Nelson Codlin
Apple
Nelson Codlin
Origin/History
This much esteemed variety was first brought into notice by Mr. John Nelson, a noted Wesleyan preacher in the early days of Wesleyanism, who, while engaged in the work of evangelization in Yorkshire, used to distribute grafts among his friends; from these circumstances it became known as the Nelson Apple. Mr. Hugh Ronalds, who received it from Mr. Backhouse, of York, published it in the Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis as Backhouse's Lord Nelson, a name which the late Mr. James Backhouse disclaimed, and said he preferred that so excellent an apple should rather be the memorial of so excellent a man. Downing lists it as a culinary English apple.
Tree
The tree is a strong, vigorous, and healthy grower, and bears abundantly. (Herefordshire Pomona.) Not further described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. The two sources conflict on form: the Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as conical or oblong, and handsome; Downing describes it as roundish oblate.
Stem: About a quarter of an inch long, inserted in a very deep and angular cavity. (Herefordshire Pomona.)
Cavity: Very deep and angular. (Herefordshire Pomona.)
Calyx: Open, with short segments. (Herefordshire Pomona.)
Basin: Deep, plaited, and irregular. (Herefordshire Pomona.)
Skin: On the shaded side, greenish yellow, strewed with russety specks; when exposed to the sun, of a fine deep yellow, covered with rather large dark spots, which are encircled with a dark crimson ring. (Herefordshire Pomona.) Downing describes it as light yellow, deepening in the sun, with russet specks and traces.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, tender. The two sources conflict on flavor character: the Herefordshire Pomona describes the flesh as delicate, juicy, and sugary; Downing describes it as brisk and sharp subacid.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Herefordshire Pomona: September to January. Downing: October, November.
Uses
Of first-rate quality as a culinary fruit, and also valuable for the dessert. (Herefordshire Pomona.) Downing rates it Good, and lists it as a culinary apple.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- NELSON CODLIN.
[Syn: Nelson; Nelson's Codlin; Backhouse's Nelson.]
This much esteemed variety was first brought into notice by Mr. John Nelson, a noted Wesleyan preacher in the early days of Wesleyanism, who, while engaged in the work of evangelization in Yorkshire, used to distribute grafts among his friends; from these circumstances it became known as the Nelson Apple. Mr. Hugh Ronalds, who received it from Mr. Backhouse, of York, published it in the Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis as Backhouse's Lord Nelson, a name which the late Mr. James Backhouse disclaimed, and said he preferred that so excellent an apple should rather be the memorial of so excellent a man.
Description.—Fruit, large and handsome, conical, or oblong. Skin, greenish yellow, strewed with russety specks on the shaded side, but when exposed to the sun, of a fine deep yellow, covered with rather large dark spots, which are encircled with a dark crimson ring. Eye, open, with short segments, set in a deep, plaited, and irregular basin. Stalk, about a quarter of an inch long, inserted in a very deep and angular cavity. Flesh, yellowish white, delicate, tender, juicy, and sugary.
A very excellent apple; of first-rate quality as a culinary fruit, and also valuable for the dessert. It is in season from September to January.
The tree is a strong, vigorous, and healthy grower, and bears abundantly.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Nelson's Codlin.
Backhouse's Lord Nelson.
A culinary English Apple.
Fruit large, roundish oblate, light yellow, deepening in the sun and with russet specks and traces. Flesh yellowish white, tender, brisk, sharp subacid. Good. October, November.