PITMASTON PINE APPLE

Apple

Pitmaston Pine-Apple

Origin/History

This variety was first shown at the Royal Horticultural Show in 1845. The origin then given was that it had been raised from the Old Golden Pippin more than sixty years prior (placing its raising at approximately the 1780s) by Mr. White, of Witley, steward to Lord Foley. Hogg attributes the raising to Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston; Bunyard disputes this, stating it was only sent to London by Williams, not originated by him. Bunyard (1920) notes that this is one of the old fruits that have been neglected on account of their small size, but that its distinct and delicious flavour should give it a place in the gardens of connoisseurs.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Small. Bunyard gives dimensions of 2 inches by 2 inches.

Form: Conical (Downing); oblong conical, with the shape of Adam's Pearmain (Bunyard).

Stem: Rather stout, approximately half an inch in length (Bunyard).

Cavity: Narrow, shallow, and very round (Bunyard).

Calyx/Eye: Closed, set in a very shallow basin or level with the surface of the fruit, surrounded by many minute ribs (Bunyard).

Basin: Very shallow, or essentially flush with the surface (Bunyard).

Skin: Downing describes the color as yellowish brown russet. Bunyard describes it as golden-yellow, almost completely covered with very fine cinnamon russet.

Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish (Downing) / yellow (Bunyard), firm. Downing adds: crisp and sugary. Bunyard adds: juicy, with a most deliciously scented and honeyed flavour.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Downing gives December and January. Bunyard describes it as a dessert variety in use until December, suggesting peak use somewhat earlier in the season. Both sources agree it is a late-keeping variety.

Uses

Dessert (Bunyard).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Downing's entry cites Hogg as the source for his description. Bunyard's account of the origin controversy (White vs. Williams) serves to correct what he regards as a persistent misattribution in earlier literature including Hogg.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Pitmaston Pine-Apple

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 4 catalogs (1900–1913) from England, Illinois

Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 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

View original book sources (2)

Pitmaston Pine-Apple. Fruit small, conical, yellowish brown russet. Flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, sugary. December, January. (Hogg.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

PITMASTON PINE APPLE. Dessert, till December, small, 2 by 2, oblong, conical, shape of Adam's Pearmain. Colour, golden-yellow, almost covered with very fine cinnamon russet. Flesh, yellow, firm, juicy with a most deliciously scented and honeyed flavour. Eye, closed, in a very shallow basin or level with surface surrounded by many minute ribs. Stem, rather stout, half-inch, in a narrow, shallow, very round cavity. Origin, this was first shown at the Royal Horticultural Show, in 1845, and the origin then given was that it was raised from the Old Golden Pippin, more than sixty years ago, by Mr. White, of Witley, steward to Lord Foley. Hogg says it was raised by Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston, but this is evidently wrong as it was only sent to London by him. This is one of the old fruits which have been neglected on account of their small size, but its distinct and delicious flavour should give it a place in the gardens of connoisseurs.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

Ananas de Pitmaston