White Juneating. Juneating, | Owens' Golden Beauty, | Carolina, of some, Caroline, | Early May, Foreign. Its early maturity its chief merit. Tree, fair upright growth, moderately productive. Fruit, small; pale green, marbled slightly with a darker shade, small russet dots; stem, medium; cavity, shallow; calyx, closed; broad basin; seeds, dark brown; flesh, white, tender, juicy, sub-acid. Last of June, early July.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

White Juneating.

JUNEATING, COXE.—YELLOW JUNE.—EARLY MAY?

Downing thinks this a very old variety, mentioned by Evelyn in 1660, and by Ray in 1688. It has long been known in the West and South as a very early apple, and valued on this account, though quite small. The tree resembles that of the Early Harvest in the color and arrangement of its twigs. Fruit flat, regular; Surface smooth, pale yellow. Basin not deep, slightly folded; Eye small, closed. Cavity wide, shallow; Stem long, slender. Flesh breaking, whitish, juicy till over-ripe, when it is dry; Flavor sub-acid; Use table and market; Season June.

— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)

1. JOANNETING.

[Syn.: Ginetting; Juneting; Early Jenneting; White Juneating; Juneating; Owen's Golden Beauty; Primiting.]

The St. John Apple is the earliest apple of the year. It is one of our oldest apples, but though generally known and popular, it escaped the notice both of Miller and Parkinson. Rea first mentions it in 1665, and describes it as "a small, yellow, red-sided apple upon a wall, ripe the end of June."

The derivation of its name has given rise to much discussion. Abercrombie was the first to write it "June-eating," as if in allusion to the period of its maturity. Dr. Johnson, in his dictionary, writes it "Gineting," and says it is a corruption of "Janeton," signifying in French Jane or Janet, having been so called from a person of that name. Ray says, "Pomum Ginettinum, quod unde dictum sit me latet" (Hist. Plant. II., 1599).

There can be no doubt, however, that the Joanneting owes its name to its ripening about St. John Baptist's day (June 24th), which it might very well do against a wall in some seasons, particularly when we remember that at the time the name was given the old style of reckoning time was in use, and that the 24th day of June, O.S. would be the 5th of July in the new calendar. But supposing it to have been a variety imported from abroad, as its name would lead us to suppose it was, then there is nothing remarkable in its being ripe even in the open ground on the 5th of July. Curtius distinctly says the "Joannina" are so called "Quod circa divi Joannis Baptistæ nativitatem esui sint" (Hortorum. p. 522). J. B. Porta also says of it, "Est genus alterum quod quia circa festum Divi Joannis maturescit, vulgus 'Malo de San Giovanni' dicitur." And according to Tragus, "Quæ apud nos prima maturantur 'Sand Johans Opffel,' Latine, Precocia mala dicuntur." (Hist., p. 1043.)

In the Middle Ages it was customary to connect the festivals of the Church with events which took place at the same periods, and the practice has continued to our own days with reference to the sowing of crops and ripening of fruits, &c. Other apples have derived their names in the same way; thus we have the Margaret Apple, so called from being ripe about St. Margaret's Day (July 20th); the Maudlin, or Magdalene, from St. Magdalene's Day (July 22nd). There is also an old French pear, "Amiré Joannet" (Wonderful Little John), which Merlet informs us was so called because it ripened about St. John's Day. This is precisely analogous, for we have only to add "Joannet" the termination "ing," so common amongst apples, and we have our "Joanneting."

Description.—Fruit; small, round, and a little flattened. Skin; smooth and shining, pale yellowish green in the shade, but clear yellow, with sometimes a faint tinge of red or orange next the sun. Eye; small and closed, surrounded with a few small plaits, and set in a very shallow basin. Stalk; an inch long, slender, and inserted in a shallow cavity, which is lined with delicate russet. Flesh; white, crisp, brisk, and juicy, with a vinous and slightly perfumed flavour, but becoming mealy and tasteless if kept only a few days after being gathered. It is in the greatest perfection when eaten from the tree.

