Lamb Abbey Pearmain
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Lamb Abbey Pearmain
Origin/History
A seedling from the Newtown Pippin, the celebrated American apple. It was grown in 1804 by Mrs. Malcolm, the wife of Niel Malcolm, Esq., of Lamb Abbey, near Dartford, in Kent, England. It is figured in the Transactions of the London Horticultural Society, vol. viii, p. 267, and also in Ronalds' Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, plate xxi, fig. 2.
Tree
The two sources conflict on tree health. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the tree as healthy, a free grower, and bearing well. Downing, by contrast, characterizes it simply as "not healthy."
Fruit
Size: The sources conflict. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as small; Downing describes it as medium.
Form: Roundish, or oblate oblong, regularly and handsomely shaped.
Stem: From a quarter to half an inch long, slender, deeply inserted in a russety cavity.
Cavity: Russety.
Calyx: Rather large and open, with long broad segments reflexed at the tips.
Basin: Wide, deep, and plaited.
Skin: Smooth. On the shaded side, greenish yellow, becoming clear yellow when at full maturity. On the side toward the sun, dull orange, streaked and striped with red, the red coloring becoming more faint as it extends toward the shaded side. Dotted all over with minute, punctured, russety dots. Downing describes the ground color as yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with two shades of red.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white (Herefordshire Pomona) or whitish (Downing); firm, crisp, and very juicy. The Herefordshire Pomona characterizes the flavor as sugary, with a brisk and rich vinous flavour. Downing describes it as subacid.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The sources conflict on season. The Herefordshire Pomona places it from Christmas to April, describing it as remaining in perfection over a long period. Downing gives November.
Uses
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 (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing rates it simply as Good.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- LAMB ABBEY PEARMAIN.
This variety is a seedling from the Newtown Pippin, the celebrated American apple. It was grown in 1804 by Mrs. Malcolm, the wife of Niel Malcolm, Esq., of Lamb Abbey, near Dartford, in Kent. It is figured in the Transactions of the London Horticultural Society, vol. viii, p. 267, and also in Ronalds' Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, plate xxi, fig. 2.
Description.—Fruit, small, roundish, or oblate oblong, regularly and handsomely shaped. Skin, smooth, greenish yellow on the shaded side, but becoming clear yellow when at maturity; on the side next the sun it is dull orange, streaked and striped with red, which becomes more faint as it extends to the shaded side, and dotted all over with minute, punctured, russety dots. Eye, rather large and open, with long broad segments reflexed at the tips, and set in a wide, deep, and plaited basin. Stalk, from a quarter to half an inch long, slender, deeply inserted in a russety cavity. Flesh, yellowish white, firm, crisp, very juicy and sugary, with a brisk and rich vinous flavour.
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. It is in season from Christmas to April.
The tree is healthy, a free grower, and bears well.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lamb Abbey Pearmain.
An old variety, from Kent, England. Tree not healthy.
Fruit medium, roundish, yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with two shades of red. Flesh whitish, compact, juicy, subacid. Good. November.