White Norman
Apple
White Norman
Origin/History
The origin of this apple is unknown. It appears to correspond with the celebrated old Normandy variety Blanc-Mollet, extensively grown throughout the orchards of North-West France. In that region it is also known as Pomme de Neige and La Blanche, with various other local names in different districts. It has been described for nearly a century past.
Tree
Middle size, vigorous and fertile. Very generally cultivated.
Fruit
Size and Form: Small; roundish with obtuse angles on the sides, which are sometimes quite prominent.
Skin: Perfectly white or rather a very pale straw color; clear and waxen-like in appearance; with only a few large russet dots distantly sprinkled over the surface. The hollow of the stalk is lined with russet, which extends in ramifications a little way over the base.
Stalk: Long and very slender; deeply inserted.
Calyx and Basin: Eye very small with small convergent segments. Set in a deep basin which is plaited or slightly ribbed. Tube deep and conical. Stamens marginal.
Flesh and Flavor: Snow white, soft and spongy. Marked astringency or bitterness mixed with sweetness. Juice is rather dark in color with a rich and rather bitter flavor.
Core and Seeds: Cells of the core open and very large for the size of the fruit. Cell-walls elliptical.
Season
Early.
Uses
Soft and juicy; suited for fresh consumption.
Other
Chemical Analysis (by Mr. G. H. With, F.R.A.S.):
Density of fresh juice: 1.040
Density after 24 hours: 1.042
In 100 parts by weight of juice:
- Sugar: 10.770
- Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c.: 3.633
- Water: 85.597
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- WHITE NORMAN.
The origin of this apple is unknown. It seems to correspond with the celebrated old Normandy variety, Blanc-Mollet, so much grown all through the orchards of the North-West of France. It is there also called Pomme de Neige, La Blanche, and various other local names in different districts. It has been described for nearly a century past (see French "Report," p. 147).
Description.—Fruit, small, roundish, and with obtuse angles on the sides, which are sometimes pretty prominent. Skin, perfectly white, or rather a very pale straw colour, clear and waxen-like, and with only a few large russet dots, distantly sprinkled over the surface; the hollow of the stalk is lined with russet, which extends in ramifications a little way over the base. Eye, very small, with small convergent segments, set in a deep basin, which is plaited or slightly ribbed; tube, deep, conical; stamens, marginal. Stalk, long, and very slender, deeply inserted. Flesh, snow white, soft, and spongy, with a marked astringency or bitterness mixed with sweetness. Cells of the core, open, and very large for the size of the fruit; cell-walls, elliptical.
The tree is of middle size, vigorous and fertile. It is very generally cultivated. The fruit is early, soft and juicy; its juice being rather dark in colour, with a rich and rather bitter flavour.
Chemical analysis by Mr. G. H. With, F.R.A.S.:—
Density of fresh juice ... ... ... ... 1.040 Density after 24 hours ... ... ... ... 1.042
In 100 parts by weight of juice:
Sugar ... ... ... ... ... 10.770 Tannin, Mucilage, Salts, &c. ... ... ... 3.633 Water ... ... ... ... ... 85.597