like that of the Fall Pippin, but is a very late keeper, continuing in perfection until May. Fruit, large, oblate, slightly angular; skin, fine yellow with a crimson cheek, sparsely covered with gray dots ; stalk, short and small, inserted in a narrow cavity ; calyx, open ; segments, long ; basin, open : flesh, yellow, tender, juicy, vinous, excellent. January to May. (Downing.) A variety of Northern origin; will not keep South later than January.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Winter Pippin of Geneva. Large, oblate, slightly angular; yellow, with crimson cheek sparsely covered with gray dots; stalk small, cavity narrow; calyx open, segments long; basin open; flesh yellow, tender, vinous, excellent. Ripens through winter. Tree and fruit resemble Fall Pippin. (C. Downing.)