Rock Pippin

Origin/History

From Ohio, according to Downing. Also known historically as Ridge Pippin, Lemon, Walnut Stem, and Pippin.

Tree

Very thrifty, large, and productive (Warder). Branches open and spreading. Shoots stout and dark. Foliage large, scattered.

Fruit

Size

Full medium (Warder; confirmed by Downing and Lowther).

Form

Warder describes the fruit as oblong, ovate, angular, often ribbed, truncate at the apex, and sometimes unequal. Downing describes it as oblong conical. Lowther, however, describes the form as oblate-round — a significant departure from the oblong form reported by both Warder and Downing.

Stem

Medium length (Warder). Downing notes the synonym "Walnut Stem," suggesting a characteristic stem. Cavity acute, often lipped (Warder).

Cavity

Acute, often lipped (Warder).

Calyx

Eye small, short, closed (Warder).

Basin

Shallow, plaited or folded (Warder).

Skin

Surface very smooth (Warder). Color very rich yellow, blushed bright carmine when ripe (Warder). Downing describes it as yellow, bronzed in the sun — suggesting the carmine blush may appear as a bronze tone under sun exposure rather than a vivid flush. Lowther describes the color as yellow-red, consistent with a blushed yellow fruit.

Dots few, small, dark (Warder).

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh yellow, breaking, rather dry (Warder). Warder and Downing conflict slightly on texture: Warder calls the flesh "breaking, rather dry," while Downing calls it "firm." Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich (Warder). Quality rated "only good" by Warder; Lowther rates it simply "good."

Core and Seeds

Core medium, pyriform, open, somewhat clasping (Warder). Seeds numerous, long, brown (Warder).

Season

December through May, with the fruit of most value when sold in the latter part of the season — i.e., spring (Warder). Downing likewise identifies it as a profitable spring market fruit. Lowther lists the season as winter.

Uses

Market and kitchen (Warder). Cooks well all winter (Warder). A profitable market fruit in spring on account of its soundness and beauty at that late date (Warder, Downing). Lowther describes it as suited to family use.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Rock Pippin is described by Warder as an admirable long-keeper with particular claims on the commercial orchardist's attention for its soundness and beauty in the spring — a variety whose chief value lies in its ability to carry through winter in good condition to the late-season market.