Pitmaston Golden Pippin

Pitmaston Golden Pippin

Origin/History

Raised by Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston, about 1838, described by Bunyard as "probably from a seed of the Golden Pippin." By 1920 it was already becoming rare — Bunyard notes it as "a very nice little fruit now seldom met." Downing's description is attributed to Hogg, indicating it was known in British pomological literature before its appearance in American sources.

Tree

Growth moderate; fertile. (Bunyard.)

Fruit

Size: Small. Bunyard gives dimensions of 2⅔ by 2⅓ inches.

Form: Round (both sources). Bunyard adds that it is flattened at the top.

Stem: Very slender and short. (Bunyard.)

Cavity: Very even and narrow. (Bunyard.)

Calyx: Wide open. (Bunyard.)

Basin: Very broad and shallow. (Bunyard.)

Skin: The two sources describe the color somewhat differently. Downing (citing Hogg) calls it rough, pale yellowish brown russet. Bunyard describes it as pale golden-yellow with russet and a very faint brown-red flush, without noting roughness. The russet character is consistent across both accounts; the ground color is described as brownish by Downing and golden-yellow by Bunyard.

Flesh/Flavor: Downing (Hogg) describes the flesh as deep yellow, crisp, tender, juicy, and sweet. Bunyard describes it as yellow, very crisp and juicy, and nicely flavoured. Both agree on crispness and juiciness; Downing specifies "deep yellow" where Bunyard says simply "yellow," and Downing's "sweet" maps to Bunyard's "nicely flavoured."

Season

Downing (Hogg) gives December. Bunyard classifies it as a dessert apple keeping until January.

Uses

Dessert. (Bunyard.)

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.