Twenty Ounce Pippin
Apple
Twenty Ounce Pippin
Origin / History
The origin of Twenty Ounce Pippin is uncertain and unknown. It is an old sort long cultivated before Downing published the first account of it in 1845. Warder (1867) considered that the variety never should have been distributed, and named it in his work chiefly to put people on their guard against it when seeking to purchase the Cayuga Red Streak (also called the Twenty-ounce apple).
So far as has been learned, it has always been commonly known to fruit growers and fruit buyers by the name Twenty Ounce Pippin and doubtless will continue to be so known as long as it remains in cultivation. Occasionally it has been grown under the name King, though it is quite distinct from Tompkins King. It is also known locally as Oxheart. Thomas in 1849 recognized it as less desirable than the Twenty Ounce. Elliott (1854) and Warder (1867) adopted the name Cayuga Red Streak for the true Twenty Ounce hoping thereby to prevent their readers from confusing its name with that of Twenty Ounce Pippin. Downing (1869) added to the confusion by applying the name Cabashea to the Twenty Ounce Pippin, which name had already been given to a distinct fall variety recognized as such by Thomas, Emmons and Warder; that fall Cabashea comes in season about with the true Twenty Ounce but is quite distinct from it.
Twenty Ounce Pippin subsists chiefly because it has been much planted by mistake for the true Twenty Ounce, a very different and much better apple. It is grown chiefly in New York and neighboring states, commercially to a limited extent; some find it profitable, but generally speaking it is not a favorite with fruit growers. Undoubtedly there would be fewer trees of it growing had it not sometimes been purchased by mistake for the true Twenty Ounce.
Tree
Tree medium to large, moderately vigorous (Beach) to vigorous (Hedrick), hardy, healthy and long-lived, but often not a satisfactory cropper — satisfactory except in productiveness. Form spreading or somewhat drooping. Twigs medium to long, moderately stout to stout; internodes short. Bark dark brownish-red, mottled with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels numerous, moderately conspicuous, round, raised. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, appressed, pubescent.
The fruit is noticeably heavy and apt to drop from the tree.
Fruit
Size and form. Fruit large to very large, noticeably heavy. Form variable, somewhat oblate to globular with flattened base, often slightly inclined to conic, pretty regular but often somewhat elliptical or obscurely ribbed; sides frequently a little unequal. Warder describes the fruit as large, flat, regular. Elliott describes it as large, roundish conical.
Stem. Usually short and thick, sometimes moderately thick and of medium length.
Cavity. Medium or below, acute to nearly obtuse, moderately shallow to deep, wide, somewhat furrowed, sometimes lipped, bright deep green with elongated whitish dots, often partly russeted and with outspreading russet rays. Warder describes the cavity as wide, regular, green.
Calyx. Medium to large, closed or partly open; lobes separated at the base, wide, nearly flat or somewhat reflexed, pubescent. Warder describes the eye as small, open. Calyx tube short, varying from funnel-shape with wide limb to obtuse cone-shape. Stamens median to basal (Beach); median (Hedrick).
Basin. Below medium to large, shallow to moderately deep, obtuse to somewhat abrupt, irregularly furrowed and wrinkled. Warder describes the basin as wide, regular, or wavy.
Skin. Rather thick, tough, smooth, clear pale yellow or greenish, in highly colored specimens largely washed, mottled and blushed with bright deep red striped and splashed with carmine. Warder describes the surface as greenish, more or less mottled and striped dull red. Elliott describes the color as brown red. Dots numerous, small or narrow and elongated, moderately conspicuous, often submerged or depressed, whitish, sometimes with russet point. When well grown the general appearance is decidedly attractive and the color is somewhat like that of the Baldwin, particularly about the base.
