Orange Pippin
Apple
Orange Pippin
Origin / History
Orange Pippin is an old variety whose origin has been variously reported. Downing (1900) describes it as having originated in Normandy. Beach (1905) reports that the variety known also as Isle of Wight Pippin, Isle of Wight Orange, Marygold and Marigold was disseminated from the Isle of Wight, where, as some have supposed, it was brought from Normandy. E.A. Bunyard (1920) gives the origin as unknown but notes that it has been grown in England at least 200 years, and that it is now little cultivated.
Beach (1905) notes that the references compiled under this name are not all to the same variety, and that at least two varieties have been known in the United States under the name Orange Pippin, neither of them now considered of superior value by fruit growers, and both going out of cultivation. The first (the Isle of Wight/Normandy form) was entered on the list of the American Pomological Society in 1869, dropped in 1871, and re-entered in 1873. E.A. Bunyard (1920) likewise observes that there seem to be two varieties under this name — the one he describes, and a large fruit of the Blenheim style. Downing (1900) also notes that there is an Orange Pippin grown in New Jersey differing from the Normandy/Isle of Wight type, but states that he was unable to obtain its history or description.
Tree
For the New Jersey strain, Beach (1905) describes the tree as vigorous, at first upright but eventually spreading, and a reliable biennial cropper.
E.A. Bunyard (1920) describes growth as good and the tree as fertile.
The Isle of Wight / Normandy form's tree characteristics are not described in source.
Fruit
Size
Medium (Downing 1900; Beach 1905, Isle of Wight form; E.A. Bunyard 1920; Lowther 1914). E.A. Bunyard gives dimensions of 3 by 2 inches. For the New Jersey strain, Beach (1905) gives the size as medium or above. George Bunyard (1901) describes it as a small apple.
Form
Roundish (Downing 1900; Beach 1905). Flattened round, regular (E.A. Bunyard 1920). Oblate (Lowther 1914).
Stem / Cavity
Stem slender, set in a fairly deep cavity (E.A. Bunyard 1920).
Calyx / Basin
Eye closed, in a shallow basin (E.A. Bunyard 1920).
Skin / Color
Rich orange yellow (Downing 1900). Yellowish, golden gray russeted and highly colored with orange and red on the sunny side (Beach 1905, Isle of Wight form). Orange-yellow, flushed with red (E.A. Bunyard 1920). Yellow-red (Lowther 1914). Pale greenish with some orange russet; in house keeping, the skin assumes a beautiful clear color — described as a handsome apple, worthy of growing for its beauty alone (George Bunyard 1901). For the New Jersey strain: pale yellow with some orange red in the sun (Beach 1905).
Flesh / Flavor
Firm, crisp, pleasant acid (Downing 1900; Beach 1905, Isle of Wight form), suitable for dessert. Tender, yellow, of fair flavour (E.A. Bunyard 1920). Sweetly flavored, with good flavor (George Bunyard 1901). Quality very good (Lowther 1914). For the New Jersey strain: flesh white, half fine, tender, pleasant subacid (Beach 1905).
Core / Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
October to January (Downing 1900; Beach 1905, Isle of Wight form). Dessert, till January (E.A. Bunyard 1920). Winter (Lowther 1914); keeps throughout winter (George Bunyard 1901). For the New Jersey strain: September and October (Beach 1905), described as a profitable summer market apple.
Uses
Valued mainly as a cider fruit (Downing 1900, Normandy origin). Suitable for dessert (Beach 1905; E.A. Bunyard 1920). Both kitchen and market (Lowther 1914). Excellent fruit for the cooler; excellent for any purpose (George Bunyard 1901). The New Jersey strain is described as a profitable summer market apple (Beach 1905).
Subtypes / Variants
At least two distinct varieties have circulated under the name Orange Pippin:
The Isle of Wight / Normandy form — medium, roundish, yellowish with golden gray russet and orange-red sun flush, firm crisp pleasant acid flesh, season October to January (Downing 1900; Beach 1905).
