Tinmouth
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin & History
Originated at Tinmouth, Vermont. Downing noted it was "much esteemed in the region of its origin" and called it a profitable sort. Beach reported that Waugh considered it "a good apple," stating it was "almost unknown in Grand Isle county but is much more common in other parts of Vermont." Beach adds that as of 1905, "so far as we have discovered it is but little known in New York" and judged it not desirable for general commercial planting there. The variety appeared in the American Pomological Society Catalog beginning in 1862.
Tree
A good grower with an upright habit (Beach). Very productive and a regular cropper. Young shoots dull brownish red, slightly downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Above medium (Downing, Elliott); medium to large (Beach).
Form: Oblate (Downing, Elliott); oblate to roundish, regular or obscurely ribbed, with sides often distinctly unequal (Beach).
Stem: Short, inserted in a deep cavity (Downing, Elliott). Beach describes the stem as often bracted, short to medium, usually not exserted.
Cavity: Large, acute or approaching acuminate, deep, broad, russeted and with outspreading russet rays (Beach). Downing and Elliott describe it simply as deep.
Calyx: Partially closed, set in a deep open basin (Downing). Beach describes the calyx as small, partly closed or open, with lobes often small, sometimes long, acute, recurved.
Basin: Deep and open (Downing); rather large (Elliott); rather large, deep, moderately wide, abrupt to moderately abrupt, often somewhat wrinkled (Beach).
Skin: Tender (Beach). Whitish yellow, considerably shaded with carmine, and sprinkled with a few brown dots (Downing, Elliott). Beach describes the skin as pale yellow or greenish, often with a bright deep blush and overspread with thin bloom. Dots numerous, greenish or russet, giving the surface a somewhat rough appearance (Beach) — conflicting with Downing and Elliott's "few brown dots." Prevailing effect yellow (Beach).
Flesh & Flavor: Whitish (Downing, Elliott); whitish tinged with yellow, moderately fine (Beach). Juicy (Downing, Elliott); rather juicy (Beach). Tender. Pleasant, mild subacid. Downing specifies "a peculiar melon-like aroma"; Beach describes "a peculiar flavor, sprightly" without specifying the aroma. Good in quality (Beach); good to very good (Downing).
Calyx Tube: Rather small, cone-shape or approaching funnel-form (Beach).
Stamens: Median (Beach).
Core & Seeds: Core rather small, axile or nearly so; cells closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish to obcordate, emarginate, mucronate. Seeds rather large, broad, somewhat obtuse (Beach).
Season
November to February (Downing, Elliott). October to early winter or midwinter (Beach).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) lists Tinmouth in a variety-characteristic table:
Tinmouth. M fl gr VG f W
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Tinmouth. Teignmouth. Vermont Pippin. Origin, Tinmouth, Vt. This fine Apple is much esteemed in the region of its origin. The tree is a good grower, very productive, and a profitable sort. Young shoots dull brownish red, slightly downy. Fruit above medium, oblate, whitish yellow, considerably shaded with carmine, and sprinkled with a few brown dots. Stalk short, inserted in a deep cavity. Calyx partially closed, set in a deep open basin. Flesh whitish, juicy, tender, pleasant, mild subacid, with a peculiar melon-like aroma. Good to very good. November to February.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)TINMOUTH.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1857:197. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 3. Downing, Horticulturist, 19:145. 1864. figs. 4. Warder, 1867:734. 5. Downing, 1869:383. 6. Thomas, 1875:514. 7. Taylor, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1895:193. 8. Burrill and McCluer, Ill. Sta. Bul., 45:343. 1896. 9. Waugh, Vt. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:310. 1901.
SYNONYMS. TEIGNMOUTH (3). Teignmouth (5, 6). TINMOUTH (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). Tinmouth Sweet (8). Vermont Pippin (3, 5).
Tinmouth is a fall and early winter apple of good size, good quality and rather attractive appearance. The tree is a good grower, with an upright habit. It is a regular cropper and very productive. It does not seem to be desirable for general commercial planting in New York.
Historical. Downing remarked that this variety originated at Tinmouth, Vt., and was much esteemed in the region of its origin (5). Waugh calls it a good apple and states that it is almost unknown in Grand Isle county but is much more common in other parts of Vermont (9). So far as we have discovered it is but little known in New York.
FRUIT.
Fruit medium to large. Form oblate to roundish, regular or obscurely ribbed; sides often distinctly unequal. Stem often bracted, short to medium, usually not exserted. Cavity large, acute or approaching acuminate, deep, broad, russeted and with outspreading russet rays. Calyx small, partly closed or open; lobes often small, sometimes long, acute, recurved. Basin rather large, deep, moderately wide, abrupt to moderately abrupt, often somewhat wrinkled. Skin tender, pale yellow or greenish, often with a bright deep blush and overspread with thin bloom. Dots numerous, greenish or russet, giving the surface a somewhat rough appearance. Prevailing effect yellow.
Calyx tube rather small, cone-shape or approaching funnel-form. Stamens median. Core rather small, axile or nearly so; cells closed; core lines clasping. Carpels roundish to obcordate, emarginate, mucronate. Seeds rather large, broad, somewhat obtuse. Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, moderately fine, tender, rather juicy, mild subacid with a peculiar flavor, sprightly, good in quality.
Season October to early winter or midwinter.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Tinmouth. M fl gr VG f W
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Tinmouth.
Origin, Tinmouth, Vt. Tree, a good grower and productive. Fruit, above medium, oblate ; skin, whitish yellow, considerably shaded with carmine, and sprinkled with a few brown dots ; stem, short, inserted in a deep cavity ; calyx, partially closed, set in a rather large basin : flesh, whitish, juicy, tender, pleasant, mild sub-acid. November to February.