Madeleine

Apple

Madeleine

Origin/History

Madeleine is a French apple, identified as such by all three sources. Bunyard (1901) describes it as "a famous old French apple." Downing (1900) records the synonym Citron des Carmes in connection with this variety, citing a secondary source abbreviated "(Ron.)".

Tree

According to the Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, BC, where trees were planted in the spring of 1895, Madeleine is a vigorous grower. No further tree characteristics are described in the sources.

Fruit

Size

Sources conflict sharply on size. Downing (1900) describes the fruit as small. The Central Experimental Farm (1900) describes it as above medium size. Bunyard (1901) describes it as very large.

Form

Downing (1900) and the Central Experimental Farm (1900) both describe the fruit as oblong. The Central Experimental Farm adds that it is ribbed.

Stem

Not described in source.

Cavity

Not described in source.

Calyx

Not described in source.

Basin

Not described in source.

Skin

Sources conflict on skin color and character. Downing (1900) describes the skin as light dull brown and dry. The Central Experimental Farm (1900) describes the skin as greenish white. Bunyard (1901) describes the skin as pale yellow striped with faint red.

Flesh and Flavor

The Central Experimental Farm (1900) describes the flesh as white, coarse, tender, and pleasant, with quality rated good. Downing (1900) rates the variety simply as poor. Bunyard (1901) offers no description of flesh or flavor.

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Downing (1900) gives December. The Central Experimental Farm (1900) gives January and February. Bunyard (1901) gives October through January.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The three sources are in significant conflict on the most basic identifying characteristics — size, skin color, and quality — which may reflect regional variation in how the name was applied, confusion with related varieties, or distinct forms circulating under the same name. The Downing entry, in particular, describes a small, dull brown, dry, poor-quality fruit rated only for December use, which stands in contrast to Bunyard's "famous old French apple" of very large size, pale yellow with red striping, and an extended season from October through January. The Agassiz trial, conducted on trees planted in 1895 in a Pacific coastal climate, produced a greenish white, ribbed fruit of above medium size with good quality flesh, ripening January–February — intermediate between the other two accounts in season but not in appearance. These discrepancies should be weighed when using these descriptions to identify an unknown fruit.

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Citron des Carmes

View original book sources (3)

Citron des Carmes. A French Apple. Fruit small, oblong, light dull brown, dry. Poor. December. (Ron.)

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

Planted Spring 1895. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit above medium size, oblong, ribbed. Skin greenish white. Flesh white, coarse, tender, pleasant, quality good. Season January and February.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

A famous old French apple, very large, pale yellow striped with faint red. Season Oct-Jan.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)

Citron des Carmes Margaret Passe Pomme d'Automne Passe Pomme Rouge Pigeon Red Winter Calville Summer Red Calville Summer White Calville White Calville