Rock Pippin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Rock Pippin
Origin/History
From Ohio. Warder (1867) lists the variety under the synonyms Ridge Pippin, Lemon, &c. Downing (1900) similarly notes the synonyms Lemon and Walnut Stem, and likewise records the origin as Ohio.
Tree
Tree very thrifty, large, and productive. Branches open and spreading. Shoots stout and dark. Foliage large and scattered. (Warder 1867.)
Fruit
Size and Form
Fruit full medium in size. Warder (1867) describes the form as oblong, ovate, angular, often ribbed, and truncate at the apex, sometimes unequal. Downing (1900) describes it as oblong conical. Lowther (1914) describes the form as oblate-round — conflicting with Warder and Downing, both of whom indicate an oblong form; this discrepancy may reflect a different strain or a cataloguing error.
Skin
Surface very smooth, very rich yellow, blushed bright carmine when ripe (Warder 1867). Downing (1900) describes the color as yellow, bronzed in the sun. Lowther (1914) records the color as yellow-red.
Dots
Dots few, small, and dark. (Warder 1867.)
Stem
Stem medium. (Warder 1867.)
Cavity
Cavity acute, often lipped. (Warder 1867.)
Calyx
Eye small, short, and closed. (Warder 1867.)
Basin
Basin shallow, plaited or folded. (Warder 1867.)
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh yellow, breaking, and rather dry. Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich. Quality rated only good. (Warder 1867.) Downing (1900) describes the flesh as firm. Cooks well all winter (Warder 1867).
Core and Seeds
Core medium, pyriform, open, and somewhat clasping. Seeds numerous, long, and brown. (Warder 1867.)
Season
Season December to May, of most value to sell at the latter period (Warder 1867). Lowther (1914) records a winter season. A good keeper; sound and beautiful in spring (Warder 1867; Downing 1900).
Uses
Market and kitchen (Warder 1867). Downing (1900) notes it as a profitable market fruit in spring. Lowther (1914) records family use. Cooks well all winter (Warder 1867).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Warder (1867) specifically commends Rock Pippin to the attention of the commercial orchardist on account of its soundness and beauty in spring, characterizing it as "this admirable long-keeper." Lowther (1914) assigns it catalog number 20 and designates it also as "Pippin."
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Somewhat confused with Ridge
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1904) from Illinois
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Rock Pippin.
RIDGE PIPPIN, LEMON, &C.
This admirable long-keeper has claims upon the attention of the commercial orchardist, on account of its soundness and beauty in the spring. Tree very thrifty, large, productive; Branches open, spreading; Shoots stout, dark; Foliage large, scattered.
Fruit full medium, oblong, ovate, angular, often ribbed, truncate at the apex, sometimes unequal; Surface very smooth, very rich yellow, blushed bright carmine when ripe; Dots few, small, dark.
Basin shallow, plaited or folded; Eye small, short, closed. Cavity acute, often lipped; Stem medium.
Core medium, pyriform, open, somewhat clasping; Seeds numerous, long, brown; Flesh yellow, breaking, rather dry; Flavor acid to sub-acid, rich; Quality only good; Use, market and kitchen; Season, December to May; of most value to sell at the latter period.
Cooks well all winter.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Rock Pippin. Lemon. Walnut Stem. From Ohio. Fruit medium, oblong conical, yellow, bronzed in sun. Flesh firm, and a good keeper, and in spring profitable market fruit. (O. P. S.)
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Rock Pippin (also known as Pippin) (20): medium size; oblate-round form; yellow-red color; good quality; family use; winter season.