King of the Pippins
Apple
Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911)
King of the Pippins
Origin / History
An English fruit (Downing); Bunyard (1920) says it "is generally attributed to England, but the history of this variety and the Reine des Reinettes of France, is a tangle which I have not yet been able to unravel." He credits Kirke with giving the name King of the Pippins early in the nineteenth century. Both Bunyard texts identify it with the Golden Winter Pearmain of Hogg. The 1914 Bunyard catalog also identifies it with the Reine des Reinettes of France and says it was known before 1800 in Belgium as Kronen Reinette.
The name first belonged to another apple. Bunyard (1920) calls "the original King" "an earlier fruit." The 1914 catalog says the variety is now so well known under this name "that the older and original King of the Pippins which ripened in August is almost forgotton." Bunyard (1920) rejects Hogg's identification with the King apple of Rea: "It cannot be the King apple of Rea, as Hogg suggests as this ripens at the end of June."
A "well-known variety" (George Bunyard catalog, 1901). Elliott (1865) says it is "often grown West as Gravenstein."
Tree
Growth moderate, upright; leaf rather small, slightly upfolded, finely serrate (Bunyard 1920). Forms a fine large pyramid or standard (Veitch). A great bearer, fertile; the 1901 Bunyard catalog calls it a "great and constant bearer" but says it "requires a warm situation."
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Roundish oblate (Elliott, Downing), or round-oblong, "oblong, rounded" (Bunyard 1920; Bunyard catalog 1914).
Stem: Moderately long (Bunyard 1920).
Cavity: Even, russet (Bunyard 1920).
Calyx: Eye open (Bunyard 1920).
Basin: Shallow, even (Bunyard 1920).
Skin: Yellow to pale yellow, golden yellow, or rich golden yellow, deep golden on the side facing the sun (Veitch). Washed, striped, or splashed with red (Elliott, Downing), or shaded reddish-brown to brownish-red (Bunyard 1920; Bunyard catalog 1914). Very handsome.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white (Elliott) or creamy-yellow (Bunyard 1920). It is firm to very firm, crisp, and juicy; the 1901 Bunyard catalog alone calls it soft.
Flavor slightly sweet to sweet (Elliott; Bunyard catalog 1901), against Downing's "sharp subacid." Bunyard (1920) finds "a distinct slightly bitter flavour," and the 1914 catalog calls it "very characteristic."
Elliott calls it "not agreeable." Downing calls it "of poor quality" yet marks it "Good." Veitch calls it "unquestionably one of the best."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October to January. The Bunyard texts give October to December, Veitch extending it to January; Elliott and Downing give October and November.
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard 1920; Bunyard catalog 1914); "very valuable either for dessert or kitchen use" (Veitch).
Subtypes / Variants
The George Bunyard catalog (1901) offers "the best coloured, upright variety."
Other
Bunyard (1920) cites "Her. Pom., 14." Veitch's catalog (1911) illustrates the fruit on page 9.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 11 catalogs (1845–1917) from England, Illinois, Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845 — listed as King of Pippins
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as King of Pippins
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as King of Pippins
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as King of Pippins
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (6)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)King of the Pippins. Hampshire Yellow. Often grown West as Gravenstein. Medium, roundish oblate, yellow and red splashed; flesh, white, slightly sweet, not agreeable. October, November.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)King of the Pippins. Hampshire Yellow. An English fruit of poor quality, medium size, roundish oblate, pale yellow, washed and striped with red. Flesh very firm, sharp subacid. Good. October, November.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)KING OF THE PIPPINS. Her. Pom., 14. F., Reinette d Orée ; G., Winter Gold Parmane. (Shropshire Pippin.) Dessert, October to December, medium, round, oblong, Colour, golden yellow, shaded reddish-brown. Flesh, creamy-yellow, firm, juicy with a distinct slightly bitter flavour. Eye, open, in a shallow even basin. Stem, moderately long in an even russet cavity. Growth, moderate, upright. Leaf, rather small, slightly upfolded, finely serrate. Origin, this apple is generally attributed to England, but the history of this variety and the Reine des Reinettes of France, is a tangle which I have not yet been able to unravel. The name of King of the Pippins was given by Kirke early in the nineteenth century. This is the Golden Winter Pearmain of Hogg, the original King being an earlier fruit. It cannot be the King apple of Rea, as Hogg suggests as this ripens at the end of June.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Medium, very handsome, well-known variety, great and constant bearer, sweet, with soft flesh, rich golden yellow colour; but requires a warm situation. We grow the best coloured, upright variety.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size, very handsome, of a deep golden colour on the side facing the sun, flesh firm, crisp and juicy, the tree is a great bearer, forming a fine large pyramid or standard, unquestionably one of the best and very valuable either for dessert or kitchen use. See illustration page 9. ... Oct. to Jan.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)Dessert; Oct.-Dec. Medium, oblong, rounded, golden yellow shaded brownish-red; flesh crisp, juicy, very characteristic flavour; growth moderate, fertile. This Apple is now so well known under this name that the older and original King of the Pippins which ripened in August is almost forgotton. It is the Golden Winter Pearmain of Hogg, Reine des Reinettes of France, and the Wintergold Parmane of Germany, known before 1800 in Belgium as Kronen Reinette.