Golden Reinette
Apple
Golden Reinette
Origin / History
An old variety, known in England for several hundred years and widely grown on the Continent, where it has gathered over fifty synonyms (Bunyard). Originally imported from England (Coxe); Elliott lists it as foreign. Downing calls it "a very popular dessert fruit in England and on the Continent, combining beauty and high flavor." Beach says it "has long been highly esteemed in England" but is little known in New York. His references begin with Forsyth (1803), and Coxe described it in 1817 under the name "Golden Rennet." Veitch calls it an old variety, and George Bunyard & Co. "a grand old sort." Beach notes that Russian varieties imported under the name Golden Reinette ripen in autumn; they are described under Subtypes / Variants.
Tree
Tree spreading. Coxe calls it large, handsome, and spreading. Beach found it rather slow growing and below medium in size. Bunyard calls it vigorous, as does the Agassiz station in British Columbia, where it was planted in spring 1895. Compact in growth (George Bunyard & Co.), forming a medium-sized pyramid (Veitch). Leaf medium, dark, nearly flat, curved serrate (Bunyard).
An abundant, productive, and fertile good bearer, bearing annually; the fruit hangs well to the tree (Beach). Veitch says it bears well as a standard, particularly in a light and warm soil; Bunyard says it does well on clay soils.
Fruit
Size: Small to medium. The older American authors call it small, or below medium in Downing; Bunyard and the catalogs call it medium. Beach adds "rather small" for a dessert apple. Bunyard gives it as 2½ by 2¼.
Form: Round to roundish, a little flattened, somewhat oblate, flattened round. Very regularly formed (Downing); regular; pretty uniform in size and shape (Beach).
Stem: Medium in length, moderately thick (Beach); long, yellowish (Bunyard).
Cavity: Regular, very even, deep.
Calyx: Large, wide open. Calyx tube funnel-shape; stamens marginal (Beach).
Basin: Broad, flat, shallow.
Skin: Smooth or usually smooth (Downing, Beach). Yellow, greenish yellow on the shaded side, golden yellow in the sun. Red on the exposed side runs from a little red to a reddish blush over most of the surface: washed and striped with fine soft red on the sunny side (Downing), a dull blush lightly streaked with brighter red (Beach), a bright red cheek (Bunyard), a reddish blush over most of the surface (Agassiz station). Coxe calls the skin covered with bright russet and rough to the touch, and Bunyard calls it russeted. Handsome.
Dots: Few, scattered, russet; minute, triangular russet spots (Beach).
Flesh and flavor: Yellow, crisp, juicy; very firm (Bunyard). Rich, brisk subacid, mild subacid in Elliott; highly flavored, of fine flavor, well flavored, "of very rich flavour" (George Bunyard & Co.).
Quality runs from "Good" (Downing; "quality good," Agassiz station) to "excellent" (Beach; "excellent quality," Veitch), with "a fine sort" from Rivers. Bunyard dissents: "A nice fruit, but hardly of first-class quality now."
Core and seeds: Core axile; carpels obovate (Beach).
Season
The recorded season runs from October into March. Four sources give October to January or midwinter. Coxe has it ripen about the first of November for late cider, and the Agassiz station gives November and December. The later English sources run later, to December to February or November to March.
Uses
Chiefly a dessert apple. Beach calls it "an excellent dessert apple but rather small." Coxe calls it an excellent fruit for late cider.
Subtypes / Variants
Beach records at least two Russian apples disseminated in America under the name Golden Reinette, distinct from the old English variety, and says the Russian varieties imported under this name ripen in autumn.
The first was described by Munson as a promising autumn apple for Northern Maine, in season from September to December. Its fruit is small, golden yellow, washed and splashed with carmine. What appears to be the same variety reached Beach's Station from Professor Budd, Ames, Iowa, in 1890. Beach found it decidedly inferior to the standard varieties of its season 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.
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 medium to below. Form oblate conic to strongly roundish conic, flattened at the base, ribbed, rather irregular; sides unequal. Stem short, thick. Cavity acuminate, medium in depth to rather deep, moderately broad, often compressed, usually not russeted. 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. Skin pale greenish yellow with faint splashes and stripes of red. Calyx tube large, wide, broadly conical. Stamens basal to median. 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. Flesh yellowish, crisp, juicy, mild subacid. Season September to December.
The second was disseminated by Professor Budd. In 1885 he sent it out under the name Golden Reinette (51 Vor.). He described its fruit as medium to large, golden in color, fine-grained, juicy, subacid, and almost best in quality. In 1890 he wrote: "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 he 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."
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 6 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 9 catalogs (1845–1917) from England, Illinois, Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Joseph Breck & Co. , Boston , Massachusetts — 1855
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (10)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 88. GOLDEN RENNET.
This apple was originally imported from England, it is an excellent fruit for late cider: the size is small, the colour yellow, the skin covered with bright russet, rough to the touch; the flesh is rich, yellow, and highly flavoured; it ripens about the first of November: the tree is large, handsome, and spreading, and an abundant bearer.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Golden Reinette. Aurore, | Kirke's Golden Reinette, Yellow German Reinette, | Wyker Pippin, &c., &c. Foreign. Small, roundish, greenish yellow, a little red ; flesh, yellow, crisp, mild sub-acid. October, January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Golden Reinette.
