Summer Golden Pippin
Apple
Origin/History
An English variety. Downing (1900) describes it as "a nice little English dessert Apple, but inferior to many of our own." The Herefordshire Pomona (1885) notes it is very frequently grown in Herefordshire, where it attains a larger size than it appears to do elsewhere.
Tree
The tree is small, about one-third of the ordinary size. It succeeds well when grafted on the doucin or paradise stock, and is an early and abundant bearer. It is most prolific. When grown on the "pomme paradis" of the French, it forms a beautiful little tree, which can be successfully cultivated in pots.
Fruit
Size: Below medium size, two inches and a quarter broad at the base and two inches and a quarter high, according to the Herefordshire Pomona. Downing, Elliott, and Thomas all describe it simply as small.
Form: Ovate, flattened at the ends. Downing concurs on ovate form, specifying flattened at the eye. Elliott alone describes it as roundish oblong.
Stem: Thick, a quarter of an inch long, completely imbedded in a moderately deep cavity which is lined with russet.
Cavity: Moderately deep, lined with russet.
Calyx: Eye open, set in a wide, shallow, and slightly plaited basin.
Basin: Wide, shallow, and slightly plaited.
Skin: Smooth and shining, pale yellow on the shaded side, but tinged with orange and brownish red on the side next the sun, and strewed over with minute russety dots. Downing describes it as bright yellow with a little orange next the sun. Elliott and Thomas note simply yellow.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, firm, very juicy, with a rich vinous and sugary flavour, according to the Herefordshire Pomona. Downing describes the flesh as yellow, firm, crisp, and rich, rating it "good to very good." Elliott describes the flesh as whitish, firm, and sweet. Thomas says simply "rich."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripe at the end of August and keeps about a fortnight (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing and Thomas give August. Elliott extends the season to August and September.
Uses
A dessert apple. Since the fruit so quickly loses its freshness, the Herefordshire Pomona notes that when not sold or given away, it will make a delicious apple jelly. The Herefordshire Pomona also recommends it as suitable for pot cultivation on paradise rootstock, and declares it ought to form part of every collection, however small.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1897–1901) from Arkansas, England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- Yarbrough Bros. , Stephens , Arkansas — 1901
View original book sources (4)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- SUMMER GOLDEN PIPPIN.
[Syn. : Summer Pippin; White Summer Pippin]
Description.—Fruit ; below medium size, two inches and a quarter broad at the base, and two inches and a quarter high ; ovate, flattened at the ends. Skin ; smooth and shining, pale yellow on the shaded side, but tinged with orange and brownish red on the side next the sun, and strewed over with minute russety dots. Eye ; open, set in a wide, shallow, and slightly plaited basin. Stalk ; thick, a quarter of an inch long, completely imbedded in a moderately deep cavity, which is lined with russet. Flesh ; yellowish, firm, very juicy, with a rich vinous and sugary flavour.
This is one of the most delicious summer apples, and ought to form one of every collection, however small. It is ripe the end of August, and keeps about a fortnight.
The tree is small, about one-third of the ordinary size ; it succeeds well when grafted on the doucin or paradise stock ; and is an early and abundant bearer. The Summer Golden Pippin is very frequently grown in Herefordshire, and attains a larger size than it appears to do elsewhere. It is most prolific, and since the fruit so quickly loses its freshness, it is well to remember that when not sold, or given away, it will make a delicious apple jelly.
When grown on the "pomme paradis" of the French, it forms a beautiful little tree, which can be successfully cultivated in pots.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Summer Golden Pippin.
A nice little English dessert Apple, but inferior to many of our own.
Fruit small, ovate, flattened at the eye, bright yellow, with a little orange next the sun. Flesh yellow, firm, crisp, and rich. Good to very good. August.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Summer Golden Pippin.
Foreign. Small, roundish oblong, yellow ; flesh, whitish, firm, sweet. August, September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Summer Golden Pippin. Small, ovate, yellow; rich. August. English.