Golden Reinette

Origin / History

Golden Reinette is an old English variety which has been known in England for several hundred years (Bunyard). It was originally imported into America from England (Coxe). It is widely grown on the Continent and has over fifty synonyms (Bunyard). The Golden Reinette is a very popular dessert fruit in England and on the Continent, combining beauty and high flavor (Downing). It has long been highly esteemed in England but is little known in New York (Beach Vol. 1).

In addition to the old English variety, there are at least two Russian apples that have been disseminated in the United States under the name Golden Reinette (Beach Vol. 2). One is a variety described by Munson as a promising autumn apple for Northern Maine, in season from September to December; fruit small, golden yellow washed and splashed with carmine. What appears to be the same variety was received by the New York Station from Professor Budd, Ames, Iowa, in 1890. It is decidedly inferior to the standard varieties of its season, which are in general cultivation throughout New York; possibly on account of superior hardiness it may have some value in the more northern or elevated regions of the state (Beach Vol. 2).

The other Russian apple was disseminated some years ago by Professor Budd. In 1885 he remarked that he was sending out, under the name Golden Reinette (51 Vor.), a variety having fruit medium to large, golden in color, fine-grained, juicy, subacid, almost best in quality. In 1890 he stated: "This has proven a fine tree on a great variety of soils where the air had free circulation. Its northern limit is not yet known, but I have not known its wood colored at Ames when the Wealthy by its side in nursery was nearly killed. Fruit medium to large, golden yellow, fine-grained, subacid, and nearly best in quality. Season here, December to February, depending on time of picking and mode of storage." In 1892 Budd further reported: "This has not proven true to name as received from the Bogdanoff estates in Russia. It is a member of the Anis family, of fine size and excellent quality. Season late fall, and early winter north" (Beach Vol. 2).

The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC planted the variety in Spring 1895 (Central Experimental Farm).

Tree

Sources agree the tree is vigorous and fertile (Bunyard; Central Experimental Farm). Coxe describes the tree as large, handsome, and spreading, and an abundant bearer. Beach Vol. 1 (for the old English variety) describes the tree as rather slow growing, below medium in size, spreading, bearing annually and productive; the fruit hangs well to the tree. Bunyard reports leaf medium, dark, nearly flat, curved serrate.

For the Russian apple described in Beach Vol. 2: tree moderately vigorous with short, moderately stout, curved branches. Form upright spreading or roundish, rather dense. Twigs long, curved, stout; internodes medium. Bark brown, mingled with reddish-brown, mottled with scarf-skin, slightly pubescent. Lenticels numerous, conspicuous, large, oblong, raised. Buds prominent, large, broad, long, plump, acute, free, slightly pubescent.

Fruit

Size

Sources generally agree the fruit is small to medium. Coxe: small. Elliott: small. Downing: below medium size. Beach Vol. 1: small. Bunyard: medium, 2½ by 2¼ inches. Central Experimental Farm: medium size. Thomas Rivers: medium size. Budd's Russian strain (51 Vor.) was reported as medium to large (Beach Vol. 2). The other Russian variety in Beach Vol. 2: medium to below.

Form

Roundish, a little flattened, very regularly formed (Downing). Roundish (Elliott). Flattened round, regular (Bunyard). Round, flattened (Central Experimental Farm). Roundish, somewhat oblate; pretty uniform in size and shape (Beach Vol. 1). For the Russian variety: oblate conic to strongly roundish conic, flattened at the base, ribbed, rather irregular; sides unequal (Beach Vol. 2).

Stem / Cavity

Stem medium in length, moderately thick (Beach Vol. 1). Stem long, yellowish, in a very even cavity (Bunyard). Cavity regular, deep (Beach Vol. 1). For the Russian variety: stem short, thick; cavity acuminate, medium in depth to rather deep, moderately broad, often compressed, usually not russeted (Beach Vol. 2).

