White Winter Pearmain.

This favorite fruit was brought to Indiana by some of the early pomologists, in the days of saddle-bag transportation. In a lot of grafts, two varieties, having lost their labels, were propagated and fruited without name. Being considered Pearmain-shaped, they were called respectively Red and White Winter Pearmains. The former proved to be the Esopus Spitzenberg; the latter has never yet been identified, though believed to be an old eastern variety. Mr. Downing suggests that it may be Winter Harvey, a description of which I have not seen. At one time this apple was confounded with the Michael Henry by many of us, and Mr. Elliott gives it as a synonym of that variety, but they are very distinct.

Tree spreading, vigorous, productive, the bark often marked by a kind of canker or crack. Foliage large, rather light green.

Fruit medium to large, handsome when fair, but often scabby on rich limestone soils and on old trees, conical, regular, sometimes obscurely angular; Surface smooth, yellow, often bronzy; Dots scattered, small, dark.

Basin abrupt, regular or shallow and folded; Eye medium, closed.

Cavity acute, wavy, brown; Stem medium to long, often knobby and clubbed.

Core regular, closed, slightly clasping the eye; Seeds few, pointed, pale or yellow; Flesh yellow, fine grained, tender, crisp, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, very rich; Quality best; Uses table, kitchen, market; Season December to March.

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

White Winter Pearmain. Campbellite.

Origin unknown, by some thought to be an old Eastern variety, highly esteemed at the West. Tree spreading, hardy, and thrifty, a regular and good bearer. Young shoots very short-jointed, dull reddish brown, slightly grayish or downy at end.

Fruit medium or above, roundish oblong conic, somewhat oblique. Stalk short, in a deep cavity nearly closed. Segments long. Basin uneven. Skin pale yellow, with a slight blush or warm cheek, thickly sprinkled with minute brown dots. Flesh yellowish, tender, crisp, juicy very pleasant subacid. Very good. January to April.

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

WHITE PEARMAIN.

References. 1. N. Y. Agr. Soc. Trans., 1849:124. 2. Phoenix, Horticulturist, 4:471. 1850. 3. Downing, 1857:110. fig. 4. Hooper, 1857:59, 60, 99, 100. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1858. 6. Mag. Hort., 27:60, 62. 1861. 7. Warder, 1867:508. 8. Thomas, 1875:232. 9. Barry, 1883:357. 10. Wickson, 1889:248. 11. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:252. 12. Stinson, Ark. Sta. An. Rpt., 7:47. 1894. 13. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1897:15. 14. Dickens and Greene, Kan. Sta. Bul., 106:56. 1902. 15. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:60. 1903. 16. Budd-Hansen, 1903:201. fig.

Synonym. White Winter Pearmain (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14). White Winter Pearmain (15, 16).

This is an old favorite dessert apple in portions of the Middle West from Ohio to Kansas. It appears to succeed better in those regions than it does in New York. It is not recommended for planting in this state.

Historical. Warder says "This favorite fruit was brought to Indiana by some of the early pomologists, in the days of saddle-bag transportation. In a lot of grafts, two varieties, having lost their labels, were propagated and fruited without name. Being considered Pearmain-shaped, they were called respectively Red and White Winter Pearmains. The former proved to be the Esopus Spitzenberg; the latter has never yet been identified, though believed to be an old eastern variety." For a time it was confused with an old New Jersey apple by the name of Michael Henry Pippin, and Elliott fell into the error of publishing White Pearmain and White Winter Pearmain as synonyms of Michael Henry Pippin¹ but it was finally conceded that White Pearmain and Michael Henry Pippin are distinct varieties (4, 7). In 1858 it was catalogued by the American Pomological Society as White Winter Pearmain (5). Since 1897 (13) it has been listed as White Pearmain but it is very doubtful whether this change will be generally accepted by fruit growers and fruit dealers. This variety has been little grown in New York and is now seldom or never planted here.

¹ Elliott, 1854:91.

Tree.

Tree vigorous. Form spreading. Twigs short, stout, blunt at tips, generally straight; internodes vary from short to long. Bark reddish-brown overlaid with heavy scarf-skin, quite pubescent. Lenticels conspicuous, numerous, above medium, elongated, raised. Buds large, projecting, acute, quite pubescent, free.

Fruit.

Fruit below medium to nearly large, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish ovate or roundish approaching oblong conic, varying to roundish conic, somewhat ribbed, pretty symmetrical. Stem medium to long. Cavity rather small to above medium, acute, deep, moderately narrow to broad, somewhat furrowed, sometimes russeted. Calyx medium to large, usually closed; lobes long, acute. Basin small to medium, oblique, shallow and obtuse to medium in depth and rather abrupt, medium in width, often distinctly furrowed, wrinkled, pubescent.

