QUEEN

Origin/History

QUEEN was raised by Mr. W. Bull, a farmer of Billericay, in 1858, and introduced by Mr. Saltmarsh, of Chelmsford, in 1880. It is referenced in the Herefordshire Pomona at plate 39, where it appears under the additional names Saltmarsh's Queen and The Claimant.

Tree

Growth is strong and spreading; the tree is fertile and makes a large, flat-headed tree when grown as a standard. Described as a great bearer. Leaf large, flat, coarsely serrate or crenate.

Fruit

Size and Form

Bunyard describes the fruit as large, measuring approximately 3½ inches by 2½ inches, and flat in form, with an irregular outline. Veitch describes the fruit as medium size — a possible conflict with Bunyard's "large," or reflective of variation.

Stem

Stem short, set in a very wide and deep cavity, which is lined with scaly russet.

Cavity

Very wide and deep, with scaly russet.

Calyx

Eye closed, set in a deep, wide basin.

Basin

Deep and wide.

Skin

Pale lemon-yellow ground colour, with distinct red stripes and a red flush. Described as handsome (Rivers).

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh very tender and white, sub-acid, an excellent cooker (Bunyard). Rivers similarly notes fine, white, tender flesh. Veitch describes good colour, pleasant flavour, and excellent cooking quality.

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Sources give differing season information that likely reflect different stages of the fruit's life. Rivers gives September–October, which may indicate picking season. Bunyard places the culinary season October to December. Veitch lists January and February, consistent with QUEEN being a good keeper that extends into the new year — Veitch also explicitly notes it as a good keeper.

Uses

Culinary (cooking apple). Bunyard calls it "a useful fruit" that does well as a standard. Veitch confirms it is excellent for cooking.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.