1. JOANNETING.

[Syn.: Ginetting; Juneting; Early Jenneting; White Juneating; Juneating; Owen's Golden Beauty; Primiting.]

The St. John Apple is the earliest apple of the year. It is one of our oldest apples, but though generally known and popular, it escaped the notice both of Miller and Parkinson. Rea first mentions it in 1665, and describes it as "a small, yellow, red-sided apple upon a wall, ripe the end of June."

The derivation of its name has given rise to much discussion. Abercrombie was the first to write it "June-eating," as if in allusion to the period of its maturity. Dr. Johnson, in his dictionary, writes it "Gineting," and says it is a corruption of "Janeton," signifying in French Jane or Janet, having been so called from a person of that name. Ray says, "Pomum Ginettinum, quod unde dictum sit me latet" (Hist. Plant. II., 1599).

There can be no doubt, however, that the Joanneting owes its name to its ripening about St. John Baptist's day (June 24th), which it might very well do against a wall in some seasons, particularly when we remember that at the time the name was given the old style of reckoning time was in use, and that the 24th day of June, O.S. would be the 5th of July in the new calendar. But supposing it to have been a variety imported from abroad, as its name would lead us to suppose it was, then there is nothing remarkable in its being ripe even in the open ground on the 5th of July. Curtius distinctly says the "Joannina" are so called "Quod circa divi Joannis Baptistæ nativitatem esui sint" (Hortorum. p. 522). J. B. Porta also says of it, "Est genus alterum quod quia circa festum Divi Joannis maturescit, vulgus 'Malo de San Giovanni' dicitur." And according to Tragus, "Quæ apud nos prima maturantur 'Sand Johans Opffel,' Latine, Precocia mala dicuntur." (Hist., p. 1043.)

In the Middle Ages it was customary to connect the festivals of the Church with events which took place at the same periods, and the practice has continued to our own days with reference to the sowing of crops and ripening of fruits, &c. Other apples have derived their names in the same way; thus we have the Margaret Apple, so called from being ripe about St. Margaret's Day (July 20th); the Maudlin, or Magdalene, from St. Magdalene's Day (July 22nd). There is also an old French pear, "Amiré Joannet" (Wonderful Little John), which Merlet informs us was so called because it ripened about St. John's Day. This is precisely analogous, for we have only to add "Joannet" the termination "ing," so common amongst apples, and we have our "Joanneting."

Description.—Fruit; small, round, and a little flattened. Skin; smooth and shining, pale yellowish green in the shade, but clear yellow, with sometimes a faint tinge of red or orange next the sun. Eye; small and closed, surrounded with a few small plaits, and set in a very shallow basin. Stalk; an inch long, slender, and inserted in a shallow cavity, which is lined with delicate russet. Flesh; white, crisp, brisk, and juicy, with a vinous and slightly perfumed flavour, but becoming mealy and tasteless if kept only a few days after being gathered. It is in the greatest perfection when eaten from the tree.

The tree is hardy and healthy, but does not attain a large size. If worked upon the Paradise stock it may be grown in pots, when the fruit will not only be produced earlier, but in greater abundance than on the crab or free stock.

— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)