Queen

Apple

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Queen

Origin / History

Raised in 1858 and introduced in 1880 by Mr. Saltmarsh, of Chelmsford. Bunyard (1920) names the raiser as Mr. W. Bull, a farmer of Billericay. The George Bunyard catalog of 1914 says it was raised by a cottager near Chelmsford. Honored by the R.H.S.: "F.C., R.H.S." in the George Bunyard catalog of 1901, and F.C.C. in Veitch (1911). Bunyard (1920) calls it "a useful fruit."

Tree

Growth strong, vigorous, and spreading. Fertile; Rivers calls it "a great bearer." Leaf large, flat, coarsely serrate or crenate (Bunyard, 1920).

Does well as a standard, making a large flat-headed tree (Bunyard, 1920). The George Bunyard catalog of 1901 says it "makes a fine Standard," and Veitch says it forms a good standard and a large pyramid. Excellent on Paradise; the 1901 catalog calls it an excellent garden tree on Paradise.

Fruit

Size: Large to very large; the George Bunyard catalogs say very large. Bunyard (1920) gives 3½ by 2½.

Form: Flat, irregular. Handsome in shape and appearance.

Stem: Short.

Cavity: Very wide and deep, with scaly russet.

Calyx: Eye closed.

Basin: Deep and wide.

Skin: Pale lemon-yellow to palest yellow; Veitch gives greenish yellow. Boldly and profusely striped and streaked with distinct red, and flushed with red.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: White, fine, tender to very tender. Sub-acid in the Bunyard sources; Veitch calls it acid. Veitch rates it "a variety of first quality."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

The recorded season runs from September into December. The Bunyard sources give October to December, and Veitch lists it in November. Rivers gives an earlier season, September to October. The George Bunyard catalog of 1901 says it is "in use for a long time."

Uses

Culinary; an excellent cooker.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Bunyard (1920) cites "Her. Pom., 39."

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 8 catalogs (1845–1917) from England, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington

Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894 — listed as The Queen
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as The Queen
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911 — listed as The Queen
Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913 — listed as The Queen
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914 — listed as The Queen
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917 — listed as The Queen

View original book sources (5)

QUEEN. Her. Pom., 39. (Saltmarsh's Queen, The Claimant.) Culinary, October to December, large, 3½ by 2½, flat, irregular. Colour, pale lemon-yellow with distinct red stripes and flush. Flesh, very tender, white, sub-acid, excellent cooker. Eye, closed in a deep, wide basin. Stem, short, in a very wide and deep cavity, which has scaly russet. Growth, strong and spreading; fertile. Leaf, large, flat, coarsely serrate or crenate. Origin, raised by Mr. W. Bull, a farmer of Billericay, in 1858, and introduced by Mr. Saltmarsh, of Chelmsford, in 1880. A useful fruit; does well as a standard, making a large flat headed tree.

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

Very large, handsome shape; in use for a long time. Makes a fine Standard, and an excellent garden tree on Paradise. F.C., R.H.S.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Fruit Catalogue (1901) (1901)

large and handsome, greenish yellow, profusely streaked with red, flesh tender and acid, a variety of first quality, it forms a large pyramid and good standard. F.C.C. ... November

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)

Culinary; Oct.-Dec. Very large, flat, palest yellow boldly striped; flesh white, sub-acid; excellent cooker; growth vigorous, excellent on paradise. Raised by a cottager near Chelmsford in 1858, and introduced by Mr. Saltmarsh in 1880.

— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)

handsome a great bearer; fine, white, tender and - Sept.-Oct.

— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)

Saltmarsh's Queen The Claimant Summer Queen Williams Winter Pearmain