Sturmer Pippin
Apple
Origin/History
This apple was raised by Mr. Dillistone, a nurseryman at Sturmer, near Haverhill, in Suffolk, England, and is said to have been obtained by impregnating the blossom of the Ribston Pippin with the pollen of the Nonpareil.
Tree
The tree grows freely to a medium size. It is very hardy and an excellent bearer. It forms a good espalier. Elliott describes the tree as healthy and a good bearer.
Fruit
Size: Below medium size. The Herefordshire Pomona gives dimensions of two inches and a quarter wide by one inch and three quarters high. Elliott describes it as rather small; Thomas as small.
Form: Roundish and somewhat flattened, narrowing towards the apex, a good deal resembling the old Nonpareil (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes it as oblate, approaching conic. Elliott describes it as roundish conical. Thomas describes it as oblate.
Skin: Of a lively green colour, changing to yellowish green as it attains maturity, and almost entirely covered with brown russet, with a tinge of dull red on the side next the sun (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes it as yellow, with a bronzed or crimson cheek. Elliott describes it as yellowish green, with brown dull red in sun. Thomas describes it as yellow and red.
Stem: Three quarters of an inch long, straight, inserted in a round, even and russetty cavity (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the stalk as of medium length, inserted in a large cavity.
Calyx/Eye: Eye small and closed, set in a shallow, irregular and angular basin (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the calyx as closed, with long segments, and the basin as shallow and uneven.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellow, firm, crisp, very juicy, with a brisk and rich sugary flavour (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the flesh as compact, rich subacid, rated Good. Elliott describes the flesh as firm, crisp, juicy, acid. Thomas describes the flavor as rich, sub-acid.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
February to June (Herefordshire Pomona). January to May (Downing). January to June (Elliott). Thomas gives Winter.
The Herefordshire Pomona notes it is not fit for use till the Ribston Pippin is nearly gone, and continues long after the Nonpareil. It keeps well (Elliott).
Uses
One of the most valuable dessert apples of its season, of first rate excellence, and highly desirable as well on account of its excellent flavour as from the fact of its arriving at perfection at a period when other favourite varieties are past (Herefordshire Pomona). The Herefordshire Pomona recommends it should have its place in every collection.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas associates this variety with Kentucky (Ky.).
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1897–1917) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (4)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- STURMER PIPPIN.
This Apple was raised by Mr. Dillistone, a nurseryman at Sturmer, near Haverhill, in Suffolk, and, it is said, was obtained by impregnating the blossom of the Ribston Pippin, with the pollen of the Nonpareil.
Description.—Fruit : below medium size, two inches and a quarter wide, by one inch and three quarters high ; roundish and somewhat flattened, and narrowing towards the apex, a good deal resembling the old Nonpareil. Skin : of a lively green colour, changing to yellowish green as it attains maturity, and almost entirely covered with brown russet ; it has a tinge of dull red on the side next the sun. Eye : small and closed, set in a shallow, irregular and angular basin. Stalk : three quarters of an inch long, straight, inserted in a round, even and russetty cavity. Flesh : yellow, firm, crisp, very juicy, with a brisk and rich sugary flavour.
This is one of the most valuable dessert Apples of its season : it is of first rate excellence, and highly desirable, as well on account of its excellent flavour, as from the fact of its arriving at perfection at a period when other favourite varieties are past. It is not fit for use till the Ribston Pippin is nearly gone, and continues long after the Nonpareil. The period of its perfection is from February to June.
The tree grows freely to a medium size. It is very hardy and an excellent bearer. It forms a good espalier and should have its place in every collection.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sturmer Pippin.
An English fruit. Below medium, oblate, approaching conic, yellow, with a bronzed or crimson cheek. Stalk of medium length, inserted in a large cavity. Calyx closed. Segments long. Basin shallow and uneven. Flesh compact, rich subacid. Good. January, May.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sturmer Pippin. Foreign. Tree, healthy, good bearer. Fruit, rather small, roundish conical, yellowish green, with brown dull red in sun ; flesh, firm, crisp, juicy, acid : keeps well. January to June.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Sturmer Pippin. Small, oblate, yellow and red; rich, sub-acid. Winter. Ky.