Skyrme's Kernel
Apple
SKYRME'S KERNEL
Origin and History
The Skyrmes are an old Herefordshire family. A century or two before the 1885 publication, one branch held an estate at Brockhampton, called the Upper House, for several generations; this property passed to the Protheroes by marriage in 1788. Another branch of the Skyrmes lived at Dewsall, near Hereford. Historical record does not indicate which branch grew the Kernel that bears the family name, though it may very probably have been raised at Brockhampton, where trees of 100–150 years old (as of 1885) are found in that district of the county and may have spread from it. The apple is not mentioned in early pomological literature.
Tree
Hardy, of large size, with wide-spreading growth.
Fruit
Size: Small, about two inches wide and two inches high.
Form: Ovate or slightly conical, even and regular in outline, somewhat snouted towards the apex.
Skin: Smooth and shining. On the side next the sun, almost entirely covered with broken streaks of brilliant crimson on a thin pale crimson ground. On the shaded side, lemon yellow tinged with crimson and marked with pale crimson stripes. The whole surface is strewed with distinct russet dots.
Eye: Small, set in a narrow, round, and even basin. Segments connivent; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal.
Stalk: Short, or a fleshy knob, set in a deep wide cavity.
Flesh: Yellowish, firm, and crisp but not very juicy. Flavor acid and rather harsh.
Core: Cells closed.
Chemical Analysis
Mr. With's analysis of Skyrme's Kernel (season 1880):
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Density of fresh juice | 1.034 |
| Density after 24 hours exposure to air | 1.037 |
| Sugar (parts per 100 of juice) | 10.638 |
| Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c. (parts per 100) | 3.662 |
| Water (parts per 100) | 85.700 |
Uses and Cider Character
Highly esteemed and thought by many cider fruit growers to be second only to the Foxwhelp, with which it partakes somewhat of character. The cider has a peculiar flavor of its own, which improves considerably by keeping. It is better mixed with other apples of its season—such as the Styres, Styre Wilding, and Strawberry Norman—than made by itself; when made alone, it is apt to turn dark colored on exposure to air, even in glass.
Also used as a culinary fruit, where it gives its special flavor to pies and puddings, though it does not enter the market in this character.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- SKYRME'S KERNEL.
The Skyrmes are an old Herefordshire family, and a century or two since, one branch held an estate at Brockhampton, called the Upper House, for some generations. It passed to the Protheroes by marriage in 1788. Another branch of the Skyrmes lived at Dewsall, near Hereford. History is silent as to which of them grew the Kernel that bears the family name; but it may very probably have been reared at Brockhampton, for the trees there are some 100 or 150 years old; they are found in that district of the county, and may have spread from it. The apple is not mentioned by any of the old writers.
Description.—Fruit : small, about two inches wide and two inches high, ovate or slightly conical, even and regular in its outline, and somewhat snouted towards the apex. Skin : smooth and shining, almost entirely covered with broken streaks of brilliant crimson on a thin pale crimson ground on the side next the sun ; and lemon yellow, tinged with crimson, and marked with pale crimson stripes, on the shaded side ; the whole surface being strewed with distinct russet dots. Eye : small, set in a narrow, round and even basin ; segments, connivent ; tube, funnel shaped ; stamens, marginal. Stalk : short, or a fleshy knob, set in a deep wide cavity. Flesh : yellowish, firm, crisp but not very juicy, with an acid and rather harsh flavour. Cells of the core, closed.
Mr. With's analysis of Skyrmes Kernel (season 1880), is as follows :—
Density of fresh juice ... ... ... ... 1.034 Ditto after 24 hours exposure to air ... ... 1.037 One hundred parts by weight of juice yield :— Sugar ... ... ... ... ... 10.638 Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c. ... ... ... 3.662 Water ... ... ... ... ... 85.700
This Apple is very highly esteemed, and thought by many cider fruit growers to be second only to the Foxwhelp, and to partake somewhat of its character. Its cider has a peculiar flavour of its own, which improves very much by keeping; but it is better mixed with other apples of its season, such as the Styres, Styre Wilding, Strawberry Norman, &c. If made by itself it is apt to turn dark coloured on exposure to air, even in the glass. Skyrme's Kernel is also used by its growers as a culinary fruit, and gives its special flavour to pies and puddings ; but it does not come into the market in this character.
The tree is hardy, of large size, with wide-spreading growth.