Nonpareil

Origin/History

An old English variety, known under numerous synonyms including English Nonpareil, Old Nonpareil, Hunt's Nonpareil, Loveden's Pippin, Reinette Nonpareil, Nonpareil d'Angleterre, Duc d'Arsel, and Grune Reinette (Downing). Thomas concurs: "English — of little value here."

Warder's account introduces a complication: he describes a fruit grown in Northern Illinois, with specimens supplied by Dr. Geo. Haskell of Rockford, whose history and origin "have not been ascertained." Warder himself cautioned that "it may prove to be an old variety with a changed name." The physical description and ripening season Warder records diverge substantially from the English Nonpareil as described by Downing and Thomas (see conflicts noted throughout below), raising the possibility that Warder's Illinois specimens represent a distinct regional variety bearing the same name.

Tree

Free, upright grower; productive (Downing). Not described in Warder or Thomas.

Fruit

Size: Downing gives medium; Thomas gives rather small. Warder, possibly describing a different fruit, gives medium to large.

Form: Roundish conical (Downing). Roundish ovate (Thomas). Warder: round, somewhat conic, angular, ribbed.

Stem: Long to medium, thick, green (Warder). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Cavity: Deep, acute, wavy, sometimes lipped (Warder). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Calyx: Eye small, closed (Warder). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Basin: Shallow, folded and plaited (Warder). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Skin: Yellowish green, with patches of dull russet and red in the sun (Downing). Greenish-yellow (Thomas). Warder's specimen diverges markedly: surface smooth, waxy-yellow, splashed crimson; dots minute.

Flesh and Flavor: Crisp, juicy, vinous, aromatic, mild acid; quality Good (Downing). Rich, acid (Thomas). Warder: flesh white, tender, fine-grained, juicy; flavor acid, aromatic; quality quite good.

Core and Seeds: Core wide, regular, open, meeting the eye; seeds numerous, angular, brown (Warder). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Season

December to March (Downing). December (Thomas). Warder's Illinois fruit: September and October — a difference of two to four months from the other sources, consistent with his suspicion that his specimens may represent a differently variety.

Uses

Table (Warder). Not described in Downing or Thomas.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Thomas appends a commercial judgment: "of little value here," indicating the variety was not well regarded for American cultivation in the early twentieth century.