Norfolk Beefing
AppleNorfolk Beefing
Origin / History
Origin Norfolk (Bunyard), who says it was brought into notice about 1800 and cites Ronalds, p. 33. Thomas lists it as English; Elliott lists it as "Foreign". Elliott and Thomas give the name as Norfolk Beaufin.
Tree
Growth vigorous, making a spreading, open tree; fertile. Leaf round, dark green, large, flat, coarsely curved serrate (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Large (Elliott, Thomas); medium, 3 by 2½ (Bunyard).
Form: Flat (Elliott), oblate (Thomas), round flattened (Bunyard).
Stem: Very short.
Cavity: Deep, slightly russet.
Calyx: Eye open.
Basin: Wide, ribbed.
Skin: Ground greenish (Elliott) or green (Bunyard), mostly covered with dull red; Bunyard gives "green nearly covered with dull brown crimson".
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh firm, greenish-yellow. Elliott calls it sub-acid; Bunyard calls it acid. Thomas rates it "poor"; Elliott calls it "good" for drying.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November to May (Elliott); till April (Bunyard). Thomas calls it a "good keeper"; Bunyard says it keeps plump till the end.
Uses
Culinary (Bunyard); cooking (Thomas); good for drying (Elliott). Bunyard calls it "a useful late fruit".
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as NORFOLK BEAUFIN
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Norfolk Beaufin
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)NORFOLK BEAUFIN. Read's Baker, | Catshead Beaufin. Foreign. Large, flat, dull red on greenish ; flesh, sub-acid, good drying. November to May.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Norfolk Beaufin. Large, oblate, dull red; flesh firm, poor—cooking. Good keeper. English.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)NORFOLK BEEFING.
Ronalds, p. 33. G., Schoener von Norfolk. (Catshead Beaufin, Red Beefing, Taliesin, Winter Beefing.)
Culinary, till April, medium, 3 by 2½, round flattened. Colour, green nearly covered with dull brown crimson. Flesh, firm, greenish-yellow, acid. Eye, open in a wide ribbed basin. Stem, very short, in a deep slightly russet cavity. Growth, vigorous, making a spreading open tree; fertile. Leaf, round, dark green, large, flat, coarsely curved serrate. Origin, Norfolk; brought into notice about 1800. A useful late fruit, keeping plump till the end.