Flesh and flavor. Flesh whitish tinged with yellow (Beach) / yellow (Hedrick) / yellow-white (Warder), firm, coarse, rather tender, rather crisp or breaking, moderately juicy, sprightly subacid with a peculiar but not high flavor; fair or sometimes nearly good in quality (Beach) / fair or good in quality (Hedrick). Warder gives a markedly less favorable assessment: flavor acid, with a peculiar aroma, not agreeable; quality poor. Hedrick summarizes the apple as very large and rather attractive in appearance, but coarse in flesh and poor in quality. Beach calls it attractive in appearance but second or third rate in quality.
Core and seeds. Core medium to rather large (Beach) / large (Hedrick), axile or nearly so; cells usually symmetrical and closed, sometimes open; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels broadly roundish or inclined to ovate or to obcordate, slightly emarginate, tufted (Hedrick adds: brown). Seeds few, often abortive; when well developed they are medium to large, rather long, plump, acute to somewhat obtuse, sometimes tufted, medium brown. Warder describes the core as large, closed, with seeds numerous and angular.
Season
October to January or February (Beach); October to February (Hedrick); November to January (Warder). In season about with Tompkins King.
Uses
Warder restricts the use to kitchen only, noting there are many better apples of its season. Other sources note it is grown commercially to a limited extent and is sometimes profitable, though not a favorite with fruit growers.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Twenty-Ounce Pippin.
Origin unknown, and the variety never should have been distributed; it is here named to put people on their guard against it when they desire to purchase the Cayuga Red Streak, also called the Twenty-ounce apple.
Fruit large, flat, regular; Surface greenish, more or less mottled and striped dull red.
Basin, wide, regular, or wavy; Eye small, open.
Cavity wide, regular, green; Stem short, thick.
Core large, closed; Seeds numerous, angular; Flesh yellow-white, breaking; Flavor acid, with a peculiar aroma, not agreeable; Quality poor; Use kitchen only; Season November to January. There are many better apples of its season.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)TWENTY OUNCE PIPPIN.
References. 1. Downing, 1845:140. 2. Thomas, 1849:153. 3. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:21, 33. 1851. fig. 4. Ib., 3:64. 1851. fig. 5. Elliott, 1854:126. 6. Warder, 1867:461. 7. Downing, 1869:113. 8. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:290. 9. Woolverton, Ont. Fr. Stas. An. Rpt., 2:8. 1895. fig. 10. Ib., 3:3. 1896. fig.
Synonyms. CABASHEA (7, 8, 9, 10). KING (4). King (7). Oxheart. Not TWENTY OUNCE (2, 5, 6, 9, 10).
Attractive in appearance, but second or third rate in quality. In season about with Tompkins King. It is grown commercially to a limited extent and some find it profitable, but, generally speaking, it is not a favorite with fruit growers. Undoubtedly there would be fewer trees of it growing to-day had it not sometimes been purchased by mistake for the true Twenty Ounce. The tree is a vigorous grower, hardy, healthy and long-lived, but often it is not a satisfactory cropper. The fruit is large, noticeably heavy and apt to drop from the tree.
Historical. The origin of this variety is uncertain. So far as we can learn it has always been commonly known to fruit growers and fruit buyers by the name Twenty Ounce Pippin and doubtless will continue to be so known as long as it remains in cultivation. Occasionally it has been grown under the name King. It should be remarked, however, that it is quite distinct from Tompkins King. It is known locally as Oxheart.
Thomas in 1849 (2) recognized it as less desirable than the Twenty Ounce. Elliott (5) and Warder (6) adopted the name Cayuga Red Streak for the Twenty Ounce hoping thereby to prevent their readers from confusing its name with that of Twenty Ounce Pippin. Downing (7) added to the confusion by applying the name Cabashea to the Twenty Ounce Pippin which name had already been given to a fall variety,¹ and was so recognized by Thomas, Emmons and Warder. This fall Cabashea comes in season about with the true Twenty Ounce but is quite distinct from that variety.
Tree.
