Holland Winter
Apple
HOLLAND WINTER
Origin and History
The variety here described as Holland Winter was received for testing at the New York State Station from Western Pennsylvania under the name of Holland Pippin. United States Pomologist Heiges identified it as the Holland Pippin of Hogg, Langley, and Miller, and stated that it is the variety generally grown in Pennsylvania under the name of Holland Pippin. However, the New York State Station was unable to confirm this identification with certainty.
This variety is distinct from the Holland Pippin described by Downing and commonly grown in the Hudson Valley and other portions of New York State under the name of Holland Pippin. The Downing's Holland Pippin begins to ripen somewhat earlier than the Fall Pippin, while the variety here described keeps until spring. To distinguish between these two varieties both known in cultivation under the name of Holland Pippin, the late-keeping variety is called Holland Winter.
If this is in fact the Holland Pippin of Langley and Miller, it is an old variety native to the Holland district of Lincolnshire, hence its name.
Tree
Tree vigorous with long, moderately stout branches. Form spreading or roundish, rather open. Twigs moderately long, straight, stout, with short to medium internodes. Bark clear reddish-brown with some olive-green, streaked lightly with scarf-skin, heavily pubescent near the tips. Lenticels numerous, small, roundish, sometimes raised, rather conspicuous. Buds large to above medium, broad, obtuse, free near the old wood but quite appressed near the tips; heavily pubescent.
Tree is a strong grower, healthy, and productive, usually an annual bearer alternating heavy with rather light crops.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to large. Form roundish conic, symmetrical, regular or sometimes faintly ribbed.
Stem: Medium or short and rather thick.
Cavity: Acute or approaching acuminate, rather large and slightly furrowed, occasionally with thin outspreading russet rays.
Calyx: Small to medium, closed or partly open. Calyx tube long, narrow, funnel-shaped. Stamens median or below.
Basin: Shallow, occasionally moderately deep and abrupt, somewhat furrowed, wrinkled.
Skin: Tough, slightly waxy, smooth, pale green or whitish, often with a faint, dull blush. Dots numerous, rather large, conspicuous, submerged, whitish, mingled with a few fine russet points.
Core: Medium or below, somewhat abaxile; cells pretty symmetrical, open or partly closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish to somewhat elliptical, broad, slightly tufted.
Seeds: Rather short, plump, obtuse.
Flesh and Flavor: Nearly white, firm, rather crisp, moderately fine-grained, juicy, subacid with mild, pleasing aroma. Quality good. A valuable apple of first-rate quality for culinary purposes.
Season and Storage
In use from November to March according to Hogg's account. Season December to May according to Beach's observations. Better keeper than Rhode Island Greening and less liable to scald.
Uses
A valuable apple of first-rate quality for culinary purposes. A green apple of the Reinette Pippin class, not equal to Rhode Island Greening in flavor or quality for dessert or culinary uses, but a better keeper and less liable to scald. Attractive for a green apple in both size and color. Of sufficient value to be worthy of planting for trial as a commercial variety where a late-keeping apple of this type is desired.
Other
Hogg's historical description notes the fruit as large, three inches wide and two inches and a half high, roundish and flattened with ribs on the sides.
Forsyth (1824) described it as a middle-sized apple of flattish shape, yellow in color, in some places inclining to green, with sometimes a little red towards the sun, described as "a pretty good apple."
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)HOLLAND WINTER.
REFERENCES. 1. Langley, Pomona, 1729. (cited by 3). 2. Knoop, Pomol., 1758. (cited by 3). 3. Forsyth, 1824:107. 4. Hogg, 1884:110. 5. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:44, par. 2. 1903. 6. Beach and Clark, N. Y. Sta. Bul., 248:124. 1904.
The variety here described as Holland Winter was received for testing at this Station from Western Pennsylvania under the name of Holland Pippin. United States Pomologist Heiges identified it for us as the Holland Pippin of Hogg, Langley and Miller, and stated that it is the variety which is generally grown in Pennsylvania under the name of Holland Pippin. We have not yet been able to confirm with certainty the identification made by Heiges.
Forsyth's complete description of the Holland Pippin of Langley (3) is here given. "This is a middle-sized apple, of a flattish shape. Its colour is yellow, in some places inclining to green, with sometimes a little red towards the sun. This is a pretty good apple, and keeps till the middle of April."
The following is Hogg's description (4). "Fruit large, three inches wide, and two inches and a half high; roundish and flattened with ribs on the sides. Skin, greenish-yellow, with a slight tinge of pale brown where exposed to the sun, and strewed with large green dots. Eye, small and closed, set in a round, narrow, and plaited basin. Stalk, very short, imbedded in a wide and deep cavity. Flesh, yellowish-white, firm, tender, juicy, sweet, and briskly acid.
"A valuable apple of first-rate quality for culinary purposes; it is in use from November to March. The tree is a strong grower, vigorous, healthy, and a good bearer."
This variety is surely distinct from the one described by Downing¹ and commonly grown in the Hudson valley and to some extent in other portions of the state under the name of Holland Pippin. The Holland Pippin of Downing begins to ripen somewhat earlier than the Fall Pippin, while the variety here described keeps till spring. Since both of these varieties are known in cultivation in this country under the name of Holland Pippin it is well to distinguish between the two by calling the late keeping one Holland Winter.
It is a green apple of the Reinette Pippin class, not equal to Rhode Island Greening in flavor or quality for dessert or culinary uses but it is a better keeper and less liable to scald. It is attractive for a green apple in both size and color. The tree is a strong grower, healthy and productive, and usually is an annual bearer alternating heavy with rather light crops. It appears to be of sufficient value to be worthy of planting for trial as a commercial variety where a late keeping apple of this type is desired.
Historical. If this is in fact the Holland Pippin of Langley and Miller it is an old variety "native of the Holland district of Lincolnshire, hence its name" (4).
TREE.
Tree vigorous; branches long, moderately stout. Form spreading or roundish, rather open. Twigs moderately long, straight, stout; internodes short to medium. Bark clear reddish-brown with some olive-green, streaked lightly with scarf-skin, heavily pubescent near the tips. Lenticels numerous, small, roundish, sometimes raised, rather conspicuous. Buds large to above medium, broad, obtuse, free near the old wood but quite appressed near the tips; heavily pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium to large. Form roundish conic, symmetrical, regular or sometimes faintly ribbed. Stem medium or short and rather thick. Cavity acute or approaching acuminate, rather large and slightly furrowed, occasionally with thin outspreading russet rays. Calyx small to medium, closed or partly open. Basin shallow, occasionally moderately deep and abrupt, somewhat furrowed, wrinkled.
Skin tough, slightly waxy, smooth, pale green or whitish often with a faint, dull blush. Dots numerous, rather large, conspicuous, submerged, whitish, mingled with a few fine russet points.
Calyx tube long, narrow, funnel-shape. Stamens median or below.
Core medium or below, somewhat abaxile; cells pretty symmetrical, open or partly closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish to somewhat elliptical, broad, slightly tufted. Seeds rather short, plump, obtuse.
Flesh nearly white, firm, rather crisp, moderately fine-grained, juicy, subacid with mild, pleasing aroma, good.
Season December to May.
¹ Downing, 1872:219.