Republican Pippin

Apple

Republican Pippin

Origin/History

Originated in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. First discovered by George Webb, who gave the variety its name. Elliott (1865) also lists it under the name Red Republican, and notes it had been considerably distributed through the South and West by that time. Elliott further notes that it is a poor bearer on deep, rich limestone soils.

Tree

A strong grower, with a crooked growth habit (Downing, Thomas). Elliott describes the habit as spreading. All three sources agree the tree is a moderate or poor bearer — Downing and Thomas call it "moderately productive" and a "moderate bearer" respectively; Elliott calls it a poor bearer, specifically in the context of deep, rich limestone soils.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large. Downing describes the shape as irregularly oblate; Elliott as roundish flattened; Thomas as round-oblate. These accounts are in substantial agreement on a round, flattened outline.

Skin — Ground Color: Downing describes the ground color as dull yellow, mostly shaded with red. Elliott gives greenish yellow, mottled and striped with red. Thomas specifies the shaded areas as greenish yellow, over what he describes as a mottled reddish ground, with the greenish yellow appearing in the shade. There is minor disagreement between Downing's "dull yellow" and Elliott's and Thomas's "greenish yellow."

Skin — Markings: Striped and mottled/marbled with red (all three sources in agreement). Downing describes the variety as "somewhat striped and marbled." Thomas specifies it is "striped with red on a mottled reddish ground."

Skin — Dots: Thinly sprinkled with large gray dots (Downing); few large gray dots (Elliott). Sources agree on large gray dots.

Stem: Slender (all three sources). Downing describes it as long; Thomas gives the length as approximately one inch.

Cavity: Narrow (Elliott). Thomas adds that the cavity is sometimes marked with radiating russet rays.

Calyx: Small. Downing describes it as closed; Elliott as nearly closed.

Basin: Not described in source.

Core: Small (Elliott only).

Seeds: Brown (Elliott only).

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh color described as whitish by Downing, and as yellowish white by Elliott; Thomas does not specify color. All three sources describe the flesh as tender and sub-acid. Thomas adds a distinctive flavor note: "a pleasant, peculiar, somewhat walnut flavor." Downing describes the overall taste as "pleasant subacid." Elliott and Downing both note the flesh as juicy (Downing explicitly; Elliott's "tender" implies it). Quality rated Good by Downing.

Season

September to October (all sources). Thomas notes that while it ripens in early to mid-autumn, it is also useful as a cooking apple earlier in the summer before full ripeness.

Uses

Cooking and drying. Thomas calls it "excellent for drying." Downing lists cooking and drying. Thomas also notes its value as a cooking apple in summer.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Republican Pippin.

Origin, Lycoming Co., Pa. First discovered by George Webb, who gave it the name. Tree of strong, but crooked growth, only moderately productive.

Fruit large, irregularly oblate, dull yellow, mostly shaded with red, somewhat striped and marbled, and thinly sprinkled with large gray dots. Stalk long, slender. Calyx small, closed. Flesh whitish, tender, juicy, pleasant subacid. Good. Cooking and drying. September, October.

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

Republican Pippin. Red Republican. From Lycoming Co., Pa. Considerably distributed South and West. A poor bearer, on deep, rich limestone soils. Tree, strong grower, spreading habit. Fruit, large, roundish flattened, greenish yellow, mottled and striped with red, few large gray dots; stem, slender; cavity, narrow; calyx, small, nearly closed; core, small; seeds, brown; flesh, yellowish white, tender, sub-acid. September to October.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Republican Pippin. Large, round-oblate; striped with red on a mottled reddish ground, greenish yellow in the shade; stalk an inch long, slender; cavity sometimes with radiating russet rays; flesh tender, sub-acid, with a pleasant, peculiar, somewhat walnut flavor. Ripens early and mid-autumn, but is a good cooking apple in summer. Excellent for drying. Tree a strong and crooked grower—moderate bearer. Origin, Lycoming County, Pa.

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

Red Republican Red Republican