Huyshe's Princess of Wales

Origin/History

Huyshe's Princess of Wales was raised by the Rev. John Huyshe of Clyst Hydon, Exeter (also recorded as "Clythedon, England" in Downing), beginning in 1830 (Bunyard). The variety first fruited in 1863, at which time it was recorded in the Gardeners' Chronicle (Hedrick). It was also described in Flore et Pomologie in 1867 (Bunyard). Hedrick notes that Huyshe's Princess of Wales is of the same origin as Huyshe Victoria. According to Bunyard, the variety was raised from a cross of Gansel's Bergamotte × Marie Louise.

Tree

Growth is very upright and compact; fertility is moderate (Bunyard). Leaf is flat, down curved, very faintly serrate or entire (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size and Form

Fruit medium in size. The form is described as oblong (Downing, Hedrick), even in outline and abrupt at the stalk (Downing, Hedrick). Bunyard gives the form more precisely as oblong conical or round oval, flattened at the stem, even, with measurements of 3½ inches by 2½ inches.

Stem

Downing and Hedrick describe the stalk as long, stout, and woody, somewhat obliquely inserted. Bunyard, however, describes the stem as very short and stout. Both Downing/Hedrick and Bunyard agree that the stem is set in a deep cavity.

Cavity

Round and rather wide (Downing), deep (Bunyard).

Calyx

Small and open, with narrow, erect segments (Downing). Eye open, set in a slight depression or on the level of the surface (Bunyard).

Basin

Slight depression, or the eye may sit on the level (Bunyard).

Skin

Lemon yellow (Downing, Hedrick), described by Bunyard as pale yellow. The surface is covered or sprinkled with patches, veins, and dots of cinnamon-colored russet (Downing, Hedrick); Bunyard describes the russet as pale cinnamon russet covering the fruit broadly.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh is deep yellow (Downing, Hedrick), described simply as yellow by Bunyard. Fine-grained and very melting (Downing, Hedrick; Bunyard: melting). Abundantly juicy (Downing, Hedrick; Bunyard: juicy). Rich and highly aromatic (Downing, Hedrick); Bunyard describes the flavor as very rich. Hedrick rates the variety as "very excellent."

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Downing gives the season as the last of November. Hedrick gives November. Bunyard gives December. The fruit may thus ripen through late November into December depending on location and conditions.

Uses

Dessert (Bunyard).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.