Tree medium to large, moderately vigorous. Form spreading or somewhat drooping. Twigs medium to long, moderately stout to stout; internodes short. Bark dark brownish-red, mottled with scarf-skin; pubescent. Lenticels numerous, moderately conspicuous, round, raised. Buds large, broad, plump, obtuse, appressed, pubescent.
Fruit.
Fruit large to very large, noticeably heavy. Form variable, somewhat oblate to globular with flattened base, often slightly inclined to conic, pretty regular but often somewhat elliptical or obscurely ribbed; sides frequently a little unequal. Stem usually short and thick to sometimes moderately thick and of medium length. Cavity medium or below, acute to nearly obtuse, moderately shallow to deep, wide, somewhat furrowed, sometimes lipped, bright deep green with elongated whitish dots, often partly russeted and with outspreading russet rays. Calyx medium to large, closed or partly open; lobes separated at the base, wide, nearly flat or somewhat reflexed, pubescent. Basin below medium to large, shallow to moderately deep, obtuse to somewhat abrupt, irregularly furrowed and wrinkled.
Skin rather thick, tough, smooth, clear pale yellow or greenish, in highly colored specimens largely washed, mottled and blushed with bright deep red striped and splashed with carmine. Dots numerous, small or narrow and elongated, moderately conspicuous, often submerged or depressed, whitish, sometimes with russet point. When well grown the general appearance is decidedly attractive and the color is somewhat like that of the Baldwin, particularly about the base.
Calyx tube short, varying from funnel-shape with wide limb to obtuse cone-shape. Stamens median to basal.
¹N. Y. Agr. Soc. Rpt., 1849:350.
Core medium to rather large, axile or nearly so; cells usually symmetrical and closed, sometimes open; core lines clasping the funnel cylinder. Carpels broadly roundish or inclined to ovate or to obcordate, slightly emarginate, tufted. Seeds few, often abortive; when well developed they are medium to large, rather long, plump, acute to somewhat obtuse, sometimes tufted, medium brown.
Flesh whitish tinged with yellow, firm, coarse, rather tender, rather crisp or breaking, moderately juicy, sprightly subacid with a peculiar but not high flavor, fair or sometimes nearly good in quality.
Season October to January or February.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Twenty Ounce Pippin.
Large, roundish conical, brown red, very distinct from Twenty Ounce, or Cayuga Red Streak.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Wine of Conn. See Twenty Ounce.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)TWENTY OUNCE PIPPIN.
Cabashea. King. Oxheart.
Twenty Ounce Pippin subsists only because it has been much planted for Twenty Ounce, a very different and much better apple. The apple of this description is very large and rather attractive in appearance, but is coarse in flesh and poor in quality. The trees are satisfactory except in productiveness. The origin of the variety is not known, but it is an old sort long cultivated before Downing published the first account of it in 1845. It is grown chiefly in New York and neighboring states.
Tree medium to large, vigorous, spreading or somewhat drooping. Fruit large or very large, heavy, oblate or globular with flattened base, often conic, elliptical or obscurely ribbed, sides frequently unequal; stem short, thick; cavity acute, shallow, wide, furrowed, sometimes lipped, green, with elongated white dots, often russeted and with outspreading russet rays; calyx large, closed or partly open; lobes separated at the base, wide, flat or reflexed, pubescent; basin large, shallow, obtuse, irregularly furrowed and wrinkled; skin thick, tough, smooth, pale yellow, washed, mottled and blushed with red, striped and splashed with carmine; dots numerous, small, narrow, elongated, conspicuous, often submerged or depressed, white, sometimes with russet point; calyx-tube short, funnel-shape with wide limb, or obtuse cone-shape; stamens median; core large, axile; cells usually symmetrical and closed, sometimes open; core-lines clasping the funnel cylinder; carpels broadly round or ovate, emarginate, tufted, brown; flesh yellow, firm, coarse, tender, crisp or breaking, juicy, sprightly subacid with a peculiar flavor; fair or good in quality; October to February.