Nonpareil

[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — the Rivers catalogue (1914) entry is fragmentary. Its first line, "large, it is an essential quality in Pearmains - Oct.-March," appears to belong to a Pearmain entry rather than to Nonpareil and is not used. Its second line, "medium size, loose, juicy and excellent; a prime - Dec.-March," is salvaged below.]

Origin / History

Origin unrecorded (Bunyard). Downing calls it "an old English variety," and Thomas calls it English. Elliott enters it as foreign.

The Herefordshire Pomona says it is generally believed to have come originally from France. It quotes Switzer: "It is no stranger in England . . . There are trees of them about the Ashtons in Oxfordshire of about a hundred years old, which (as they have it by tradition) were first brought out of France and planted by a Jesuit in Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth's time." Bunyard says it has been known in England since about 1600. The Herefordshire Pomona says it has been cultivated in England for more than two hundred years. Coxe (1817) entered it as "English Nonpareil." Elliott (1865) and the Herefordshire Pomona (1885) entered it as "Old Nonpareil."

The Herefordshire Pomona finds it strange that "an apple of such excellence" should have received so little notice from almost all the early continental pomologists. By its account, Nonpareil is absent from the long list of the Jardinier François of 1653, from De la Quintinye, and from the Jardinier Solitaire. Schabol enumerates it, but Bretonnerie does not. It is first described by Duhamel and afterward by Knoop. The Chartreux Catalogue says "elle est forte estimee en Angleterre." Among English writers Switzer is the first to notice it. It is not mentioned by Rea, Worlidge, or Ray, nor enumerated in the list of Leonard Meager. It is figured by Lindley (Pl. 86) and by Ronalds (Pl. xxxiv).

In England its standing is high. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "one of the most highly esteemed and popular of all our dessert apples," held "in such estimation as the Nonpareil has always been." Coxe reports that in England "it is thought to be their finest table fruit." Veitch calls it "an old favourite variety of great excellence." Rivers calls it "excellent; a prime." Bunyard says it "is worthy of all commendation." Outside England it is less valued. The Herefordshire Pomona says "In America it is little esteemed." Thomas calls it "of little value here." Coxe finds it not so highly flavored "in our climate as in England."

Planted spring 1894 at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C.

Tree

Upright: straight and upright, of regular growth (Coxe), a free upright grower (Downing), upright spreading (Bunyard). The tree grows well and freely but scarcely reaches the middle size, and is rather tender (Herefordshire Pomona). Vigor is reported as vigorous at Agassiz and moderate by Bunyard.

Bearing is reported as great fruitfulness, an excellent bearer, or productive by most authors. Bunyard calls the fertility moderate, and Elliott calls it a "poor bearer."

Leaf medium, narrow, pea green, held up, much upfolded, boldly curved serrate (Bunyard).

The Herefordshire Pomona says it succeeds well as a standard. On the paradise stock it is well adapted to dwarf growth in a pot, as a pyramid, or as an espalier. In the northern counties and in Scotland it does not succeed as a standard. When grown there under the protection of a wall, the fruit lacks the fine, delicate, rich flavor of fruit grown in the south.

Fruit

Size: Small to medium. Most authors give medium, Coxe "about the middling size." Thomas calls it rather small, the Agassiz station below medium, and Bunyard and Veitch small. Bunyard measures it 2½ by 2.

Form: Roundish, flat to conical. Coxe, Elliott, and the Agassiz station call it flat. Downing and Bunyard call it roundish or round conical, and Thomas roundish ovate. The Herefordshire Pomona describes it as broad at the base and narrow toward the apex, apt to be fuller on one side than the other; Bunyard calls it regular.

Stem: An inch long (Herefordshire Pomona); fairly long (Bunyard).

Cavity: Round, even, lined with russet. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it pretty deep; Bunyard calls it moderate.

Calyx: Eye rather prominent, with broad segments reflexed at the tips (Herefordshire Pomona). The Herefordshire Pomona calls it half open; Bunyard calls it open.

Basin: Very shallow (Bunyard); the eye very slightly, if at all, depressed (Herefordshire Pomona).

Skin: Rough (Coxe). Ground color greenish yellow to yellowish green; Coxe gives dull green. Russet thin, gray or dull, in large patches. The Agassiz station puts the russet over nearly the whole surface and Bunyard calls it covering the skin, while Coxe gives only "a small portion of russet, mixed with black clouds and spots." Red on the side next the sun, from an occasional tinge of dull red (Herefordshire Pomona) to a red-brown flush (Bunyard). Elliott gives the color as yellowish reddish brown.

Dots: Small, brown, russety (Herefordshire Pomona), with some large conspicuous dots at the base (Bunyard). Bunyard says the conspicuous dots, with the obovate cells, distinguish Nonpareil from the White Nonpareil.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh greenish white or greenish; the Agassiz station gives yellowish. Crisp, delicate, tender, firm (Elliott), loose (Rivers). Most authors call it juicy; Coxe calls it "rather dry." Flavor rich, vinous, aromatic, sprightly, "highly flavoured" (Veitch). The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "a particularly rich, vinous, and aromatic flavour." Downing gives mild acid, and Thomas "rich, acid." Coxe says it "has a sprightly taste, but does not appear to be so highly flavoured in our climate as in England." Quality "Good" (Downing), "very good" (Agassiz station), "excellent" (Rivers).

Core and seeds: Cells obovate (Bunyard).

Season

The recorded season runs from November into May. Most authors give December through January or March. Coxe says it ripens in November and keeps through the winter. The Herefordshire Pomona and Veitch give January to May.

Uses

A dessert or table apple.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.