The tree is hardy and healthy, but does not attain a large size. If worked upon the Paradise stock it may be grown in pots, when the fruit will not only be produced earlier, but in greater abundance than on the crab or free stock.

— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)

White Juneating. Joanneting. Owen's Golden Beauty. Juneating. Juniting. Jennetting. Ginetting. Gennetting. Juneting. Early Jennetting. Primiting. May Pippin. Yellow May. May of Virginia. Caroline. Carolina of some. Early May.

This is an old variety, mentioned by Evelyn in 1660, and described by Ray in 1688, and is a very tolerable little Apple, ripening among the very earliest, during the last of June and the first of July. It is very distinct from the Early Harvest, sometimes called by this name. Tree a moderate grower, and forms a roundish upright spreading head. Productive.

Fruit small, round, a little flattened. Calyx closed. Stalk rather long and slender. Pale green at first, light yellow, with sometimes a faint blush on the sunny side. Flesh crisp and of a pleasant flavor, but soon becomes dry. Good.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

White Juneating. (Yellow May.) Small, round, sometimes slightly oblate, smooth, very regular; pale greenish yellow, or light yellow; very thin russet round the stalk; stalk slender, three-quarters of an inch long, set shallow; basin very shallow; tender, sub-acid, not rich, becoming dry. Ripens a little before Yellow Harvest. Growth upright, rather stout. Productive. For cooking only. Old English sort.

The May apple, of Virginia, is a fruit similar to or identical in character and quality with the White Juneating, where it ripens about the first of summer, bearing every year. Large quantities are sent to Baltimore for tarts.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

WHITE JUNEATING.

REFERENCES. 1. Am. Gard. Cal., 1806:584. 2. Coxe, 1817:100. fig. 3. London Hort. Soc. Cat., 1831:No. 612. 4. Floy-Lindley, 1833:3. 5. Mag. Hort., 1:326. 1835. 6. Downing, 1845:78. fig. 7. Thomas, 1849:144. fig. 8. Cole, 1849:97. 9. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:17. 1851. 10. Elliott, 1854:162. 11. Hooper, 1857:20. 12. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862. 13. Horticulturist, 21:292. 1866. fig. 14. Warder, 1867:417. 15. Fitz, 1872:143, 151, 161. 16. Hogg, 1884:117. 17. Wickson, 1889:242. 18. Bruner, N. C. Sta. Bul., 182:23. 1903. 19. Budd-Hansen, 1903:200.

SYNONYMS. Bracken (8, 11, of Ohio 7). Carolina (10). Caroline (10). Early Jenneting (16). Early May (10, ?14). Gennetting (17). GINETTING (1). Ginetting (16). Jenneting (2). Jennetting (17). JOANETING (16). Juneateing (1). JUNEATING (4). Juneating (6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16). JUNETING (2). Juneting (16). Owen's Golden Beauty (3, 6, 10, 16). Primiting (16). WHITE JUNEATING (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19). White Juneating (16). Yellow May (18, 19). Yellow June (14).

This apple has little to recommend it except that it ripens very early in the season. It is small, roundish oblate, pale yellow, sometimes faintly blushed and has white, crisp, pleasant subacid flesh which becomes mealy if kept only a few days after it ripens. The tree is not large, only a moderate grower and not a great bearer (6, 8, 16).

Historical. Hogg (16) gives the following interesting account of the history of this apple and the probable derivation of the name Juneating:

" One of our oldest apples, and although generally known and popular, seems to have escaped the notice of Miller, who does not even mention it in any of the editions of his Dictionary. As I have doubts of this being the Geneting of Parkinson his figure being evidently intended for the Margaret, which in some districts is called Joaneting the first mention we have of this variety is by Rea, in 1665, who describes it as ' a small, yellow, red-sided apple, upon a wall, ripe in the end of June.'

"'Juneating,' as applied to this apple, is quite a misnomer. Abercrombie was the first who wrote it June-eating, as if in allusion to the period of its maturity, which is, however, not till the end of July. Dr. Johnson, in his Dictionary, writes it Gineting, and says it is a corruption of Janeton (Fr.), signifying Jane or Janet, having been so called from a person of that name. Ray says, ' Pomum Ginettinum, quod unde dictum sit met latet.' Indeed, there does not seem ever to have been a correct definition given of it.

