Orange Pippin

Origin / History

Orange Pippin is an old apple of uncertain origin. Downing reports it as originating in Normandy, valued mainly as a cider fruit. Beach notes that one form — also called Isle of Wight Pippin, Isle of Wight Orange, Marygold, and Marigold — was disseminated from the Isle of Wight, where some have supposed it was brought from Normandy. Bunyard gives the origin as unknown but states it has been grown in England at least 200 years; by 1920 it was little cultivated. Beach observes that at least two varieties have been known in America under the name Orange Pippin, neither of which was considered of superior value by fruit growers by his time, both then going out of cultivation. The Isle of Wight form was entered on the list of the American Pomological Society in 1869, dropped in 1871, and re-entered in 1873. A distinct Orange Pippin grown in some parts of New Jersey is described in the American sources as a profitable summer market apple of unknown origin; Downing notes that he was unable to obtain its history or description. Bunyard remarks that there seem to be two varieties under this name — the small dessert form described in Ronalds, and a large fruit of the Blenheim style. Downing additionally describes an "Isle of Wight Pippin" form as "a very old Apple, described in Ronalds as fine for dessert."

Tree

For the New Jersey form, the tree is described as vigorous, at first upright but eventually spreading, and a reliable biennial cropper (Beach). Bunyard reports growth as good and the tree as fertile. The Isle of Wight / Normandy form's tree characteristics are not described in source.

Fruit

Size

Sources disagree. Downing (Orange Pippin entry) and Beach (Isle of Wight form) give medium. Downing's separate "Isle of Wight Pippin" entry gives small. Bunyard gives medium, with dimensions of 3 by 2 inches. The George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue describes it as a small apple. Thomas Rivers Catalogue describes it as "very large and handsome." Lowther gives medium. The New Jersey form is medium or above (Beach). Beach also notes there is a large fruit of the Blenheim style known under this name.

Form

Roundish (Downing, Downing's Isle of Wight Pippin entry, Beach's Isle of Wight form). Bunyard gives flattened round, regular. Lowther gives oblate.

Stem

Bunyard: slender, in a fairly deep cavity. Not otherwise described in source.

Cavity

Bunyard: fairly deep (around a slender stem). Not otherwise described in source.

Calyx / Eye

Bunyard: eye closed, in a shallow basin. Not otherwise described in source.

Basin

Bunyard: shallow. Not otherwise described in source.

Skin

For the Isle of Wight / Normandy form: rich orange yellow (Downing); yellowish, golden gray russeted and highly colored with orange and red on the sunny side (Beach); orange-yellow, flushed with red (Bunyard). Downing's "Isle of Wight Pippin" entry: yellow, bright orange in sun, with sometimes a brownish cheek. Lowther: yellow-red. The New Jersey form: pale yellow with some orange red in the sun (Beach).

Flesh / Flavor

For the Isle of Wight / Normandy form: firm, crisp, pleasant acid (Downing, Beach), suitable for dessert (Beach). Downing's "Isle of Wight Pippin" entry: firm, juicy, rich, aromatic, acid. Bunyard: tender, yellow, of fair flavour. George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue: sweetly flavored. Lowther: quality very good. Thomas Rivers Catalogue: "a most excellent apple." The New Jersey form: flesh white, half fine, tender, pleasant subacid (Beach).

Core / Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

For the Isle of Wight / Normandy form: October to January (Downing, Beach). Downing's "Isle of Wight Pippin" entry: January, February. Bunyard: dessert, till January. George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue: keeps fine, keeps throughout winter. Thomas Rivers Catalogue: October–December. Lowther: winter. The New Jersey form: September and October — a summer market apple (Beach).

Uses

Downing: valued mainly as a cider fruit (Orange Pippin entry). Beach: suitable for dessert (Isle of Wight form); profitable summer market apple (New Jersey form). Downing's Isle of Wight Pippin entry and Bunyard: dessert. Lowther: both kitchen and market. George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue: excellent fruit for the cooler; excellent for any purpose.

Subtypes / Variants

Beach distinguishes two varieties known in America under the name Orange Pippin: (1) the Isle of Wight / Normandy form (also called Isle of Wight Pippin, Isle of Wight Orange, Marygold, Marigold), and (2) a New Jersey form of unknown origin, a profitable summer market apple. Bunyard likewise notes there seem to be two varieties under this name — the small dessert form described in Ronalds, and a large fruit of the Blenheim style. Downing similarly notes "there is also an Orange Pippin grown in New Jersey differing from this." Downing additionally carries a separate "Isle of Wight Pippin" entry — small, roundish, yellow with bright orange in sun and sometimes a brownish cheek; flesh firm, juicy, rich, aromatic, acid; season January–February — described in Ronalds as fine for dessert.

Other

Lowther reports Orange Pippin from 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). Beach cautions that the references collected under this name "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." Bunyard cites Ronalds, p. 16 as the reference for the form he describes.