Spring Pippin
AppleSpring Pippin
Origin/History
Originated in Springport, Cayuga County, New York (Downing; Thomas). Referenced in Elliott (1854), Warder (1867), Downing (1869), Ragan's U.S.B.P.I. Bulletin 56 (1905), and Burrill and McCluer's Illinois Station Bulletin 45.
Tree
Upright, thrifty, unproductive (Elliott; Downing).
Fruit
Size
Above medium (Elliott; Downing). Thomas describes it as medium.
Form
Roundish (Elliott; Thomas). Downing specifies roundish oblong.
Stem
Short (Elliott).
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Closed (Elliott).
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Yellowish green, with few scattered minute dots (Elliott). Downing and Thomas confirm yellowish-green.
Flesh/Flavor
Crisp, sprightly sub-acid (Elliott; Downing). Downing specifies the flesh is yellowish white. Thomas rates the flavor as sub-acid, very good.
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
December to May (Elliott; Downing). Thomas describes it simply as a winter apple.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Beach (Apples of New York, Vol. 1, 1905) includes Spring Pippin as a reference entry only, citing prior pomological literature without providing an independent description. A Stanard plate illustration appears on page 534 of that volume.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Spring Pippin Springport Pippin. Tree, unproductive, upright, thrifty. Fruit, above medium, roundish, yellowish green, with few scattered minute dots; calyx, closed; stem, short; flesh, crisp, sprightly sub-acid. December to May.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Spring Pippin.
Springport Pippin.
Origin, Springport, Cayuga Co., N. Y. Tree upright, thrifty, unproductive.
Fruit above medium, roundish oblong, yellowish green. Flesh yellowish white, crisp, sprightly subacid. December to May. (Elliott.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Springport Pippin. Medium, roundish, yellowish-green; sub-acid, very good. Winter. Cayuga County, N. Y.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)SPRING PIPPIN.
References. 1. Elliott, 1854:158. 2. Warder, 1867:732. 3. Downing, 1869:806. 4. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul. 56:291. 1905. 5. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul. 45:342.
Synonyms. Spring Pippin (6). Springport (6). Springport Pippin (1, 3, 5, 6).
[Additional entry in this volume: "Springport", pp. 533–533]
NOTE: No separate entry for Springport exists in this volume. The name appears only within the SYNONYMS section of the SPRING PIPPIN entry (p. 533): "Synonyms. Spring Pippin (6). Springport (6). Springport Pippin (1, 3, 5, 6)." Page 534 is the Stanard plate illustration. Springport is a synonym for Spring Pippin, not a standalone entry.