Skin tough, smooth, slightly waxen, pale yellow, or at first greenish, with a shade of brownish-red. Dots numerous, pale or russet, often submerged, usually larger and much elongated about the cavity.

Calyx tube long, conical.

Core medium to rather large; cells closed or partly open; core lines somewhat clasping. Carpels rather flat, broad or roundish-cordate, emarginate, mucronate, tufted. Seeds light brown, medium to large, rather wide, plump, obtuse to acute, tufted.

Flesh slightly tinged with yellow, firm, fine-grained, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, sprightly, very pleasantly aromatic, very good to best.

Season December to March.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)

White W. Pearmain. Size: medium. Form: "re". Color: "yt". Quality: very good. Use: both kitchen and market. Season: winter. N. Div.: 1 (reported as adapted to more than one of the three divisions of the United States as given by the American Pomological Society).

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

White Winter Pearmain.

This variety is extensively grown and much esteemed throughout the Southwest, and in Oregon it is one of the most desirable of apples. In our first edition we made it a synonym of Michael Henry Pippin, from the fact that all the specimens we gathered from various places were identical with that variety. Having since tested it on our own grounds, we are confident of its distinctness. It is undoubtedly an old variety, but what we are unable to determine, therefore retain it under the name by which it is generally known. Tree, thrifty, not rampant grower, young wood, dark speckled, buds, prominent. Fruit, above medium, oblong conical, angular or oblique; pale yellow, with slight blush cheek and minute brown dots; stem, short; cavity, deep; calyx, nearly closed; basin, uneven, surrounded by five prominences, continued in obscure angles along its sides; flesh, yellowish, tender, crisp, juicy, pleasant, very mild sub-acid; "very good." January to April.

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

White Winter Pearmain.* Rather large, conical, angular or ribbed; light yellowish green, with a brownish red cheek; stem short; flesh whitish, fine-grained, with a mild sub-acid, rich, fine flavor. This is distinct from the Michael Henry Pippin, which it resembles, and at the West is one of the best and most productive winter apples. Fig. 472.

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

White Pearmain (White Winter Pear-main).— Origin unknown, supposed to be an old eastern variety the name of which was lost in coming to the West, where it is most popular. Tree vigorous, spreading, productive.

Tree above medium to large, roundish oblong conic, somewhat oblique and ribbed toward the base; surface clear pale yellow, with faint bronze blush or warm cheek; dots distinct, numerous, minute, russet; cavity deep, regular, obtuse, with faint trace of russet; stem medium to long, often fleshy or knobbed at branch end; basin shallow, uneven, or ribbed; calyx open; segments long, divergent. Core closed; cells round, slit; tube funnel-shaped: stamens median; seeds plump; flesh yellowish, tender, juicy, crisp, spicy, very pleasant subacid, excellent to best. December to April.

The cut is of a fine specimen from the Pacific slope, in Washington, shown at the Pan-American Exposition, 1901.

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

WHITE PEARMAIN. White Winter Pearmain.

White Pearmain, possibly better known as White Winter Pearmain, was one of the highly prized possessions of the pioneers of Ohio and Indiana, having been brought to these states as grafts in the days of saddle-bag transportation. It is thought to be an old sort renamed, but what it is no one knows. The apples are very good to best in quality, a little too mild for culinary uses, not particularly attractive in appearance, neither shape nor color appealing to the eye. Its cultivation is largely confined to the states mentioned, though it has been somewhat planted in the Far West.

Tree vigorous, spreading. Fruit medium to large, uniform in size, round-oblate, round or oblong-conic, ribbed, symmetrical; stem medium to long; cavity small, acute, deep, narrow, furrowed, sometimes russeted; calyx large, usually closed; lobes long, acute; basin small, oblique, shallow, obtuse, often distinctly furrowed, wrinkled, pubescent; skin tough, smooth, waxen, pale yellow, with a shade of brownish-red; dots numerous, pale or russet, often submerged, usually large and much elongated about the cavity; calyx-tube long, conical; core medium to large; cells closed or partly open; core-lines clasping; carpels flat, broad or round-cordate, emarginate, mucronate, tufted; seeds light brown, large, wide, plump, obtuse, tufted; flesh yellow, firm, fine-grained, crisp, tender, juicy, mild subacid, sprightly, pleasantly aromatic; good to best; December to March.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)