Tower of Glammis
Apple
Tower of Glammis
Origin/History
A famous Scottish apple of uncertain origin; its early history appears to have been lost. It abounds in the orchards of Clydesdale and the Carse of Gowrie, Scotland, which is all that could be learned of its provenance. (Herefordshire Pomona, 1885; Downing, 1900)
Tree
Grows well and is an excellent bearer. No further tree characteristics described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the form 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. Both sources agree the fruit is large.
Stem: About an inch long, rather slender (Downing), inserted in a deep funnel-shaped cavity, just protruding beyond the base (Herefordshire Pomona).
Cavity: Deep and funnel-shaped (Herefordshire Pomona).
Calyx/Eye: The sources conflict on this point. Herefordshire Pomona describes the eye as closed, with broad ragged segments. Downing describes the calyx as large and open.
Basin: Deep and angular (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes it as slightly corrugated.
Skin: The sources differ on coloring. Herefordshire Pomona describes the skin as light green, becoming deep sulphur yellow, tinged in some spots with green, and thinly strewn with brown russety dots. Downing describes it as pale yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun — a feature not mentioned by the Herefordshire Pomona.
Flesh and Flavor: The sources agree the flesh is juicy and white, but differ in detail. Herefordshire Pomona gives the color as greenish white and the texture as crisp, brisk, and perfumed. Downing describes the flesh as white and tender, with a sharp subacid flavor. Both characterize it as a good culinary fruit.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Herefordshire Pomona gives November to February. Downing gives December and January.
Uses
A first-rate culinary apple (Herefordshire Pomona). Rated "Good" by Downing.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 8 catalogs (1897–1917) from England, Illinois
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914 — listed as Tower of Glamis
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917 — listed as Tower of Glamis
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.