WINTER QUEENING

Apple

WINTER QUEENING

Origin / History

An old Sussex variety, probably of great antiquity (Bunyard, who cites Her. Pom., p. 14). Elliott lists it as American. Bunyard fancies the Sussex Duck's Bill, usually quoted as synonymous with this variety, is really distinct.

Tree

Growth vigorous; fertile (Bunyard). Veitch's catalog calls its form a fine grower. Leaf rather small, grayish, upfolded, twisted, shallow serrate or crenate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size: Medium; 2½ by 3 (Bunyard). Veitch's form is large.

Form: Conical.

Stem: Moderate length.

Cavity: Rather narrow, wrinkled.

Calyx: Eye open.

Basin: Shallow, much wrinkled and lined.

Skin: Yellow, nearly covered with dull red stripes and flush (Bunyard); crimson and pale red (Elliott). Veitch's form handsome, bright golden.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellow or yellowish, firm (Bunyard); subacid. Veitch's form has "lovely flavour."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December to March. Elliott gives December; Bunyard gives till March. Veitch's form, January to February.

Uses

Dessert or culinary (Bunyard).

Subtypes / Variants

Veitch's catalog (1911) offers a form described as "Large, handsome, bright golden fine grower, distinct from the ordinary kind, with lovely flavour," season January to February.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Winter Queen

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

Possibly identical with: Buckingham

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 5 catalogs (1900–1917) from England

George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as Winter Queening, or Sussex Duck's Bill
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917

View original book sources (3)

Winter Queen. Winter Queening. American. Medium, conical, crimson and pale red ; flesh, yellowish, sub-acid. December.

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

WINTER QUEENING. Her. Pom., p. 14. Dessert or culinary, till March, medium, 2½ by 3, conical. Colour, yellow, nearly covered with dull red stripes and flush. Flesh, firm, yellow, sub-acid. Eye, open, in a shallow, much wrinkled and lined basin. Stem, moderate length, in a rather narrow wrinkled cavity. Growth, vigorous; fertile. Leaf, rather small, greyish, upfolded, twisted, shallow serrate or crenate. Origin, an old Sussex variety, probably of great antiquity. I fancy the Sussex Duck's Bill, usually quoted as synonymous with this variety is really distinct.

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

(Large, handsome, bright golden fine grower, distinct from the ordinary kind, with lovely flavour). Jan. to Feb.

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)

Sussex Duck's Bill Winter Queen