Peasgood's Nonsuch
ApplePeasgood's Nonsuch
Origin/History
Raised by Mrs. Peasgood of Stamford, England, in 1858, from a seed of the Catshead Codlin (Bunyard). It first fruited in 1872, and the original tree was still growing at Stamford as of 1920 (Bunyard). Downing attributes the raising to "Mr. Peasgood, of Stamford, England." In England it was regarded as one of the valuable varieties introduced in the last fifty years (Beach, citing Hogg and Bunyard). It had been but little tested in the United States as of 1905 (Beach). At the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC, the variety was planted in the spring of 1894 (Central Experimental Farm).
Tree
Growth vigorous; fertile (Bunyard). The tree is a vigorous grower (Central Experimental Farm). It makes a flat spreading tree and is rather liable to canker (Bunyard). Leaf rather large, roundish, pea green, flat lax, finely crenate; falls early, turning greenish-yellow (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size
Large (Downing, Beach, Bunyard, Central Experimental Farm). Bunyard gives dimensions of 3½ by 2½ inches.
Form
Roundish oblate (Downing, Central Experimental Farm); round flattened, remarkably regular (Bunyard).
Stem
Stalk short, deeply inserted (Downing). Stem short in a very wide russet cavity (Bunyard).
Cavity
A very wide russet cavity (Bunyard). Downing notes the stalk is "deeply inserted," implying a deep cavity. Not otherwise described.
Calyx / Eye
Eye very large and open, set in a deep, round, and even basin (Downing). Eye nearly closed in a deep round, even basin (Bunyard). [Sources disagree on whether the eye is open or nearly closed; both descriptions agree the basin is deep, round, and even.]
Basin
Deep, round, and even (Downing, Bunyard).
Skin
Yellow, overspread on the sunny side with red, and copiously streaked with bright darker crimson streaks (Downing). Green or yellowish, blushed and striped with red (Beach). Golden-yellow with faint flush and a few broad broken stripes (Bunyard). Yellow with a pale blush and sprinkled with whitish dots (Central Experimental Farm). Downing likens the appearance to "a handsome and highly-colored Blenheim Pippin," and Bunyard calls it "one of the most beautiful fruits grown."
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh yellowish, tender, very juicy, with an agreeable acid flavor (Downing). Tender, yellowish, of pleasant flavour, and cooks frothily (Bunyard). Yellowish, tender, juicy, acid, with a pleasant flavour; quality good (Central Experimental Farm).
Core / Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September and October (Downing, Beach, Central Experimental Farm). September to November (Bunyard).
Uses
A fine culinary or dessert apple (Downing). An English culinary apple, excellent for culinary use (Beach). Culinary and exhibition; first rate for cooking (Bunyard).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Bunyard records the French name "Sanspareille de Peasgood" and cites Herefordshire Pomona, p. 61.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Beach, The Apples of New York Vol. 2 (1905)
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Peasgood's Nonesuch
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 9 catalogs (1897–1917) from England, Illinois
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Peasgood's Nonesuch.
This beautiful apple was raised by Mr. Peasgood, of Stamford, England, and is a fine culinary or dessert apple, and is like a handsome and highly-colored Blenheim Pippin.
Fruit large, roundish oblate; skin yellow, overspread on the sunny side with red, and copiously streaked with bright darker crimson streaks; stalk short, deeply inserted; eye very large and open, set in a deep, round, and even basin; flesh yellowish, tender, very juicy, with an agreeable acid flavor. September, October (Hogg).
[Additional entry in this volume: "Peasgood's Nonsuch", pp. 1235–1235]
Peasgood's Nonesuch.
This beautiful apple was raised by Mr. Peasgood, of Stamford, England, and is a fine culinary or dessert apple, and is like a handsome and highly-colored Blenheim Pippin.
Fruit large, roundish oblate; skin yellow, overspread on the sunny side with red, and copiously streaked with bright darker crimson streaks; stalk short, deeply inserted; eye very large and open, set in a deep, round, and even basin; flesh yellowish, tender, very juicy, with an agreeable acid flavor. September, October (Hogg).
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)PEASGOOD NONSUCH.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1881:100 app. 2. Hogg, 1884:170. 3. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:246. 4. Can. Hort., 15:346. 1892. 5. Bunyard, Jour. Roy. Hort. Soc., 1898:356.
SYNONYMS. PEASGOOD'S NONESUCH (1, 2, 5). PEASGOOD NONSUCH (3, 4).
An English culinary apple, very large, green or yellowish, blushed and striped with red, excellent for culinary use. In season during September and October (1). In England it is regarded as one of the valuable varieties introduced in the last fifty years (2, 5). It has been but little tested in this country.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)PEASGOOD'S NONSUCH. Her. Pom., 61. F., Sanspareille de Peasgood. Culinary and exhibition, September to November, large, 3½ by 2½, round flattened, remarkably regular. Colour, golden-yellow with faint flush and a few broad broken stripes. Flesh, tender, yellowish, of pleasant flavour and cooks frothily. Eye, nearly closed in a deep round, even basin. Stem, short in a very wide russet cavity. Growth, vigorous; fertile. Leaf, rather large, roundish, pea green, flat lax, finely crenate, falls early, turns greenish-yellow. Origin, raised by Mrs. Peasgood, of Stamford, in 1858, from a seed of the Catshead Codlin. First fruited in 1872. The original tree is still growing at Stamford. One of the most beautiful fruits grown; first rate for cooking. It makes a flat spreading tree. Rather liable to canker.
Peter the Great: see Cardinal.
Phillip's Seedling: see Cellini.
Pilot Russet: see Cockle's Pippin.
Pine Apple: see Lucombe's Pine.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1894. Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit large, roundish, oblate. Skin yellow with a pale blush and sprinkled with whitish dots. Flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, acid, with a pleasant flavour, quality good. Season October.