WINTER QUEENING
AppleWINTER QUEENING
Origin/History
Sources conflict on the origin of WINTER QUEENING. Elliott (1865) records it as American. Bunyard (1920), citing the Herefordshire Pomona (p. 14), identifies it as "an old Sussex variety, probably of great antiquity." Bunyard further notes that the Sussex Duck's Bill is usually quoted as synonymous with WINTER QUEENING but expresses doubt about this identification: "I fancy the Sussex Duck's Bill, usually quoted as synonymous with this variety is really distinct."
Tree
Growth is vigorous and the tree is fertile (Bunyard). Veitch describes it as a "fine grower."
Fruit
Size
Sources conflict. Elliott and Bunyard both record WINTER QUEENING as medium-sized, with Bunyard giving dimensions of 2½ inches wide by 3 inches tall. Veitch, however, describes the fruit as large.
Form
Conical (Elliott; Bunyard).
Stem
Of moderate length, set in a rather narrow, wrinkled cavity (Bunyard).
Cavity
Rather narrow and wrinkled (Bunyard).
Calyx
Open (Bunyard).
Basin
Shallow, much wrinkled and lined (Bunyard).
Skin
Sources present partially conflicting color descriptions. Elliott records the skin as crimson and pale red. Bunyard describes the ground color as yellow, nearly covered with dull red stripes and flush. Veitch describes the fruit as bright golden. Veitch's note that this variety is "distinct from the ordinary kind" may indicate a particular strain or selection.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh is yellowish (Elliott) and firm (Bunyard). Sub-acid (Elliott; Bunyard). Veitch praises the flavor as "lovely."
Season
Ready in December (Elliott). Veitch records the season as January to February. Bunyard describes WINTER QUEENING as a dessert or culinary apple usable until March. Taken together, the fruit appears available from December through March.
Uses
Dessert or culinary (Bunyard). Veitch's characterization of "large, handsome, bright golden" and "lovely flavour" emphasizes its dessert quality.
Tree — Leaf
Rather small, greyish, upfolded, twisted, with shallow serrate or crenate margins (Bunyard).
Subtypes/Variants
Veitch describes a form as "distinct from the ordinary kind," though the nature of the distinction is not further elaborated beyond its large size, handsome bright golden appearance, and fine flavor.
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
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)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Winter Queen. Winter Queening. American. Medium, conical, crimson and pale red ; flesh, yellowish, sub-acid. December.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)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.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)(Large, handsome, bright golden fine grower, distinct from the ordinary kind, with lovely flavour). Jan. to Feb.