Pound Royal

Apple

Pound Royal

Origin/History

The sources conflict on origin. Downing considers it probably of French origin. Thomas gives the origin as Pomfret, Connecticut. Thomas also notes that the name "Pomme Royale" has been applied to this variety erroneously. Downing lists it under the alternate name Winter Pound Royal.

Tree

The tree is spreading, with long slender branches (Downing). Young shoots are light brown (Downing). Thomas describes the tree as vigorous and productive.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large. Roundish oblong conical (Downing); Thomas describes it as sometimes furrowed, roundish, slightly oblong. Surface slightly uneven (Downing) to a little uneven (Thomas).

Stem: Slender, an inch and a quarter long (Thomas).

Cavity: Large (Thomas).

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Furrowed, regular (Thomas).

Skin: Pale yellowish white (Downing), whitish yellow (Thomas), rarely with a faint blush. When ripe, marked with a few large ruddy or dark specks (Downing).

Flesh/Flavor: Very tender (Downing), tender (Thomas), breaking, fine-grained. Mild, agreeable, aromatic subacid (Downing); mild, agreeable, sprightly (Thomas). Rated Good (Downing). Downing notes the fruit is apt to be unfair unless grown under high culture.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Ripens through winter (Thomas). In use from December to April (Downing).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Pound Royal. Winter Pound Royal. Probably of French origin. Fruit apt to be unfair, unless with high culture. Tree spreading, with long slender branches. Young shoots Light brown. Fruit large, roundish oblong conical, with a slightly uneven surface, pale yellowish white, rarely with a faint blush, and marked when ripe with a few large ruddy or dark specks. Flesh very tender, breaking, fine-grained, with a mild, agreeable, aromatic subacid. Good. In use from December to April.

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

Pound Royal. (Pomme Royale, erroneously.) Large, sometimes furrowed, roundish, slightly oblong, a little uneven; surface whitish yellow; stalk slender, an inch and a quarter long, cavity large; basin furrowed, regular; flesh tender, breaking, fine-grained, mild, agreeable, sprightly. Ripens through winter. Tree vigorous, productive. Origin, Pomfret, Conn.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Pomme Royale Winter Pound Royal Dyer Fall Pippin American Golden Pippin Golden Pippin Summer Pound Royal Lowell Pound Royale Long Red Pearmain Kaighn's Spitzenburg McAFEE Ohio Nonpareil Richard's Graft Herefordshire Pearmain Champlain Lowre Queen Fall Harvey White Spanish Reinette Gloria Mundi Catshead White Seek-no-farther