Tower of Glammis
Apple
Tower of Glammis
Origin/History
A famous Scottish apple whose origin and history have been lost. It abounds in the orchards of Clydesdale and the Carse of Gowrie; beyond its prevalence in those districts, nothing further could be learned about its provenance. (Herefordshire Pomona.) Downing similarly locates it in the Clydesdale orchards of Scotland.
Tree
Grows well and is an excellent bearer. (Both sources agree on the bearing habit; Herefordshire adds the general vigor.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. The two sources give somewhat differing impressions of form: Herefordshire Pomona describes the fruit as conical and distinctly four-sided, with four prominent angles extending from the base to the apex, where they terminate in four corresponding ridges. Downing describes it as roundish conical, with sides sometimes unequal, without mention of the four-sided angularity.
Stem: An inch long, rather slender (Downing), inserted in a deep funnel-shaped cavity, and only just protruding beyond the base. (Herefordshire Pomona.)
Cavity: Deep and funnel-shaped. (Herefordshire Pomona; Downing does not describe the cavity.)
Calyx: The two sources conflict: Herefordshire Pomona describes the eye as closed, with broad ragged segments. Downing describes the calyx as large and open.
Basin: The two sources conflict: Herefordshire Pomona describes it as deep and angular. Downing describes it as slightly corrugated.
Skin: The two sources give differing accounts of color. Herefordshire Pomona: light green, becoming deep sulphur yellow, tinged in some spots with green, and thinly strewed with brown russety dots. Downing: pale yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun — no mention of russety dots or green tinge, and no four-sided markings noted.
Flesh/Flavor: Both sources agree the flesh is white (Herefordshire Pomona: greenish white) and juicy. Beyond that the descriptions diverge: Herefordshire Pomona characterizes it as crisp, brisk, and perfumed. Downing describes it as tender, with a sharp subacid flavor, and rates it Good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Herefordshire Pomona: November to February. Downing: December and January.
Uses
A first-rate culinary apple (Herefordshire Pomona). A fine culinary apple (Downing).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 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 (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)TOWER OF GLAMMIS.
[Syn : Glammis Castle ; Gowrie ; Carse of Gowrie.]
The origin and history of this famous Scotch Apple seems to have been lost. It abounds in the orchards of Clydesdale, and the Carse of Gowrie, and this is all that could be learnt about it.
Description.—Fruit, large, conical, distinctly four sided, with four prominent angles extending from the base to the apex, where they terminate in four corresponding ridges. Skin, light green, becoming of deep sulphur yellow, tinged in some spots with green, and thinly strewed with brown russety dots. Eye closed, with broad ragged segments, set in a deep and angular basin. Stalk, an inch long, inserted in a deep funnel-shaped cavity, and only just protruding beyond the base. Flesh, greenish white, very juicy, crisp, brisk, and perfumed.
A first-rate culinary apple, in season from November to February. The tree grows well, and is an excellent bearer.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Tower of Glammis. Glammis Castle. Late Carse of Gowrie. Carse of Gowrie. A fine culinary Apple from the Clydesdale orchards, Scotland. Tree an excellent bearer. Fruit large, roundish conical, sides sometimes unequal, pale yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun. Stalk rather slender. Calyx large, open. Basin slightly corrugated. Flesh white, tender, juicy, sharp subacid. Good. December, January.