ST. MARTINS

Apple

ST. MARTINS

Origin/History

ST. MARTINS was raised and introduced by Messrs. Rivers (Thomas Rivers & Son).

Tree

The leaf is long, narrow, regularly crenate, upfolded and twisted.

Fruit

Size: Bunyard describes the fruit as medium. The Rivers catalogue describes it as large.

Form: Oval, tapering to the eye; very even in outline. The Rivers catalogue describes the shape as nutmeg.

Stem: Medium length, rather thin, set in a narrow cavity.

Cavity: Narrow.

Calyx: Eye closed, set in a rather shallow basin.

Basin: Rather shallow.

Skin: Smooth, with faint russet in patches. The Rivers catalogue notes the fruit as downy.

Color: Golden yellow, almost covered with brownish red, giving a greyish general appearance. The Rivers catalogue describes the color as "all" — entirely covered.

Flesh/Flavor: Moderately firm, pale yellow, juicy, and remarkably sweet. The Rivers catalogue describes the flavor as very rich. Bunyard considers ST. MARTINS "perhaps the sweetest of all apples."

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

The Rivers catalogue lists October to December as the season of use. Bunyard classifies ST. MARTINS as a dessert apple suitable until February, indicating good keeping qualities extending well past the harvest window.

Uses

Dessert.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 1 period pomological work

Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 2 catalogs (1900–1913) from England

George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as St. Martin's
Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913 — listed as St. Martin's

View original book sources (2)

ST. MARTINS. Dessert, till February, medium, oval, tapering to eye, very even. Skin, smooth, faint russet in patches. Colour, golden yellow almost covered with brownish red and greyish general appearance. Flesh, moderately firm, pale yellow, juicy, remarkably sweet. Eye, closed in a rather shallow basin. Stem, medium, rather thin, in a narrow cavity. Leaf, long, narrow, regularly crenate, upfolded and twisted. Origin, raised and introduced by Messrs. Rivers. Perhaps the sweetest of all apples.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

large, nutmeg, downy flavour very rich; colour all - Oct.-Dec.

— Thomas Rivers & Son, Thomas Rivers Catalogue of Fruits (1914) (1914)