Golden Pippin
Apple
Golden Pippin
Origin / History
The name "Golden Pippin" has been applied to several distinct varieties. The principal English Golden Pippin is a very old variety of English origin, probably dating from the early seventeenth century (Bunyard), mentioned by Evelyn in 1660 (Downing). It was intensely popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries but by 1920 was seldom grown (Bunyard). It long held the highest reputation in England as a fine winter, table, and cider fruit (Coxe), and was considered by English connoisseurs "the queen of all dessert Apples" for its combination of small size, fine form and color, high flavor, and durability (Downing). Floy observed that "the English Golden Pippin grows with delicate small shoots and is not calculated for an orchard; but if properly managed it makes a beautiful espalier tree and is an abundant bearer... The apple is not much known in this country; the kind called here Golden Pippin is a very different fruit." Coxe noted that in America it did not rank very high, which he ascribed partly to climate but more to "the long duration of the variety, which, in its native soil, is supposed to have diminished the excellence of its flavour and the vigour of its growth." English writers held that the climate of England was peculiarly favourable to this apple (Coxe). Beach confirms it does not succeed well in America. Many seedlings of this sort exist, of doubtful distinctness (Bunyard); there are many varieties of the English Golden Pippin differing but little in general appearance, size, and flavor from the old sort but of rather more thrifty growth — the best of these being Hughes' and Kirke's new Cluster Golden Pippins (Downing). None of these have gained favorable recognition in America (Beach).
A second, distinct variety also called Golden Pippin belongs in the Fall Pippin group; its origin is unknown, but it has long been in cultivation (Beach Vol. 2). In Central and Western New York it is often called York Pippin. It is grown to a considerable extent in New York state and in New England, and in some sections is regarded as one of the most desirable fall varieties for commercial planting; by 1905 it was found mostly in old orchards and its cultivation was not increasing.
A third Golden Pippin (also called Pittstown Pippin) is an old apple grown many years ago in Adams, Massachusetts, from whence it was brought to Pittstown and christened after that place (Downing). By 1905 it appeared to be no longer propagated in New York (Beach Vol. 2).
The Golden Pippin of Westchester County, also known as American Golden Pippin, is described under the accepted name Golding and is not detailed here (Beach Vol. 2). Beach notes that several other apples have also been known under the Golden Pippin name, many of which will doubtless prove identical with named sorts.
Tree
English Golden Pippin: The tree is small with short branches and a delicate growth (Coxe); it succeeds best on sandy soils (Coxe, citing Knight). Growth weak; fertility moderate (Bunyard). The shoots are delicate and small, and the tree is not calculated for orchard use, but is an abundant bearer when managed as an espalier (Floy, in Beach Vol. 1). It is a great bearer but requires a strong, deep, sandy loam (Downing). Only in warm years and on light soils does it reach first-class flavour (Bunyard). Leaf rather small, narrow, pale, slightly upfolded, finely and sharply serrate (Bunyard). One catalog source notes it as "a shy bearer" (Veitch).
Golden Pippin / York Pippin / Mammoth (Fall Pippin group): Tree very vigorous and very productive on deep rich soils; on light soils it is often a shy bearer with much smaller fruit (Downing). More spreading than that of Fall Pippin, and perhaps somewhat hardier; generally healthy, vigorous, quite long-lived, and when full grown becomes a pretty large tree (Beach Vol. 2). A reliable cropper, bearing good to heavy crops biennially or sometimes annually. There is apt to be considerable loss by premature dropping of the fruit, and unless proper preventive measures are taken the crop may be seriously injured by apple scab and codling moth, though with proper treatment these pests may be kept under good control (Beach Vol. 2).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Tree upright and vigorous, with large strong branches. Shoots dull brownish red, slightly downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size
English Golden Pippin: Very small (Coxe); small (Downing, Thomas, Beach Vol. 1); small, 2 by 1¾ inches (Bunyard).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin (York Pippin / Mammoth): Very large or large, pretty uniform in size and shape (Beach Vol. 2); considerably large — one of the largest of its class, specimens sometimes weighing 20 ounces (Downing).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Rather large (Downing).