Reinette, Golden. Wyker Pippin. Aurore. Elizabet. Kirke's Golden Reinette. Wygers. Yellow German Reinette. Megginch Favorite. Reinette d'Aix. Dundee. English Pippin. Reinette Giden. Court pendu Dore. Princesse Noble, of the French.
The Golden Reinette is a very popular dessert fruit in England and on the Continent, combining beauty and high flavor.
Fruit below medium size, very regularly formed, roundish, a little flattened. Skin smooth, golden yellow, washed and striped with fine soft red on the sunny side, mingled with scattered russet dots. Flesh yellow, crisp, with a rich, brisk subacid. Good. October to January.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)GOLDEN REINETTE.
REFERENCES. 1. Forsyth, 1803:51. 2. Coxe, 1817:152. fig. 3. Thacher, 1822:125. 4. Floy-Lindley, 1833:37. 5. Pom. Mag., 2:69. 1841. col. pl. 6. Downing, 1845:129. 7. Thomas, 1849:167. 8. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:63. 1851. 9. Warder, 1867:720. 10. Leroy, 1873:591. fig. 11. Hogg, 1884:92.
SYNONYMS. English Pippin (4, 5, 6, 10, 11). GOLDEN REINETTE, of all English writers on Gardening. Hort. Soc. Fruit Cat. No. 905 (5). GOLDEN RENNET (1, 2, 3). Kirke's Golden Reinette (6, 11). PRINCESSE NOBLE (10). Yellow German Reinette (4, 5, 6, 10, 11).
An excellent dessert apple but rather small. In season from October to midwinter. It has long been highly esteemed in England (4, 5, 11) but is little known in New York. The Russian varieties which have been imported under the name Golden Reinette ripen in autumn. They will be considered in Volume II.
TREE.
Tree rather slow growing, below medium in size, spreading, bears annually and is productive. The fruit hangs well to the tree.
FRUIT.
Fruit small. Form roundish, somewhat oblate; pretty uniform in size and shape. Stem medium in length, moderately thick. Cavity regular, deep. Calyx large, open. Basin broad, shallow. Skin 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. Calyx tube funnel-shape. Stamens marginal. Core axile. Carpels obovate. Flesh yellow, juicy, crisp, brisk, rich, subacid, excellent (5, 6, 11).
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)GOLDEN REINETTE.
REFERENCES. 1. Budd, Ia. Agr. Coll. Bul., 1885:32, 35, 38. 2. Ib., 1890:25. 3. Ib., Ia. Sta. Bul., 19:538. 1892. 4. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 1896:74, 80. 5. Lyon, Mich. Sta. Bul., 152:221. 1898. 6. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:83. 1902. 7. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 56:124. 1905. SYNONYMS. No. 51 Vor. (1, 2). No. 10 (7). Solotoc renet (1). Zolotoi renet (7).
In addition to the old English variety known as Golden Reinette which has been described in Volume 1, page 142, there are at least two Russian apples that have been disseminated in this country under this name. 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 (4, 6). What appears to be the same variety was received by this Station from Professor Budd, Ames, Ia., 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.
TREE.
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.
Fruit medium to below. Form oblate conic to strongly roundish conic, flattened at the base, ribbed, rather irregular; sides unequal. Stem short, thick. Cavity acuminate, medium in depth to rather deep, moderately broad, often compressed, usually not russeted. 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. Skin pale greenish-yellow with faint splashes and stripes of red. Calyx tube large, wide, broadly conical. Stamens basal to median. 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. Flesh yellowish, crisp, juicy, mild subacid. Season September to December.
The other Russian apple, above referred to, 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 (1). 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" (2). 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" (3).
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)GOLDEN REINETTE. Her. Pom., 49. F., Reinette Dorée. (Grosser Borsdorfer, Reinette Gielen, Wyker Pippin.) Dessert, November to March, medium, 2½ by 2¼, flattened round, regular. Colour, golden-yellow, bright red cheek, russeted. Flesh, very firm, yellow, well flavoured. Eye, wide open, in a flat shallow basin. Stem, long, yellowish, in a very even cavity. Growth, vigorous; fertile. Leaf, medium, dark, nearly flat, curved serrate. Origin, an old variety, which has been known in England for several hundred years. It is widely grown on the Continent, and has over fifty synonyms. A nice fruit, but hardly of first-class quality now. It does well on clay soils.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1895. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit of medium size, round, flattened. Skin greenish yellow, with a reddish blush over most of the surface, and a few russet dots. Flesh yellow, crisp, brisk sub-acid, of fine flavour, quality good. Season November and December.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Medium, of very rich flavour, good bearer, and a grand old sort; handsome; compact grower.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size and handsome, it forms a medium-sized pyramid and bears well as a standard, particularly in a light and warm soil, an old variety of excellent quality and well flavoured ... Oct. to Jan.
— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)a fine sort; medium size; crisp and juicy - Dec.-Feb.