Monstrous Pippin
Apple
Monstrous Pippin
Origin/History
Originated on Long Island, New York. Coxe (1817) considered it not a desirable apple beyond a few trees in a collection, owing to its uncommonly large size making it susceptible to being blown down and to theft.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Uncommonly large — Coxe gives the weight as twenty to twenty-seven ounces. All three sources characterize it as very large.
Form: Roundish (Elliott; Thomas); somewhat flattened at the ends, slightly angular or ribbed (Thomas).
Stem: Short (Coxe; Thomas); stout (Thomas). Grows in a deep cavity (Coxe).
Cavity: Deep (Coxe).
Calyx: Large (Thomas). The eye is very deep (Coxe).
Basin: Wide, deep, somewhat ribbed, with an obtuse rim (Thomas).
Skin: Smooth (Coxe; Thomas). Color: Coxe (1817) describes it as yellow when ripe and full of white spots. Elliott (1865) gives greenish yellow. Thomas (1903) describes it as whitish green, becoming whitish yellow at maturity — presenting a progression consistent with the earlier sources.
Flesh/Flavor: White (all three sources); tender (Coxe; Thomas); juicy and sprightly (Coxe); rather coarse (Thomas); sub-acid (Thomas); acid (Elliott). Coxe specifies it has not sufficient flavour for a fine table fruit and is not rich enough for cider.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Late autumn and early winter (Thomas); October through December (Elliott).
Uses
An excellent cooking apple (Coxe; Thomas). Not suited to dessert use, lacking sufficient richness of flavor for the table (Coxe). Not rich enough for cider (Coxe).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Coxe notes the variety's exceptional size renders it prone to being blown down from the tree and to theft, and on these grounds recommends planting only a few trees rather than an orchard quantity.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 27. MONSTROUS PIPPIN, OR NEW-YORK GLORIA MUNDI.
This apple originated on Long Island, state of New-York; it is of an uncommonly large size, weighing from twenty to twenty-seven ounces: when ripe, the skin is yellow, smooth, and full of white spots; the stalk is short, and grows in a deep cavity, the eye is also very deep; the flesh is juicy, white, tender, and sprightly, and is very excellent for cooking, but has not sufficient flavour for a fine table fruit, and is not rich enough for cider: its uncommon size subjects it to be blown down, and to be stolen: it is not therefore a desirable apple beyond a few trees in a collection.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Monstrous Pippin.
Gloria Mundi, | New York Gloria Mundi, | Baltimore Pippin. American Mammoth, | Ox Apple,
Very large, greenish yellow, roundish ; flesh, white, acid. October, December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Monstrous Pippin. (Gloria Mundi, Ox Apple, Baltimore.) Very large, roundish, somewhat flattened at the ends, slightly angular or ribbed; skin smooth whitish green, becoming whitish yellow; stalk stout, short; calyx large; basin wide, deep, somewhat ribbed, with an obtuse rim; flesh white, tender, rather coarse, sub-acid, not rich. Late autumn and early winter. A good cooking apple.