Roadstown Pippin

Apple

Roadstown Pippin

Origin/History

Originated in Roadstown, New Jersey, and introduced to notice by James McLean of that town (Downing).

Tree

A strong, erect grower that makes a large tree; a good bearer (Downing, Elliott). Regarded as a profitable market sort (Downing, Elliott).

Fruit

Size: Large.

Form: Oblate oblique (Downing); described by Elliott as roundish flattened and angular. Thomas concurs on oblate form.

Stem: Short and stout (Elliott).

Cavity: Deep (Elliott).

Calyx: Small and closed (Downing, Elliott).

Basin: Deep (Elliott).

Skin: Greenish yellow, sparsely sprinkled with green dots (Downing, Elliott).

Flesh/Flavor: White, tender, sprightly subacid (Downing; Elliott concurs on white, tender, subacid, omitting "sprightly"). Rated good to very good (Downing); "good" (Elliott).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Elliott gives August–September as the season. Downing gives "Middle of April to the middle of September," which conflicts substantially with Elliott's dating; Downing's figure may reflect an error in the printed text or an unusual storage range.

Uses

Excellent for cooking and drying (Downing). Regarded as a profitable market fruit, large and uniformly fair (Downing). Market and cooking (Thomas).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Roadstown Pippin.

Introduced to notice by James McLean, of Roadstown, N. J., and originated in that town. A strong, erect grower, and makes a large tree ; a good bearer, and a profitable market fruit, large and uniformly fair, excellent for cooking and drying. Size large, oblate oblique. Calyx small, and closed. Skin greenish yellow, sparsely sprinkled with green dots. Flesh white, tender, sprightly subacid. Good to very good. Middle of April to the middle of September.

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

Roadstown Pippin.

From Roadstown, N. Jersey. Tree, strong, erect grower, good bearer; market sort. Fruit, large, roundish flattened, angular; greenish yellow, with green dots; stem, short, stout; cavity, deep; calyx, small, closed; basin, deep; flesh, white, tender, sub-acid; "good." August, September.

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

Roadstown Pippin. Large, oblate, greenish-yellow; sprightly sub-acid—market and cooking. N. J.

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