One catalog source describes the fruit simply as "medium, very fine and delicate" (Rivers).
Form
English Golden Pippin: Form rather flat (Coxe); round and regularly formed (Downing); roundish (Thomas); oblong-round, regular (Bunyard).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Roundish to roundish oblate, sometimes slightly conic, often with a broad flat base and broadly ribbed toward the apex (Beach Vol. 2); roundish, ribbed (Downing).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Roundish oblate, sometimes conic, sides unequal (Downing).
Stem / Cavity
English Golden Pippin: Stem very short, in a small narrow cavity (Bunyard).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Stem long to medium, thick, sometimes swollen. Cavity acute to acuminate, medium in depth, broad, usually rather symmetrical, sometimes lipped, russeted and often with heavy, outspreading russet rays (Beach Vol. 2).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Not described in source.
Calyx / Basin
English Golden Pippin: Eye usually closed in a broad shallow slightly plaited basin (Bunyard).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Calyx rather large, closed. Basin deep, moderately wide to wide, abrupt, slightly furrowed, sometimes irregularly compressed (Beach Vol. 2).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Not described in source.
Skin
English Golden Pippin: Skin rough (Coxe); a deep rich yellow mixed with russet (Coxe); gold color, dotted with gray russety dots, with also obscure white specks imbedded under the skin (Downing); yellow (Thomas); white or yellowish with a shade of red towards the base (Beach Vol. 1); golden-yellow, with slight russet (Bunyard). A catalog source describes the skin as yellow, staining to the side facing the sun with crimson-red (Veitch).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Skin rather tender, green or yellowish changing to a deeper and rather attractive yellow when fully mature, sometimes with bronze blush and russet flecks (Beach Vol. 2); greenish yellow, becoming quite yellow at full maturity, slight blush of brown crimson in sun-exposed specimens (Downing). Dots small to rather large and conspicuous, greenish and submerged or with russet point (Beach Vol. 2).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Greenish yellow with a blush in sun exposure (Downing).
Flesh / Flavor
English Golden Pippin: Flesh yellow, rich, and sprightly (Coxe); flesh yellowish, crisp, rather acid, but with a rich, brisk, high flavor — "very good" (Downing); yellow, with a rich, sub-acid flavor (Thomas); flesh crisp, yellow, aromatic (Bunyard).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Flesh yellowish, coarse, rather tender, juicy, agreeable mild subacid, somewhat aromatic, good to very good (Beach Vol. 2); yellowish, coarse, juicy, tender, mild subacid — "good to very good" (Downing). The fruit is coarse-grained, with a very pleasant flavor (Beach Vol. 2).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, sprightly subacid — "good for cooking" (Downing).
Core / Seeds
English Golden Pippin: Not described in source.
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Calyx tube wide, conical. Stamens median to somewhat basal. Core rather small, somewhat abaxile; cells open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels roundish or approaching elliptical, sometimes obovate, heavily tufted. Seeds few, often not perfectly developed, medium size, irregular, rather dark brown, rather plump, acute (Beach Vol. 2).
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Core rather large (Downing).
Season
English Golden Pippin: Winter (Thomas); November to March (Downing, Beach Vol. 1, Bunyard); designated a "Dessert" apple for that period (Bunyard). A catalog source gives "Oct.–Dec." (Rivers).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: November, December (Downing); late September to December or January (Beach Vol. 2). In Western New York its season in ordinary storage extends from about September 20 to January 1; it holds its flavor and quality well for a late fall and early winter sort (Beach Vol. 2). Compared with Fall Pippin, the fruit is harder, keeps longer, and stands shipping better in hot weather.
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: September and October (Downing).
