Lodgemore Nonpareil

Lodgemore Nonpareil

Origin/History

Raised by Mr. Cook, of Lodgemore, near Stroud, in Gloucestershire, about the year 1808. His garden was afterwards rented by Mr. Clissold, a nurseryman at Stroud, who propagated and sold it as a seedling of his own. By 1920, Bunyard notes it as "an excellent old sort, now almost out of cultivation."

Tree

Hardy and bears freely (Herefordshire Pomona). Leaf rather small, roundish, boldly curved serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size and Form

Sources disagree on size and form. Herefordshire Pomona gives measurements of two and a half inches wide and nearly two inches high, calling it "about medium size," and describes the shape as roundish ovate and regular in outline. Bunyard gives smaller measurements — 2 inches by 1¾ inches — designates it "small," and describes the shape as flattened round, slightly conical. Downing concurs with "medium" and "roundish."

Stem

A quarter of an inch long (Herefordshire Pomona); described as very short by Bunyard. Inserted in a narrow cavity (both sources agree).

Cavity

Narrow (Herefordshire Pomona; Bunyard).

Calyx

Slightly closed, with broad, flat, leafy segments (Herefordshire Pomona); nearly closed (Bunyard).

Basin

Narrow (Herefordshire Pomona); shallow (Bunyard).

Skin

Sources conflict substantially. Herefordshire Pomona: rich golden yellow when fully ripe, dotted with minute grey dots, and with a blush of red on the side exposed to the sun. Downing (citing Hogg): deep yellow, with blush in sun. Bunyard: pale yellowish-green, nearly covered with russet.

Flesh and Flavor

Firm, crisp, and juicy across all sources. Herefordshire Pomona and Downing describe the flesh as yellowish; Bunyard describes it as greenish. All sources agree on sweetness and good flavor: Herefordshire Pomona notes it is "sweet, and with a fine aroma"; Downing calls it "aromatic"; Bunyard gives "sweet, juicy, and well flavoured."

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

A late-keeping dessert apple. Herefordshire Pomona: in season from February to June, or even July. Bunyard concurs with keeping till June. Downing (citing Hogg) gives a shorter window of February to March only.

Uses

Dessert apple. Herefordshire Pomona calls it "a dessert apple of great excellence, and one of the very best late sorts."

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.