" My definition of the name is this. In the Middle Ages, it was customary to make the festivals of the Church periods on which occurrences were to take place or from which events were to be named. Even in the present day we hear the country people talking of some crop to be sown, or some other to be planted, at Michaelmas, St. Martin's, or St. Andrew's tide. It was also the practice for parents to dedicate their children to some particular saint, as Jean Baptiste, on the recurrence of whose festival all who are so named keep it as a holiday. So it was also in regard to fruits, which were named after the day about which they came to maturity. Thus, we have the Margaret Apple, so called from being ripe about St. Margaret's Day, the 20th of July; the Magdalene, or Maudlin, from St. Magdalene's Day, the 22d of July. And in Curtius¹ we find the Joannina, so called, ' Quod circa divi Joannis Baptistae nativitatem esui sint.' These are also noticed by J. Baptista Porta ; he says, ' Est genus alterum quod quia circa festum Divi Joannis maturiscit, vulgus Melo de San Giovanni dicitur.' And according to Tragus,² ' Quae apud nos prima maturantur, Sanct Johans Opfell, Latine, Praecocia mala dicuntur.'

" We see, therefore, that apples were called Joannina because they ripened about St. John's Day, and we have among the old French pears Amiré Joannet the ' Wonderful Little John,' which Merlet informs us was so called because it ripened about St. John's Day. If, then, we add to Joannet the termination ing, so general among our names of apples, we have Joanneting. There can be no doubt that this is the correct derivation of the name of this apple."

¹ Hortorum, p. 522. ² Hist., p. 1043.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Jennetting or Juneating", pp. 186–186]

JENNETTING or JUNEATING.

This name has been applied by some to White Juneating. For a description of this variety together with Hogg's account of the derivation of the name the reader is referred to White Juneating, page 240.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

White Juneating (Yellow May). — According to Downing this is an old English variety, mentioned by Evelyn in 1660 and described by Ray in 1688; tree a moderate grower, with roundish, upright, spreading head, productive.

Fruit small, round to roundish oblate, very regular; surface smooth, polished, pale yellow, sometimes with faint blush; cavity wide, shallow, lined with thin russet; stem rather long, slender; basin very shallow, slightly corrugated; calyx small, closed. Core closed; cells obovate, or roundish obovate, axile; tube funnel-shaped; stamens marginal or median; flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy, subacid, good but soon becomes mealy. Among the very earliest during the last of June and first of July.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

White Juneating (80). Size: small. Form: round. Color: greenish yellow. Quality: good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: summer. Northern Division reports: "I". Central Division reports: 7 (asterisk indicates the variety is reported as adapted to or grown in more than one of the three divisions of the American Pomological Society).

— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)

WHITE JOANETING. Ronalds, P. 1. (Early May, Jenetting, Primiting.) Dessert, mid-July, small, 2 by 1¾, round slightly flattened, regular. Colour, straw-yellow with occasional faint red flush. Flesh, crisp, white, flavour fresh. Eye, a little open or closed, in a shallow, even basin. Stem, long and slender, in a shallow cavity. Growth, moderate, upright; fertility, fair. Leaf, small, irregularly serrate or crenate, little upfolded. Origin, English; before 1600. The earliest apple of all.

[Additional entry in this volume: "Juneating", pp. 83–83]

JUNEATING. Dessert, end July, small, flattened round, even. Colour, pale greenish-yellow. Skin, slightly greasy. Stem, small. Growth, rather upright, moderate; fertility, moderate. Leaf, small, irregularly serrate, sometimes crenate, little upfolded. Origin, a very old variety known from the seventeenth century. Not to be confused with the Red Juneating.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

Planted Spring 1896. Tree a moderate grower. Fruit small, nearly flat. Skin yellow with a faint blush. Flesh crisp, not juicy, inferior in quality. Season August.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)