Calyx / Basin

Calyx large, open (Beach Vol. 1). Eye wide open, in a flat shallow basin (Bunyard). Basin broad, shallow (Beach Vol. 1). Calyx tube funnel-shape; stamens marginal (Beach Vol. 1). For the Russian variety: calyx large, open or partly closed, leafy; lobes usually separated at base, long, acute to acuminate. Basin shallow to moderately deep, medium in width to narrow, usually abrupt, slightly furrowed and wrinkled. Calyx tube large, wide, broadly conical; stamens basal to median (Beach Vol. 2).

Skin

Sources describe the skin variably. Coxe: yellow, the skin covered with bright russet, rough to the touch. Elliott: greenish yellow, a little red. Downing: smooth, golden yellow, washed and striped with fine soft red on the sunny side, mingled with scattered russet dots. Bunyard: golden-yellow, bright red cheek, russeted. Central Experimental Farm: greenish yellow, with a reddish blush over most of the surface, and a few russet dots. Beach Vol. 1: usually smooth with a few minute, triangular, russet spots; greenish-yellow on the shaded side but golden-yellow in the sun, with a dull blush lightly streaked with brighter red. For the Russian variety in Beach Vol. 2: pale greenish-yellow with faint splashes and stripes of red.

Flesh / Flavor

Coxe: rich, yellow, and highly flavoured. Elliott: yellow, crisp, mild sub-acid. Downing: yellow, crisp, with a rich, brisk subacid. Good. Bunyard: very firm, yellow, well flavoured. Central Experimental Farm: yellow, crisp, brisk sub-acid, of fine flavour, quality good. Thomas Rivers: crisp and juicy. Beach Vol. 1: yellow, juicy, crisp, brisk, rich, subacid, excellent. For the Russian variety in Beach Vol. 2: yellowish, crisp, juicy, mild subacid. Budd's 51 Vor. Russian strain: fine-grained, juicy, subacid, almost best in quality (Beach Vol. 2).

Core / Seeds

Beach Vol. 1: core axile; carpels obovate. For the Russian variety in Beach Vol. 2: core medium size, often abaxile; cells usually unsymmetrical, closed or open; core lines clasping or nearly meeting. Carpels broadly roundish to elliptical. Seeds medium brown, medium to below, plump, rather obtuse.

Season

Sources give somewhat varied seasons. Coxe: ripens about the first of November. Elliott: October, January. Downing: October to January. Bunyard: November to March (dessert). Central Experimental Farm: November and December. Thomas Rivers: December–February. Beach Vol. 1: October to midwinter. For the Russian variety in Beach Vol. 2: September to December. Budd's 51 Vor. Russian strain: December to February at Ames, depending on time of picking and mode of storage; or "late fall, and early winter north" (Beach Vol. 2).

Uses

A popular dessert fruit in England and on the Continent, combining beauty and high flavor (Downing). An excellent dessert apple but rather small (Beach Vol. 1). Dessert (Bunyard). Coxe notes it is "an excellent fruit for late cider." Bunyard adds: "A nice fruit, but hardly of first-class quality now. It does well on clay soils."

Subtypes / Variants

At least two Russian apples have been disseminated in the United States under the name Golden Reinette, distinct from the old English variety (Beach Vol. 2):

1. A variety described by Munson as a promising autumn apple for Northern Maine; in season from September to December; fruit small, golden yellow washed and splashed with carmine. The same variety was received from Professor Budd at Ames, Iowa, in 1890, and was found decidedly inferior to standard varieties of its season in New York, though possibly of value in more northern or elevated regions for hardiness.

2. Budd's "51 Vor." (also referenced as Solotoc renet / Zolotoi renet, No. 10): disseminated by Professor Budd, with fruit medium to large, golden yellow, fine-grained, juicy, subacid, almost best in quality; very hardy at Ames (resisted cold that nearly killed Wealthy in nursery); season December–February depending on picking and storage. Budd later reported in 1892 that this had not proven true to name as received from the Bogdanoff estates in Russia, and was a member of the Anis family, of fine size and excellent quality, late fall and early winter in season.

Other

Not described in source.