Holland Winter
Apple
Holland Winter
Origin / History
Holland Winter is supposed to have come from the Holland district of Lincolnshire, England, hence its name, and is considered at least two hundred years old (Hedrick). References trace it as far back as Langley's Pomona (1729) and Knoop's Pomologia (1758). When it came to America is not known, but it has long been grown in eastern America (Hedrick).
The variety described by Beach was received for testing at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station from Western Pennsylvania under the name Holland Pippin, and was identified by United States Pomologist Heiges as the Holland Pippin of Hogg, Langley, and Miller — the variety generally grown in Pennsylvania under that name. Beach notes that this variety is distinct from the Holland Pippin described by Downing and commonly grown in the Hudson Valley and elsewhere in New York: the Holland Pippin of Downing begins to ripen somewhat earlier than the Fall Pippin, while the variety here described keeps well into spring. Beach proposed the name Holland Winter to distinguish the late-keeping form from Downing's earlier-ripening Holland Pippin.
Both sources describe this variety as being very similar to Rhode Island Greening, belonging to the Reinette Pippin class, but not equal to Rhode Island Greening in flavor or quality for either dessert or culinary use. It is a better keeper than Rhode Island Greening, however, and less liable to scald in storage (Beach, Hedrick). It is attractive for a green apple in both size and color (Beach).
Note on the identity question: Beach quotes Forsyth's description of the Holland Pippin of Langley: "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." Beach also quotes Hogg's description: "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." Beach states he had not yet been able to confirm with certainty the identification of his Station's specimens with Hogg's Holland Pippin at the time of publication. The Forsyth/Hogg descriptions conflict with Beach's own observations in several respects (see below under Fruit).
Tree
Tree vigorous, spreading or roundish, rather open (Beach); vigorous, spreading, open (Hedrick). Branches long, moderately stout (Beach); long, stout (Hedrick). A strong grower, healthy, and a good bearer (Hogg, as quoted by Beach).
The tree is usually an annual bearer, alternating heavy with rather light crops (Beach). Trees are healthy and fruitful and usually bear annually (Hedrick).
Twigs: Moderately long, straight, stout; internodes short to medium (Beach). Bark: Clear reddish-brown with some olive-green, streaked lightly with scarf-skin, heavily pubescent near the tips (Beach). Lenticels: Numerous, small, roundish, sometimes raised, rather conspicuous (Beach). Buds: Large to above medium, broad, obtuse, free near the old wood but quite appressed near the tips; heavily pubescent (Beach).
Fruit
Size: Medium to large (Beach, Hedrick). Hogg gives dimensions of three inches wide and two inches and a half high and describes the fruit as large; Forsyth describes it as middle-sized.
Form: Roundish conic, symmetrical, regular or sometimes faintly ribbed (Beach); round-conic, symmetrical, regular or sometimes ribbed (Hedrick). Hogg describes the fruit as roundish and flattened with ribs on the sides, and Forsyth as of a flattish shape — both in conflict with Beach's and Hedrick's roundish conic characterization.
Stem: Medium or short and rather thick (Beach); short and thick (Hedrick). Hogg describes the stalk as very short, imbedded in a wide and deep cavity.
Cavity: Acute or approaching acuminate, rather large and slightly furrowed, occasionally with thin outspreading russet rays (Beach); acute, large, furrowed, occasionally with thin outspreading russet rays (Hedrick). Hogg describes the cavity as wide and deep.
Calyx: Small to medium, closed or partly open (Beach); small, closed or open (Hedrick). Hogg describes the eye as small and closed. Calyx tube long, narrow, funnel-shape (Beach, Hedrick). Stamens median or below (Beach); stamens median (Hedrick).
Basin: Shallow, occasionally moderately deep and abrupt, somewhat furrowed, wrinkled (Beach); shallow, occasionally deep and abrupt, furrowed, wrinkled (Hedrick). Hogg describes the basin as round, narrow, and plaited.
Skin: Tough, slightly waxy (Beach) / waxy (Hedrick), smooth, pale green or whitish, often with a faint, dull blush (Beach); pale green often with a faint, dull blush (Hedrick). Dots numerous, rather large, conspicuous, submerged, whitish, mingled with a few fine russet points (Beach); dots numerous, large, conspicuous, submerged, white, mingled with a few fine russet points (Hedrick). Hogg describes the skin as greenish-yellow, with a slight tinge of pale brown where exposed to the sun, strewed with large green dots. Forsyth describes the colour as yellow, in some places inclining to green, with sometimes a little red towards the sun.
Flesh / Flavor: Nearly white, firm, rather crisp, moderately fine-grained, juicy, subacid with mild, pleasing aroma; quality rated good (Beach). White, firm, crisp, fine-grained, juicy, subacid, with mild pleasing aroma; quality rated good (Hedrick). Hogg describes the flesh as yellowish-white, firm, tender, juicy, sweet, and briskly acid — in conflict with Beach's and Hedrick's characterization of subacid flavor.
Core / Seeds: Core medium or below, somewhat abaxile; cells pretty symmetrical, open or partly closed; core lines clasping (Beach). Core of medium size, abaxile; cells symmetrical, open or partly closed; core-lines clasping (Hedrick). Carpels roundish to somewhat elliptical, broad, slightly tufted (Beach); round to elliptical, broad, tufted (Hedrick). Seeds rather short, plump, obtuse (Beach, Hedrick).
Season
December to May (Beach, Hedrick). Hogg gives November to March; Forsyth gives keeping until the middle of April.
Uses
A valuable apple for culinary purposes (Hogg, as quoted by Beach). Not equal to Rhode Island Greening in flavor or quality for dessert or culinary uses, but a better keeper and less liable to scald (Beach, Hedrick). Attractive for a green apple in both size and color (Beach). Considered worthy of planting for trial as a commercial variety where a late-keeping apple of the Reinette Pippin type is desired (Beach).
Other
Beach notes that the variety name "Holland Winter" was his own proposed disambiguation, introduced to distinguish the late-keeping Pennsylvania form from the early-ripening Hudson Valley Holland Pippin of Downing. The Pennsylvania form had been circulating under the name Holland Pippin before Beach's publication; neither name was universally settled in American trade at the time of writing.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— 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.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)HOLLAND WINTER. Several apples pass under the name Holland Winter. The one which is supposed to have received the name first, and which is here described, is very similar to Rhode Island Greening. The fruits of Holland Winter are not equal to those of Rhode Island Greening in quality for either dessert or culinary use, but keep better and do not scald so badly in storage. The trees are vigorous, healthy, fruitful and usually bear annually. The variety is supposed to have come from the Holland district of Lincolnshire, England, and is at least two hundred years old. When it came to America is not known, but it has been long grown in eastern America. Tree vigorous, spreading, open; branches long, stout. Fruit medium to large, round-conic, symmetrical, regular or sometimes ribbed; stem short and thick; cavity acute, large, furrowed, occasionally with thin, outspreading russet rays; calyx small, closed or open; basin shallow, occasionally deep and abrupt, furrowed, wrinkled; skin tough, waxy, smooth, pale green often with a faint, dull blush; dots numerous, large, conspicuous, submerged, white, mingled with a few fine russet points; calyx-tube long, narrow, funnel-shape; stamens median; core of medium size, abaxile; cells symmetrical, open or partly closed; core-lines clasping; carpels round to elliptical, broad, tufted; seeds short, plump, obtuse; flesh white, firm, crisp, fine-grained, juicy, subacid, with mild pleasing aroma; good; December to May.