Lamb Abbey Pearmain

Origin / History

Seedling from the Newtown Pippin, "the celebrated American apple." The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) says it was grown in 1804 by Mrs. Malcolm, wife of Niel Malcolm, Esq., of Lamb Abbey, near Dartford, in Kent. Bunyard (1920) places the raising near Dartford at the end of the eighteenth century, from a pip of a Newtown Pippin. Downing calls it an old variety, from Kent, England. Figured in the Transactions of the London Horticultural Society, vol. viii, p. 267, and in Ronalds' Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, plate xxi, fig. 2 (Herefordshire Pomona); Bunyard cites Ronalds, p. 21. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "a very valuable dessert apple, of first-rate quality, both as regards the richness of the flavour, and the long period during which it remains in perfection." Bunyard: "Of good quality but little grown now."

Tree

Tree healthy, a free grower, and bears well (Herefordshire Pomona); Downing alone says "Tree not healthy." Growth vigorous, rather upright; fertile (Bunyard). Leaf round, oval, very boldly bi-serrate, held flat (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size: Small (Herefordshire Pomona); very small, 2¼ by 2 (Bunyard); medium (Downing).

Form: Roundish, or oblate oblong, oblong in Bunyard; regular, and handsomely shaped.

Stem: Slender, from a quarter to half an inch long, deeply inserted.

Cavity: Russety.

Calyx: Eye rather large and open, with long broad segments reflexed at the tips.

Basin: Wide, deep, and plaited.

Skin: Smooth. Ground greenish yellow on the shaded side, becoming clear yellow at maturity. On the side next the sun dull orange, streaked and striped with red, the red growing fainter toward the shaded side; Downing has it yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with two shades of red, and Bunyard clear yellow with dull red flush and stripes.

Dots: Minute, punctured, russety, scattered all over.

Flesh and flavor: Yellowish white to whitish or pale yellow. Firm, crisp, compact, very juicy and sugary, with a "brisk and rich vinous flavour"; subacid (Downing); sugary and rich (Bunyard). Quality "first-rate" (Herefordshire Pomona); "Good" (Downing); good (Bunyard).

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

November to April. The Herefordshire Pomona gives Christmas to April and says it remains in perfection a long period; Bunyard gives January to April; Downing alone gives November.

Uses

Dessert.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.