There is also another Golden Pippin sometimes known as Porter in Michigan, of medium size, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, mild subacid, ripe in September and October (Downing).
Uses
English Golden Pippin: Fine winter, table, and cider fruit (Coxe); long esteemed in England as a very valuable dessert and culinary apple (Beach Vol. 1, citing Downing, Leroy, Hogg); the queen of all dessert Apples in English estimation (Downing).
Fall Pippin–group Golden Pippin: Suitable for either dessert or culinary uses (Beach Vol. 2). It frequently brings better prices than Fall Pippin, and is sometimes exported. Regarded in some sections as one of the most desirable fall varieties for commercial planting.
Pittstown Pippin Golden Pippin: Good for cooking (Downing).
Subtypes / Variants
Several distinct varieties have been called Golden Pippin, including:
- The English (Old) Golden Pippin — the original small, late-keeping dessert apple.
- Golden Pippin / York Pippin / Butter Pippin / Large Golden Pippin / Mammoth / Pound Royal (of some) — a very large fall apple of the Fall Pippin group, grown in New England and Western New York.
- Golden Pippin / Pittstown Pippin — an old apple from Adams, Massachusetts, later associated with Pittstown.
- Golden Pippin (Porter, in Michigan) — a separate medium-sized fall apple sometimes known under this name.
- Golden Pippin of Westchester County / American Golden Pippin — the variety now accepted as Golding.
Among the English Golden Pippin's own seedlings and named subtypes, Downing names Hughes' and Kirke's new Cluster Golden Pippins as the best, noting they are of rather more thrifty growth but differ very little in appearance, size, or flavor from the old sort. Bunyard notes that many seedlings of this sort exist, of doubtful distinctness.
Other
Beach (Vol. 1) summarizes the English Golden Pippin as "a rather small, smooth, white or yellowish apple with a shade of red towards the base." Beach (Vol. 2) notes that the Golden Pippins of New York and New England are fall apples, distinct from the English winter variety.
Book Sources
Described in 6 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 1 (1905)
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as English Golden Pippin
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
(Hansen says this originated in Minnesota.
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1897–1911) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (8)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 64. GOLDEN PIPPIN.
This apple possesses the highest reputation in England, as a fine winter, table, and cider fruit: the size is very small, the form rather flat, the skin rough, the colour a deep rich yellow, mixed with russet—the flesh yellow, rich, and sprightly: the tree is small, the branches short, the growth delicate; and by Mr. Knight in his treatise on orchards, is said to succeed best on sandy soils. There appears to be some justness in a remark of English writers, that the climate of England is peculiarly favourable to this apple—in this country it does not rank very high in the scale of good apples; this may proceed from climate in some degree, but it is, I apprehend, more to be ascribed to the long duration of the variety, which, in its native soil, is supposed to have diminished the excellence of its flavour and the vigour of its growth.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Golden Pippin. Golden Pippin. London Golden Pippin. Old Golden Pippin. Warter's Golden Pippin. Balgone Pippin. Bayfordbury Golden Pippin. Milton Golden Pippin. Pepin d'Or. Russet Golden Pippin. Pomme d'Or. Herefordshire Golden Pippin. Koening's Pippelin. Reinette d'Angleterre.
The Golden Pippin of the English is the queen of all dessert Apples, in the estimation of the English connoisseurs, as it unites the qualities of small size, fine form, and color, with high flavor and durability. It is a very old variety, being mentioned by Evelyn in 1660, but it still thrives well in many parts of England.
Fruit small, round, and regularly formed, gold color, dotted with gray russety dots, with also obscure white specks imbedded under the skin. Flesh yellowish, crisp, rather acid, but with a rich, brisk, high flavor. Very good. A great bearer, but requires a strong, deep, sandy loam. November to March. Does not succeed well here.
There are many varieties of the English Golden Pippin, differing but little in general appearance and size, and very little in flavor, from the old sort, but of rather more thrifty growth; the best of these are Hughes', and Kirke's new Cluster Golden Pippins.
