White Pigeon
AppleWhite Pigeon
Origin/History
White Pigeon is of Russian origin. A spurious White Pigeon (No. 317) exists which appears identical with Anis; as recognized in Minnesota, the true White Pigeon is a very handsomely colored apple with a long stem.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Below medium in size, roundish, unequal, angular, ribbed.
Skin: Surface light yellow, striped and splashed with bright crimson. The coloring is characteristic in that the stripes are distinct and sharply defined, slightly marbled on the sunny side. A handsome fruit.
Stem: Very long.
Cavity: Acute.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Abrupt, wavy, corrugated.
Flesh/Flavor: White, stained with red — a marked characteristic. Juicy, mild subacid, with a sweet aftertaste. Quality rated good.
Core/Seeds: Core open, meeting. Tube small, narrow, conical. Stamens marginal. Seeds about fourteen, short, plump, dark brown.
Season
Fall.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
A spurious White Pigeon (No. 317) is noted as appearing identical with Anis and should not be confused with the true variety as recognized in Minnesota.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (2)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)White Pigeon—There is a spurious White Pigeon (No. 317) which appears identical with Anis. As recognized in Minnesota the White Pigeon is a very handsomely colored apple, with a long stem—Fruit below medium, roundish, unequal, angular, ribbed; surface light yellow, striped and splashed with bright crimson, the coloring is characteristic in that the stripes are distinct and sharply defined, slightly marbled on sunny side, a handsome fruit; cavity acute; stem very long; basin abrupt, wavy, corrugated; calyx closed. Core open, meeting; tube small, narrow, conical; stamens marginal; seeds about fourteen, short, plump, dark brown; flesh white, stained with red (a marked characteristic), juicy, mild subacid, with sweet aftertaste, good. Fall. Origin, Russia.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)White Pigeon.—Origin, Russia. There is a spurious white Pigeon (No. 317) which appears identical with Anis. As recognized in Minnesota the White Pigeon is a very handsomely colored apple with a long stem.
Fruit below medium, roundish, unequal, angular, ribbed; surface light yellow, striped and splashed with bright crimson, the coloring is characteristic in that the stripes are distinct and sharply defined, slightly marbled on sunny side, a handsome fruit; cavity acute; stem very long; basin abrupt, wavy, corrugated; calyx closed. Core open, meeting; tube small, narrow, conical; stamens marginal; seeds about fourteen, short, plump, dark brown; flesh white, stained with red (a marked characteristic), juicy, mild subacid, with sweet after-taste, good. Fall.