Michael Henry Pippin
Apple
Michael Henry Pippin
Origin / History
A New Jersey apple, native of Monmouth County. Downing records that it was first described by Coxe (1817). Coxe says it "derives its name from a resident of Monmouth county, New-Jersey, by whom it was brought into notice." By 1865 Elliott reports it "in extensive cultivation throughout the West, and is very successful."
Tree
Growth strong, with pretty strong shoots; upright. Downing describes the head as very upright. Coxe gives the tree "a handsome regular form," with "the limbs running straight, with an inclination upwards, what is usually called beesom-headed." Very productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large. Most authors give medium; Coxe calls it "a large fair apple."
Form: Oblong to roundish oblong ovate or roundish-ovate, narrowing to the eye, the apex narrow. Coxe describes it as "of a handsome oblong shape, flat at the stalk end, diminishing towards the crown." Elliott gives the form as angular, roundish conical.
Stem: Short ("usually short," Elliott), rather thick.
Cavity: Narrow, regular (Elliott).
Calyx: With long segments in divisions (Elliott).
Basin: Narrow, shallow, somewhat furrowed.
Skin: When ripe, lively yellowish green or light yellowish green; lively yellow (Coxe). Elliott gives a flush of red in the sun. He adds that there is often a shade of rich yellow, marbled or striped, apparently underneath the skin.
Dots: Irregularly formed specks of russet (Elliott).
Flesh and flavor: Tender to very tender, juicy. Flesh yellow (Coxe, Thomas), or white to greenish white (Elliott, Downing). Sweet (Elliott); "mild tame sweet" (Downing). Coxe finds it, "when in perfection, … juicy, highly flavoured, rich, and melting." Downing rates it "Good."
Core and seeds: Core small, compact, surrounded by a broad, coarse vein, giving the semblance of a large core. Seeds ovate pointed, light brown (Elliott).
Season
Season October to March. Coxe says it ripens in November and keeps well through the winter. The other authors give winter or November through March, with Elliott alone beginning its season of use in October.
Uses
Elliott calls it "much valued for cooking and keeping well."
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Figured by Thomas (Fig. 467).
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1845) from Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
View original book sources (4)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 74. MICHAEL HENRY PIPPIN.
This is a large fair apple, of a handsome oblong shape, flat at the stalk end, diminishing towards the crown: the colour when ripe is a lively yellow; the flesh is very tender, and when in perfection, it is juicy, highly flavoured, rich, and melting; of a yellow colour: the time of ripening is in November it keeps well through the winter.
The tree has a handsome regular form, and strong growth, the limbs running straight, with an inclination upwards, what is usually called beesom-headed it derives its name from a resident of Monmouth county, New-Jersey, by whom it was brought into notice.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Michael Henry Pippin.
American. Native of New Jersey. It is in extensive cultivation throughout the West, and is very successful. Trees very productive. Fruit, medium to large ; form, angular, roundish conical ; color, light yellowish green, with a flush of red, in sun, dotted with irregular formed specks of russet ; often there is a shade of rich yellow, marbled or striped, apparently underneath the skin ; stem, usually short ; cavity, narrow, regular ; calyx, with long segments in divisions ; basin, shallow, narrow, somewhat furrowed : flesh, white tender, juicy, sweet : much valued for cooking and keeping well, being in use from October to March ; core, small, compact, surrounded by a broad, coarse vein, giving semblance of a large core ; seeds, ovate pointed, light brown.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Michael Henry Pippin.
Rariton Sweet.
A New Jersey fruit, a native of Monmouth County, first described by Coxe. The tree forms a very upright head, with pretty strong shoots. Very productive.
Fruit of medium size, roundish oblong ovate, narrowing to the eye, when ripe, of a lively yellowish green. Stalk short and rather thick. Calyx set in a narrow basin. Flesh greenish white, very tender, juicy, mild tame sweet. Good. November to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Michael Henry Pippin.* Size medium, roundish-ovate, apex narrow; yellowish green; stalk short, rather thick; basin narrow; flesh yellow, tender, juicy. Growth upright. Through winter. Origin, Monmouth County, N. J. Fig. 467.