Jolly Beggar

Apple

Jolly Beggar

Origin/History

Raised by Dr. John Lyell of Newburgh, Fife, Scotland, and introduced about 1858. Figured in the Herefordshire Pomona at plate 31. Described by Hogg as a first-rate early cooking apple. By 1920, Bunyard noted it was "a useful variety; now little grown."

Tree

Downing, citing Hogg, describes the tree as a prodigious and early bearer. Bunyard characterizes growth as moderate and rather spreading, and the tree as very fertile.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium. Measurements given by Bunyard: 2¾ by 3 inches. Downing describes the form as roundish; Bunyard as round, conical, and irregular.

Stem: Moderately long, set in a narrow, deep cavity faintly streaked with russet (Bunyard).

Cavity: Narrow and deep, faintly streaked with russet (Bunyard).

Calyx: Closed (Bunyard).

Basin: Shallow, with ten knobs at the top (Bunyard).

Skin: Pale yellow, becoming orange in the sun (Downing); pale yellow with a very slight orange flush, and very smooth (Bunyard).

Flesh and Flavor: White and tender. Downing (citing Hogg) describes the flavor as brisk subacid; Bunyard as simply subacid.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

August to October (Downing); August to November (Bunyard).

Uses

Culinary. Both sources classify it as a cooking apple.

Tree — Leaf

Rather large, roundish, slightly up-cupped, boldly crenate (Bunyard).

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Jolly Beggar. Hogg describes this as a first-rate early cooking Apple. Tree a prodigious and early bearer. Fruit medium, roundish, pale yellow, becoming orange in the sun. Flesh white, tender, brisk subacid. August to October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

JOLLY BEGGAR. Her. Pom., 31. Culinary, August to November, medium, 2¾ by 3, round, conical, irregular. Colour, pale yellow with very slight orange flush. Skin, very smooth. Flesh, tender, white, subacid. Eye, closed, in a shallow basin, which has ten knobs at the top. Stem, moderately long in a narrow deep cavity, faintly streaked with russet. Growth, moderate; rather spreading; very fertile. Leaf, rather large, roundish, little up-cupped, boldly crenate. Origin, raised by Dr. John Lyell, Newburgh, Fife, and introduced about 1858. A useful variety; now little grown.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)