Golden Pippin. Pittstown Pippin.
This is an old Apple, grown many years ago in Adams, Mass., from whence it was brought to Pittstown, and has been recently christened after that place. The tree is an upright vigorous grower, with large strong branches. Shoots dull brownish red, slightly downy.
Fruit rather large, roundish oblate, sometimes conic, and sides unequal, greenish yellow with a blush in sun exposure. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, sprightly subacid. Core rather large. Good for cooking. September and October.
Golden Pippin. Pound Royal of some. York Pippin. Butter Pippin. Large Golden Pippin. Mammoth.
This Apple is considerably grown in the New England States and Western New York, and is one of the largest of its class, specimens sometimes weighing 20 ounces. Tree very vigorous and very productive on deep rich soils; on light soils it is often a shy bearer, the fruit much smaller.
Fruit very large, roundish, ribbed, greenish yellow, becoming quite yellow at full maturity, slight blush of brown crimson in sun-exposed specimens. Flesh yellowish, coarse, juicy, tender, mild subacid. Core small. Good to very good. November, December.
There is another Golden Pippin sometimes known as Porter in Michigan, which is of medium size, roundish oblate, greenish yellow, mild subacid. Ripe in September and October.
There are also several other Apples under this popular name, many of which doubtless will be found identical with named sorts.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)English Golden Pippin. Small, roundish, yellow; flesh yellow, with a rich, sub-acid flavor. Winter. English.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)GOLDEN PIPPIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Forsyth, 1803:52. 2. Coxe, 1817:138. fig. 3. Thacher, 1822:125. 4. N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:477. 5. Floy-Lindley, 1833:12. 6. Mag. Hort., 1:265. 1835. 7. Downing, 1845:112. fig. 8. Thomas, 1849:181, 189. fig. 9. Cole, 1849:128. 10. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:82. 1851. 11. Hooper, 1857:41. 12. Elliott, 1858:171. 13. Warder, 1867:720. 14. Leroy, 1873:510. 15. Hogg, 1884:91. 16. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:240.
SYNONYMS. D'OR D'ANGLETERRE (14). ENGLISH GOLDEN PIPPIN (8). English Golden Pippin (7, 12, 14). Old Golden Pippin (7, 12, 14). Pepin d'Or (5, 7).
A rather small, smooth, white or yellowish apple with a shade of red towards the base. In season from November to March. In England it has long been esteemed as a very valuable dessert and culinary apple (7, 14, 15). It does not succeed well here (7). There are many varieties of the English Golden Pippin, the fruit of which differs but little from that of the old variety but the trees are more vigorous (7). None of these appear to have gained favorable recognition in this country. Floy says, "The English Golden Pippin grows with delicate small shoots and is not calculated for an orchard; but if properly managed it makes a beautiful espalier tree and is an abundant bearer. * * * The apple is not much known in this country; the kind called here Golden Pippin is a very different fruit" (5). The Golden Pippins of New York and New England are fall apples. For an account of them the reader is referred to the succeeding volume.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)THE GOLDEN PIPPINS.
The name Golden Pippin has been applied to several distinct varieties, the most important of which are mentioned below.
The Golden Pippin of England is a small, yellowish apple with shade of red, which is in season from November to March. This has already been described in Volume I, page 141.
The Golden Pippin of Westchester County, also known under the name of American Golden Pippin and by various other synonyms, is described as Golding, page 82, which is the name now accepted for this variety by pomologists. In addition to the varieties described below under the name Golden Pippin there are several other sorts which have been known under this name,
(I) GOLDEN PIPPIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1869:195. 2. Thomas, 1875:500. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:240. 4. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:123. 1905. 5. Ib., 56:347. 1905. SYNONYMS. Butter Pippin (1). Golden Pippin (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Large Golden Pippin (1). Mammoth (1, 2). Pound Royal (2, of some 1). York Pippin (1, 5).
