Green Newtown Pippin
Apple
Green Newtown Pippin
Origin / History
A native of Newtown, Long Island (Downing). Coxe describes it as a variety of the preceding kind — that is, a distinct strain related to but separate from the Yellow Newtown Pippin — noting that while he could never perceive a difference in the trees, there is certainly a perceptible difference in the fruit. Downing likewise affirms that this variety is entirely distinct from the Yellow Newtown Pippin. By 1817, Coxe had eaten the fruit in high perfection from trees grown in the Patowmack counties of Virginia, and from trees growing in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Downing records that it commands the highest price in Covent Garden Market, London, and stands at the head of all apples.
Tree
Coxe observed no difference in the tree from the preceding kind (Yellow Newtown Pippin). Downing describes a tree of rather slender and slow growth, which even while young is always remarkable for its rough bark. The variety requires a pretty strong, deep, warm soil to attain its full perfection, and in the orchard it should be well manured every two or three years.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium size, about three inches in diameter and two and a half inches deep (Downing). Downing describes the shape as roundish, a little irregular in its outline, caused by two or three obscure ribs on the sides, and broadest at the base, next the stalk. Coxe, by contrast, describes the Green Pippin as rather more oblong in form than the Yellow Newtown Pippin — a point of difference between the two sources.
Stem: Half an inch long, rather slender, deeply sunk in a wide, funnel-shaped cavity (Downing).
Cavity: Wide and funnel-shaped (Downing).
Calyx: Quite small and closed (Downing).
Basin: Narrow and shallow (Downing).
Skin: Color dull green, becoming olive green when ripe, with a faint, dull brownish blush on one side; dotted with small gray specks, and with delicate russet rays around the stalk (Downing). Coxe describes the skin as green and smoother (than the Yellow Newtown Pippin).
Flesh / Flavor: Greenish white, very juicy, crisp, with a fine aroma, and an exceedingly high and delicious flavor (Downing). Coxe describes the flesh as whiter, crisper, and more juicy (than the Yellow Newtown Pippin). Downing rates the variety Best. When the fruit is not grown on healthy trees, it is liable to be spotted with black spots (Downing).
Core / Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
In eating from December to May, but in the finest perfection in March (Downing).
Uses
Acknowledged to be unrivalled in all the qualities which constitute a high-flavored dessert apple (Downing). Combines high flavor with the quality of long keeping without the least shrivelling, retaining its high flavor to the last (Downing). When produced from trees advantageously situated and well cultivated, Coxe considers them everywhere the finest apple in our orchards, and very far superior to all other kinds for exportation. In productiveness they are surpassed by no apple of any season; they are the fairest and freest from rot of any highly flavored apple (Coxe). Commands the highest price in Covent Garden Market, London (Downing).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 11 catalogs (1845–1897) from California, Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- Joseph Breck & Co. , Boston , Massachusetts — 1855
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
View original book sources (2)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 73. GREEN NEWTON PIPPIN.
This is a variety of the preceding kind; although I could never perceive a difference in the trees, there is certainly a perceptible one in the fruit. The Green Pippin is rather more oblong in form, the skin is green, and smoother, the flesh whiter, crisper, and more juicy. I have eaten them in high perfection, raised in some of the Patowmack counties of Virginia, and from trees growing in New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania; when produced from trees advantageously situated, and well cultivated, they are every where the finest apple in our orchards, very far superior to all other kinds for exportation: in productiveness, they are surpassed by no apple of any season; they are the fairest and freest from rot of any highly flavoured apple we have.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Green Newtown Pippin. Hunt's Fine Green Pippin. Newtown Pippin. American Newtown Pippin. Brooke's Pippin ? Green Winter Pippin. Petersburgh Pippin. Hunt's Green Newtown Pippin ?
The Newtown Pippin stands at the head of all Apples, and is, when in perfection, acknowledged to be unrivalled in all the qualities which constitute a high-flavored dessert apple, to which it combines the quality of long keeping without the least shrivelling, retaining its high flavor to the last. It commands the highest price in Covent Garden Market, London. This variety is a native of Newtown, Long Island, and it requires a pretty strong, deep, warm soil to attain its full perfection, and in the orchard it should be well manured every two or three years. The tree is of rather slender and slow growth, and even while young is always remarkable for its rough bark.
Fruit of medium size, roundish, a little irregular in its outline, caused by two or three obscure ribs on the sides — and broadest at the base, next the stalk ; about three inches in diameter, and two and a half deep. Color dull green, becoming olive green when ripe, with a faint, dull brownish blush on one side, dotted with small gray specks, and with delicate russet rays around the stalk. Calyx quite small and closed, set in a narrow and shallow basin. Stalk half an inch long, rather slender, deeply sunk in a wide, funnel-shaped cavity. Flesh greenish white, very juicy, crisp, with a fine aroma, and an exceedingly high and delicious flavor. Best. When the fruit is not grown on healthy trees, it is liable to be spotted with black spots. This is one of the finest keeping apples, and is in eating from December to May, but is in the finest perfection in March.
This is entirely distinct from Yellow Newtown Pippin.