A New Jersey Orange Pippin — of unknown origin, tree vigorous and at first upright but eventually spreading, a reliable biennial cropper; fruit medium or above, pale yellow with some orange red in the sun, flesh white, half fine, tender, pleasant subacid; season September and October; a profitable summer market apple (Beach 1905; referenced also by Am. Pom. Soc. Cat. 1869, Downing 1872, Am. Pom. Soc. Cat. 1873, Thomas 1885, Lyon 1890).
E.A. Bunyard (1920) likewise notes two forms under this name: the one he describes (above) and a large fruit of the Blenheim style.
Other
Distribution as reported by Lowther (1914): 2 stations in the Northern Division (also reported in another division), 7 stations in the Central Division (also reported in another division), and 1 station in the Southern Division (also reported in another division).
Historical reference cited by E.A. Bunyard: Ronalds, p. 16.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (5)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Orange Pippin. Marigold Pippin. Isle of Wight Orange.
An old Apple, originated in Normandy, and valued mainly as a cider fruit.
Fruit medium, roundish, rich orange yellow. Flesh firm, crisp, pleasant acid. October to January.
There is also an Orange Pippin grown in New Jersey differing from this, but we have been unable to obtain its history or description.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)ORANGE PIPPIN.
REFERENCES. 1. Forsyth, 1803:54. 2. Ib., 1824:119. 3. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 4. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831: No. 587. 5. Kenrick, 1832:81. 6. Lindley, 1833:80. 7. Warder, 1867:728. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1869. 9. Downing, 1872:62 app. fig. 10. Leroy, 1873:457. fig. 11. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1873. 12. Hogg, 1884:116. 13. Ib., 1884:164. 14. Thomas, 1885:519. 15. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:296. 16. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:245.
SYNONYMS. Englesc Orange Appel (12). ISLE OF WIGHT PIPPIN (4, 12). Isle of Wight Pippin (5, 6). Isle of Wight Orange (4, 5, 6, 12). MARIGOLD (10). Marigold (5). Marigold Creed's (10). Marigold Pippin (2). Marygold (6). ORANGE (7). ORANGE PIPPIN (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16). Orange Pippin (4, 12). Pomme d'Orange (12).
The above references are not all to the same variety and are included only because in many cases it is uncertain which variety the writer had in mind. At least two varieties have been known in this country under the name Orange Pippin but so far as we can learn neither of them is now considered of superior value by fruit growers and both are going out of cultivation. One, which has been called also the Isle of Wight Pippin, Isle of Wight Orange, Marygold and Marigold, was disseminated from the Isle of Wight where, as some have supposed, it was brought from Normandy (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12). Fruit medium size, roundish, skin yellowish, golden gray russeted and highly colored with orange and red on the sunny side; flesh firm, crisp, pleasant acid, suitable for dessert; season October to January (6, 9). This was entered on the list of the American Pomological Society in 1869, dropped in 1871 and re-entered in 1873.
An Orange Pippin grown in some parts of New Jersey is described (8, 9, 11, 14, 15) as a profitable summer market apple of unknown origin. Tree vigorous, at first upright but eventually spreading; a reliable biennial cropper. Fruit medium or above, pale yellow with some orange red in the sun; flesh white, half fine, tender, pleasant subacid; season September and October.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Orange Pippin. Size: medium. Form: oblate. Color: yellow-red. Quality: very good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter. Reported by 2 stations in the Northern Division (also reported in another division), 7 stations in the Central Division (also reported in another division), and 1 station in the Southern Division (also reported in another division).
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)Small apple sweetly flavored, keeps fine, keeps throughout winter. Excellent fruit for the cooler. Excellent for any purpose. A handsome apple with good flavor. Pale greenish with some orange russet. Keeping in house, its skin assumes a beautiful clear color. Worthy of growing for its beauty alone.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)ORANGE PIPPIN. Ronalds, p. 16. Dessert, till January, medium, 3 by 2, flattened round, regular. Colour, orange-yellow, flushed with red. Flesh, tender, yellow, of fair flavour. Eye, closed in a shallow basin. Stem, slender in a fairly deep cavity. Growth, good; fertile. Origin, unknown. It has been grown in England at least 200 years. It is now little cultivated. There seem to be two varieties under this name, the above and a large fruit of the Blenheim style.