This variety belongs in the Fall Pippin group of apples. In Central and Western New York it is often called York Pippin. The fruit is large, coarse-grained, with a very pleasant flavor, and is suitable for either dessert or culinary uses. As compared with Fall Pippin the fruit is harder, keeps longer and stands shipping better in hot weather. In Western New York its season in ordinary storage extends from about September 20 to January 1. It holds its flavor and quality well for a late fall and early winter sort. It frequently brings better prices than Fall Pippin, and we are informed it is sometimes exported. The tree is more spreading than that of Fall Pippin, and is perhaps somewhat hardier. It is generally healthy, vigorous, quite long-lived, and when full grown becomes a pretty large tree. It is a reliable cropper, bearing good to heavy crops biennially or sometimes annually. There is apt to be considerable loss by premature dropping of the fruit, and unless proper preventive measures are taken the crop may be seriously injured by apple scab and codling moth, but with proper treatment these pests may be kept under good control. Golden Pippin is grown to a considerable extent in various parts of New York state and in New England. In some sections it is regarded as one of the most desirable of the fall varieties for commercial planting.
Historical. The origin of this variety is unknown. It has long been in cultivation. In New York it is now found mostly in old orchards and, generally speaking, its cultivation is not increasing.
FRUIT.
Fruit very large or large, pretty uniform in size and shape. Form roundish to roundish oblate, sometimes slightly conic, often with a broad flat base and broadly ribbed toward the apex. Stem long to medium, thick, sometimes swollen. Cavity acute to acuminate, medium in depth, broad, usually rather symmetrical, sometimes lipped, russeted and often with heavy, outspreading russet rays. Calyx rather large, closed. Basin deep, moderately wide to wide, abrupt, slightly furrowed, sometimes irregularly compressed. Skin rather tender, green or yellowish changing to a deeper and rather attractive yellow when fully mature, sometimes with bronze blush and russet flecks. Dots small to rather large and conspicuous, greenish and submerged or with russet point. Calyx tube wide, conical. Stamens median to somewhat basal. Core rather small, somewhat abaxile; cells open; core lines meeting or slightly clasping. Carpels roundish or approaching elliptical, sometimes obovate, heavily tufted. Seeds few, often not perfectly developed, medium size, irregular, rather dark brown, rather plump, acute. Flesh yellowish, coarse, rather tender, juicy, agreeable mild subacid, somewhat aromatic, good to very good. Season late September to December or January.
(II) GOLDEN PIPPIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1869:194. 2. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:240. SYNONYMS. Golden Pippin (1, 2). Pittstown Pippin (1).
Downing states that this is an old apple grown many years ago in Adams, Mass. Tree upright and vigorous; fruit rather large, roundish oblate, sometimes conic, greenish-yellow with blush; flesh yellowish, sprightly subacid, good for cooking; season September and October (1). It appears that this variety is no longer propagated in New York.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)GOLDEN PIPPIN. Ronalds, p. 18. F., Pépin d'Or; G., Englischer Gold Pepping. (American Plate, Balgone Pippin, Bayfordbury Pippin.) Dessert, November to March, small, 2 by 1¾, oblong-round, regular. Colour, golden-yellow, with slight russet. Flesh, crisp, yellow, aromatic. Eye, usually closed in a broad shallow slightly plaited basin. Stem, very short, in a small narrow cavity. Growth, weak; fertility, moderate. Leaf, rather small, narrow, pale, slightly upfolded, finely and sharply serrate. Origin, English, probably dating from the early seventeenth century. Intensely popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but now seldom grown. There are many seedlings of this sort of doubtful distinctness. Only in warm years and on light soils does it reach first-class flavour.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)an tree old variety, the skin is yellow, staining to the side facing the sun with crimson-red. A shy bearer.
— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)medium, very fine and delicate apple of fine - Oct.-Dec.